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Guatemala acknowledges state responsibility in 1980 spanish embassy massacre

The Guatemalan government acknowledged on Friday its responsibility for the 1980 assault and fire at the Spanish Embassy, carried out by security forces during the country’s civil war (1960-1996), which left 37 people dead.

“In memory of the victims and their dignity, the Government of Guatemala recognizes state responsibility for this crime against humanity,” reads a golden inscription on a green marble plaque, unveiled by the Presidential Commission for Peace at the former site of the diplomatic mission in the capital.

On January 31, 1980, military and police forces stormed the embassy, which had been occupied hours earlier by Maya leaders and students protesting against human rights abuses committed in the fight against leftist guerrillas. During the raid, a devastating fire broke out inside the building.

At the site where the embassy once stood, a group of Indigenous Maya leaders held an ancestral ceremony to honor the victims. Additionally, peasant and human rights organizations issued a statement lamenting that the root causes of the armed conflict—racism, exploitation, inequality, and land dispossession—remain unresolved.

Among the 37 people killed were Spanish consul Jaime Ruiz del Árbol, former Guatemalan Vice President Eduardo Cáceres, former Foreign Minister Adolfo Molina, and Vicente Menchú, father of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú and a prominent Maya leader.

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In 2015, a Guatemalan court sentenced Pedro García Arredondo, the former head of a special command unit of the now-defunct National Police, to 90 years in prison for his role in the attack. His unit was responsible for carrying out repressive actions and forced disappearances of political opponents.

Guatemala’s 36-year civil war resulted in approximately 200,000 deaths and disappearances, according to official reports.

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Central America

Honduras election crisis deepens as CNE president denounces intimidation attempts

Tegucigalpa remains engulfed in a deep post-electoral crisis, marked by the absence of final results from the general elections held on November 30. On Thursday, the presiding counselor of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Ana Paola Hall, publicly denounced acts of intimidation that she warned could jeopardize the final phase of the process.

Following a meeting with the G-16+ diplomatic corps, Hall expressed concern over two specific incidents: a call by former president Manuel Zelaya summoning supporters of the Libre Party to gather outside the INFOP facilities—where electoral records and materials are being safeguarded—and a statement issued by the Permanent Commission of Congress accusing her and counselor Cossette López of alleged electoral crimes, an action she described as “baseless and outside their jurisdiction.”

Hall reaffirmed her institutional commitment and warned that she will not allow interference in the announcement of the results. “Honduras comes first,” she emphasized, underscoring her intention to defend the electoral process as a cornerstone of democracy.

Meanwhile, the preliminary results place Nasry ‘Tito’ Asfura, candidate of the National Party, in the lead with 40.52%of the vote, followed closely by Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, with 39.48%. The ruling party’s candidate, Rixi Moncada of Libre, is in third place with 19.29%. Around 0.6% of the tally sheets—many of them showing inconsistencies—have yet to be reviewed.

The Organization of American States (OAS) called an extraordinary session of its Permanent Council to analyze the situation, while civil organizations and governments such as Paraguay’s urged respect for the popular will.

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Honduran President Xiomara Castro accused the United States, and specifically former president Donald Trump, of obstructing the process, while also denouncing threats from gangs against voters aligned with her party.

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Central America

OAS and EU urge honduran political actors to respect vote results and avoid unrest

The Electoral Observation Missions of the Organization of American States (OAS/EOM) and the European Union (EU EOM) issued an urgent call on Wednesday urging political actors in Honduras to respect the will expressed at the polls on November 30 and to refrain from inciting public disorder while the vote count is being finalized.

Both missions called on candidates, political parties, and authorities to act responsibly and maintain “active vigilance” over the vote-counting process.

So far, the National Electoral Council (CNE) has processed 99.4% of the tally sheets, but 2,773 still show inconsistencies, representing more than 500,000 unverified votes. The electoral body has not set a date for the special review, though it could begin later this week.

“The OAS/EOM reminds that electoral authorities are the only ones empowered to validate the results and reiterates its rejection of any call to disrupt public order,” the mission said in an official statement.

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Central America

U.S. finds no evidence of fraud in Honduras election despite delays

The United States government said on Tuesday that it has found no evidence of electoral fraud in Honduras’ presidential election, despite several days of delays in the vote count caused by technical issues.

“We are not aware of any credible evidence supporting a call for annulment,” a State Department spokesperson told EFE in response to complaints over the slow release of official results. Washington emphasized that the elections were monitored by international observers, including representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS), the European Union (EU), and national entities, which it said strengthens the legitimacy of the process.

In the current tally, conservative candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura—backed by U.S. President Donald Trump—remains in the lead with 1,298,835 votes (40.52%), while his rival, Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, has 1,256,428 votes (39.48%). The difference of 42,407 ballots is based on the latest report from the National Electoral Council (CNE), with 99.40% of the tally completed.

According to the Trump administration, the vote reflects a clear rejection of the governing leftist Libre party, led by outgoing President Xiomara Castro.

“The CNE should certify the election results promptly,” the spokesperson said, urging all political actors to respect the independence of electoral institutions and comply with Honduras’ legal framework.

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The vote count—now stretching past four days—has fueled tension and uncertainty among the population. CNE president Ana Paola Hall attributed the delays to unspecified “technical problems.”

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