José Rubén Zamora: 'I had more impact in two years in prison than in 30 years of journalism'

The 68-year-old spent more than 800 days behind bars, accused of money laundering and blackmail, before he was freed from prison on October 19.

Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora, who spent more than two years in prison on money laundering and blackmail charges before being released to house arrest, has accused the international community of turning a blind eye to corruption in the country.

Zamora, 68, was arrested in June 2023 and sentenced to six years in prison for money laundering. The sentence was overturned and he is awaiting another trial.

He told AFP in an interview that Guatemala was a "klepto-narco dictatorship disguised as a democracy."

"They wanted to see it as a country with democracy, elections, freedom," he said.

"I had more impact in two years in prison than in 30 years of journalism, because we stripped away the mask of democracy," he added.

Zamora's arrest came amid a crackdown on anti-graft prosecutors and journalists by the government of President Alejandro Giammattei, who was accused by rights groups of overseeing the campaign.

"Ignorance is very dangerous and ignorance with power is extremely dangerous," Zamora said.

Giammattei was replaced by President Bernardo Arevalo, an underdog anti-corruption campaigner who overcame attempts by the political establishment to block his inauguration.

Zamora said that he never felt ashamed of being in prison.

"I learned to live with humility, with patience, with faith. They didn't hurt me. I regret the time I missed seeing my children and my grandchildren and my wife, but I felt free inside," he said.

"I didn't feel ashamed. I always felt proud."