Former Interior Minister Napoleon Barrientos is escorted by police as he waits for his hearing at court in Guatemala City, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Barrientos was arrested Thursday for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he opted for dialogue with protesters rather than using force to remove them as a court had ordered. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan police on Thursday arrested the country’s former interior minister for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he opted for dialogue with protesters rather than using force to remove them as a court had ordered.
Guatemala Election
Police arrested Napoléon Barrientos at his home, leading him out in handcuffs and a bulletproof vest. Barrientos told reporters he didn’t know why he was being arrested.
The Attorney General’s Office said in a message to the press that Barrientos hadn’t complied with a court order to maintain public order.
Barrientos resigned in October, after weeks of nationwide protests aimed at forcing the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras. The protests were in response to Porras’ persecution of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, his party and electoral officials.
Former Interior Minister Napoleon Barrientos wears handcuffs as he is patted down by police escorting him from one area to another before his hearing at court in Guatemala City, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Barrientos was arrested Thursday for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he opted for dialogue with protesters rather than using force to remove them as a court had ordered. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
The retired brigadier general had said publicly that he preferred to seek dialogue with the protesters. Porras had called for the immediate removal of roadblocks, with force if necessary. Hours before Barrientos resigned, she had called for him to be fired for not following a court order to clear them.
The stunning turn of events for a former cabinet minister comes just days before Arévalo is scheduled to be sworn in as Guatemala’s next president.
Former Interior Minister Napoleon Barrientos is escorted in handcuffs by police from one area to another before his hearing at court in Guatemala City, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Barrientos was arrested Thursday for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he opted for dialogue with protesters rather than using force to remove them as a court had ordered. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Porras’ office has a number of open investigations against Arévalo and his party that outside observers have criticized as politically motivated.
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Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
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