The co-optation of public university education in Guatemala
The members of CLACSO Working Group “Violence in Central America”; the Central America Chair (University of Costa Rica); the representative of the Social Sciences area to the University Council (University of Costa Rica); the Group of Studies on Central America (Institute of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, University of Buenos Aires) and the Central American Sociological Association (ACAS)
We declare:
Our sisterhood and solidarity with the university community—students, teachers, workers, and graduates—of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala who have maintained a tenacious resistance against the fraudulent imposition, for the second time, of Walter Mazariegos Biolis, a figure who has been illegally and illegitimately imposed as rector of that historic institution.
We condemn the Guatemalan government's failure to take appropriate action in a situation that is even jeopardizing the safety of university students exercising their right to peaceful protest, as happened on July 1st outside the university campus, when they were threatened and attacked with tear gas and water cannons from within the university facilities by individuals with the
Faces covered, in the face of the passivity of the police force present at the scene.
Our concern stems from the endorsement given by magistrates of various courts, and especially the Constitutional Court, to a fraud committed in full view of society. This fraud has been denounced before various legal bodies by members of the San Carlos University community committed to the recovery of the University, and it has been pointed out by the Special Mission of the OAS in Guatemala, which, on July 1, 2026, called for the preservation of legality, legal certainty, and institutional legitimacy at USAC, given the series of abuses committed by the Superior University Council, whose representatives usurp expired positions and yet still attempt to give the appearance of legality to this new fraud.
The situation at the University of San Carlos has been escalating rapidly, with impunity shown in violation of the human rights of expelled and persecuted students, criminalized professors, and intimidated staff; many have been forced into exile to save their lives. This is unacceptable in academia and is reminiscent of similar situations faced by other universities in the region, harassed by public authorities with the aim of silencing critical voices, privatizing education, and perpetuating a new kind of authoritarianism.
We reiterate our support for the legitimate demands of those who defend the University of San Carlos of Guatemala and we ask academics, students, individuals, social organizations and institutions that protect human rights to demonstrate so that justice and dignity prevail for the university community of USAC.
We emphasize our call for university authorities throughout the region, including organizations like CSUCA and individual institutions, to speak out against this blatant breach of legality, lack of transparency, and support for the corrupt pact that is occurring at the University of San Carlos.
July 2, 2026
CLACSO Working Group on Violence in Central America
This text expresses the position of the aforementioned Working Groups and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.
