Indigenous protesters killed in Totonicapan, Guatemala
At least six protesters were killed and dozens wounded this afternoon in repression of a protest organized by the representatives of 48 indigenous K'iche communities of Totonicapan, Guatemala. According to Guatemala Indymedia Center and social movement organizations, the protesters were shot by Guatemalan military personnel. The autonomous indigenous government of the 48 cantones (communities) of Totonicapan had announced earlier this week its call for the blocking [...]
“Otro golpe al pueblo maya, al estilo mano dura”
"Pobladores de Totonicapán velan a los seis campesinos muertos durante enfrentamiento." Foto: AFP Otro golpe al pueblo maya, al estilo mano dura Por la Asamblea de pueblos de Huehuetenango por la Defensa del Territorio, ADH - Huehuetenango, 4 de octubre de 2012 La asamblea de pueblos de Huehuetenango –ADH-; a la opinan pública nacional e internacional; MANIFIESTA. Nuestra profunda indignación [...]
“Another blow to the Maya people, in the style of Mano Dura”
"Population of Totonicapán holds a wake for 6 campesinos killed during confrontation yesterday" Source: AFP Another blow to the Maya people, in the style of Mano Dura Statement by the Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango October 4, 2012 The Departmental Assembly of Huehuetenango -ADH- before national and international public opinion, DECLARES: Our profound outrage for the violent acts committed and [...]
Criminalization and Violence Erupt in the Shadow of the Escobal Mine
In recent weeks the municipality of San Rafael Las Flores has seen growing conflict around the installation of the Escobal silver mine, owned by the Canadian corporation Tahoe Resources. Local community organizers and allies from the Center for Legal, Environmental and Social Action (CALAS) denounced in August a wave of criminalization following their efforts to defend communities' right to [...]
Hearing in Genocide Case, Survivors Gather by the Hundreds
This struggle is everyone's struggle and the struggle of those that have not yet been born. --Board member for the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR) The genocide cases have moved forward against former General and de facto President Efraín Ríos Montt and two officials under his command, retired General and former Army Chief of Staff Hector Mario López [...]
Pedro García Arredondo Convicted and Sentenced to 70 years in prison
Student Édgar Sáenz Calito was disappeared in June 1981. Photo: http://www.hijosguate.blogspot.com/ Pedro García Arredondo, former chief of the now defunct National Police's infamous Comando Seis was convicted for the forced disappearance of student Édgar Sáenz Calito in June 1981. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Investigations by the Public Prosecutor's office found that Sáenz Calito was kidnapped, [...]