Environmental defenders from Huehuetenango denounce threats to their land and water
In the face of the ongoing threat by mega-development projects and extractive industries to indigenous and campesino peoples' natural resources, and in particular to their water sources, the Departmental Assembly of the Peoples of Huehuetenango (ADH) held a day-long meeting to discuss strategies for their protection. The ADH, a grassroots organization that coordinates with community members in defense of [...]
NISGUA Local: Building connections between global movements to defend life and territory
"We oppose any desecration of our sacred site. Our sacred sites are not for sale. We will not allow our ancestors to be disturbed. This sacred site represents more than 5,000 years of our history and it also currently represents our living culture. We will not permit the desecration of a site that is sacred to our families, our culture, and our ancestors." [...]
San Mateo Ixtatán: Don Sebastián Alonzo Juan, martyr in the defense of rivers
Photo Credit: Francisco Simón Original article posted in Spanish on Prensa Comunitaria. Translation by NISGUA. By: Francisco Simón. January 6, 2018, San Mateo Ixtatán The communal authorities of Yulch'en Frontera paid tribute to the martyr and defender of rivers Don Sebastián Alonzo Juan, who was murdered on January 17, 2017 by private security forces for the company, [...]
Peaceful resistance members meet with international delegation
This week, NISGUA received a delegation from the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) in our Guatemala City office. NISGUA relies on a strong network of individuals and organizations, like CRLN, fighting in the global struggle for social justice and respect for the earth. We work in coalition with local organizations throughout the U.S. to quickly disseminate [...]
Socixs de la AJR denuncian hostigamiento al re-juicio del caso por genocidio
Photo credit: Jose Rodriguez Después de un receso para las fiestas del fin de año, el re-juicio del caso por genocidio Ixil comenzó nuevamente. Mientras testigxs ixiles se presentan para compartir públicamente una vez más sus experiencias de genocidio, están rodeadxs por la presencia solidaria de lxs socixs de la AJR. No obstante, lxs socixs de la [...]
AJR members denounce harassment at genocide retrial
Photo credit: Jose Rodriguez After a holiday recess, the Ixil genocide case retrial will be heard again today. As Ixil witnesses come forward to once more share their experience of genocide publicly, they are surrounded by the supportive presence of members of the AJR. However, the AJR members have faced institutional discrimination and racism by the police, who [...]