Members of the Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa stand in solidarity against the mining on their land
An article was recently published on the website of Peace Brigades International UK (PBI-UK) highlighting the criminalisation of Indigenous defenders in Olopa.
On 25 February, the court hearing for community members of The Ch’orti’ Maya Indigenous Council of Olopa was postponed for the second time, with a new date set for 31 July 2025. The Indigenous human rights defenders were criminalised for their peaceful resistance against the Los Manantiales mining company and their defense of land and territory. They remain under house arrest as they await trial, highlighting the lack of due process in Guatemala’s justice system and the significant challenges faced by Indigenous human rights defenders.
Who are the Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa?
The Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa is a collective of Indigenous communities in Guatemala dedicated to defending their land, culture, and rights. They seek official recognition, protection of their spirituality, and the right to free, prior, and informed consent and consultation for mining projects. Their efforts also focus on mitigating the health impacts of mining, combating illegal logging, and addressing gender-based violence.
In 2016, the mining company Cantera Los Manantiales began operations in El Carrizal, Olopa, without conducting an environmental impact assessment or consulting affected communities, violating Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Maya Ch’orti’ communities opposed the project, leading to legal and physical retaliation against them.
In 2017, 22 Indigenous leaders were accused of crimes such as trespassing and arson by the mining company. Amid growing threats, the communities demanded the mine’s closure. In 2019, the 11 affected Indigenous communities, with support from the ‘New Day’ Ch’orti’ Campesino Central Coordinator (CCCND), organised to defend their territory and natural resources. This collective effort culminated in the establishment of the Peaceful Resistance of Olopa, which set up a permanent sit-in (plantón) to protest the mining activities. The Ch’orti’ Maya Indigenous Council of Olopa has played a pivotal role in this resistance, working with the Peaceful Resistance of Olopa to stand against the mining operations imposed without their consent. That same year, multiple firearm attacks were recorded against protestors. The mining company then filed criminal complaints against 38 resistance members, accusing them of kidnapping and aggression.
You can read the full piece, with photos, here, Ongoing Struggles for Justice: Criminalisation of Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Defenders in Guatemala.
Categories: Criminalisation, Culture, Environment, Guatemala, Human Rights, Impunity, Indigenous peoples, Justice, Land, Military, Mining, Resource Extraction, Solidarity in Action, Violence
Guatemala Solidarity Network 
Post comments here