Grassroots International recently posted a piece focussing on the events in El Estor. It is a translation of a piece from ALBA Movimientos. On Sunday, October 24, the president of Guatemala declared a state of siege in the municipality of… Read More ›
Human Rights
Condemnation of Human Rights Violations Occurring Under the State of Siege in El Estor
Ten human rights organisations recently released a joint statement condemning police brutality in El Estor. Read the pronouncement below. You can read the above condemnation on the website of GHRC, here, GHRC – Condemnation. You can read more about the… Read More ›
“It pains me to tell you that the image of Canada is severely damaged”
Damning testimony in a new book reveals the horrific record of Canadian mining companies in Guatemala. Joan Baxter has written in the Canadian publication, Halifax Examiner, about a new book, Testimonio: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala,… Read More ›
BTS: Military Diary Case – Special Bulletin 23
The Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS) recently posted a Special Bulletin on the Military Diary Case (Caso Diario Militar) currently ongoing in Guatemala. The Military Diary, or Death Squad Diary, case relates to past crimes against humanity and is… Read More ›
The Indigenous Leader Targeted for Protecting His People’s Land
The case of Bernardo Caal Xol is featured on this video from VICE as part of the Amnesty International campaign ‘Write For Rights’. “Why am I in jail? For denouncing what they are doing to the rivers, defending what little… Read More ›
Guatemala Cracks Down on Q’eqchi’ Resistance in El Estor
In the latest episode of a lengthy saga of repression and resistance, Maya communities demanding to be consulted about a foreign-owned nickel mine in their territories now live under a state of siege. Vaclav Masek writes in NACLA on the… Read More ›
Where Impunity Reigns: Nickel Mining in El Estor, Guatemala
James Rodríguez wrote an article for Latin American Perspectives on El Estor, looking at the history of the mine, including the history of state violence against those that live in the Q’eqchi’ Mayan territory. The violence goes back to at… Read More ›
Women Resisting Violence – Podcast
‘The government wants to erase our children’s memory and I can’t allow it as a mother looking for justice.’ On 8 March 2017, 56 girls were locked in a classroom of their state-run children’s home just outside Guatemala City when… Read More ›
Guatemala: Peaceful resistance to illegal mining under siege
A Joint Statement was released in response to the state of siege and the violence of state actors against the peaceful demonstrations being held in El Estor. Errors in translation are mine. JOINT STATEMENT – THE OBSERVATORY / UDEFEGUA /… Read More ›
Guatemala: A Fragile Rule of Law
María Reyes has written a blog post on the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence (BTS) Network website highlighting the levels of corruption currently inherent at all levels of the Guatemala state. October 13th marks two years without electing new magistrates for… Read More ›