HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS AND UPDATES WINTER 2015-2016 El Quetzal ISSUE #20
Published by the Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA
GHRC Visits Political Prisoners in Guatemala City Jail
On August 14, 2015, GHRC and Prensa Comunitaria sat across from The arrests of Rigoberto Juárez and Domingo Rigoberto Juárez and Domingo Baltazar, two of many land rights Baltazar are the latest in a list of at least 15 defenders currently in Guatemala City’s jail facing trumped-up Maya Q’anjob'al activists from Huehuetenango criminal charges in Guatemala. The visit represented an effort to who have been arrested without any evidence document conditions, take testimony, and provide moral support. against them since 2012. Although both Juarez and Baltazar were accused of “participating in the illegal detention of workers,” human rights organizations and observers believe their arrests to be a response to their efforts to “We need development, but the defend indigenous rights and ancestral lands. Both are respected leaders in the Q’anjob’al community and were integral in the reality is underdevelopment. formation of the regional Plurinational Government in Northern Where is the State present? It is Huehuetenango. They had been publicly involved in peaceful efforts to oppose transnational hydroelectric and logging projects only there to repress.” in the region, as well as the effort to reopen the Snuq’ JolomKonob’ community radio station in Santa Eulalia. - Rigoberto Juárez “There is great interest in appropriating the natural resources of our territory,” Juarez explained.
Juárez and Baltazar were arrested on March 24, 2015 as they walked down 6th avenue in Guatemala City, visiting the capital to denounce abuses against themselves and their communities. Their defense lawyer, Ricardo Cajas, who contested the apparently warrantless arrest, says he was assaulted when he confronted police officers on the issue.
Their detention follows an all-too-common pattern; over a dozen Maya Q’anjob’al activists from Huehuetenango have been arrested without probable cause since 2012. All have been targeted because of their political opposition to harmful development policies and to specific large-scale mining operations, hydroelectric dams and other megaprojects. This criminalization occurs through an Photo: Quimy de Leon intentional abuse of the legal system in order to intimidate activists Rigoberto Juárez, left, and Domingo Baltazar and quell dissent, and are often subject to arbitrary detentions, spoke with GHRC and Prensa Comunitaria in accused of serious criminal charges (including “terrorism”), and can Guatemala City's jail in zone 18. The men have spend months of pre-trial detention in inhumane conditions. Due been targeted for their opposition to harmful to the lack of evidence corroborating the charges, the cases are developmetn projects in Huehuetenango. typically dismissed - but the damage is done. Continued on page 3 --Also in this issue -- tz LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR...... PAGE 2 ALLIANCE FOR PROSPERITY OR POVERTY?...... PAGE 8 MURDER AND ECOCIDE IN PETEN...... PAGE 5 HUMAN RIGHTS CASE UPDATES...... PAGE 9 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AT IACHR...... PAGE 6 GHRC PRESENTS ANNUAL AWARD...... PAGE 10 PRESIDENT MORALES TAKES OFFICE...... PAGE 7 SPEAKING TOUR WITH LORENZO MATEO...... PAGE 11
PAGE 1 tz The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA
GHRC Mission Letter from the Director The Guatemala Human Rights Commission Dear Supporters, (GHRC) is a nonprofit, grassroots, solidarity The year 2015 will go down in history in Guatemala as the year a government fell to organization dedicated corruption charges; the year a President and Vice President went from office to jail; and to promoting human the year that a diverse and newly energized civil society movement emerged to demand rights in Guatemala and accountability from public officials. supporting communities and activists who face At GHRC, we did our part to support transparency and accountability. In the spring, we threats and violence. pushed for the extention of CICIG’s mandate and urged the US to continue to provide GHRC documents and funding. As more corruption allegations came to light and public protests continued, we denounces abuses, intensified our US advocacy work, amplifying our partners’ concerns, including their call educates the international for the President to resign and for elections to be postponed. community, and advocates for policies that The US chose to support "stability" over reform. Ambassador Robinson stood by foster peace and justice. President Pérez Molina until the bitter end, despite overwhelming evidence that he
was directly involved in some of the most corrupt political dealings on record. The US Board of Directors also maintained public support for elections, despite CICIG´s revelations that political Andrés Cruz parties and candidates were receiving a significant portion of their funding through President illicit activities. In September voters turned out in record numbers, though the slate of Emily Willard elected candidates raises doubts about continued reform. The new President, Jimmy Vice President Morales, himself has little experience and was backed by military hard-liners. Elliot Rosen Treasurer While political upheaval and corruption cases took center stage, 2015 also saw ongoing abuses and government repression. Threats and attacks have spiked against Vivian Ramos environmental activists as communities continue to oppose mining, hydroelectric Secretary dams and harmful agricultural practices. The right to prior consultation was blatantly Christina del Castillo ignored, freedom of expression undermined, and access to justice remained a constant Patricia Foxen struggle. Criminalization of community leaders has been an increasingly common and Jesse Franzblau particularly harmful tactic, as I saw first-hand during a visit to a Guatemala City jail. Janet Hernandez John Leary GHRC activists were essential in raising international awareness about these abuses. Supporters signed petitions to denounce illegal mining and the assassination of an Advisory Board environmental defender in Petén. You also urged the US congress to pass strong human rights conditions on funding to Guatemala, and you helped us celebrate the work of Kit Gage Prensa Comunitaria, our 2015 recipient of the Alice Zachmann Human Rights Defenders Jennifer Harbury Award. Sr. Dianna Ortiz Sr. Alice Zachmann This international advocacy and solidarity is an indispensible component of the struggle for human rights in Guatemala, and sustained pressure will be needed to address US Staff and Interns policies that continue to have detrimental impacts in Guatemala. Kelsey Alford-Jones Executive Director Nowhere is this clearer than with the “Alliance for Prosperity Plan,” the US-led response Andrew Fandino to the 2014 child migration crisis. The plan promotes an economic model that will Advocacy & Development exacerbate poverty, contribute to forced displacement, and likely create more economic Coordinator refugees from the region. In contrast, important human rights protections are absent. Dania Rodríguez Interim Director of the As we begin 2016, there are many reasons to be hopeful. Eighteen former military Guatemala Office were arrested for wartime attrocities and their testimonies are already being heard in Lindsay Bigda court. The Sepur Zarco sexual slavery trial also opened in early February. Organizations Communications Associate and social movements across the nation continue to demand redress for land rights Julia Nierenberg violations. With your support, we will be working to ensure these efforts can continue. Intern, Fall/Winter 2015 Sincerely, Rachel Martin & Megan Shoop Kelsey Alford-Jones Interns, Winter/Spring 2016 Executive Director
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GHRC staff members met with political prisoners Rigoberto Juárez and Domingo Baltazar, two of many land rights defenders currently in Guatemala City’s jail. Photo: Quimy de Leon
Continued from page 1 Guatemalan prosecutors have done police, for example, are responsible without being allowed to go to the little to address this pattern, in some for transporting them to Santa bathroom,” the men told GHRC. cases they continue sham trials Eulalia for each court date. They despite a lack of evidence, or rely missed their first hearing because Despite expressing no urgent solely on testimony of employees no transportation was made security concerns, Juárez and of the very companies that want to available; they missed a second Baltazar spoke to GHRC in hushed ensure their continued operations. hearing set for July 17 because voices, sometimes almost a whisper. officials picked them up at 6:00am The cost to these political prisoners for an 8:30am hearing. What is “We need development,” Juarez and their families is exceedingly typically a 6-7 hour drive took far explained, “but the reality is high. Time spent in jail takes a longer when the police made over underdevelopment. Where is tremendous physical and emotional a dozen stops along the way, not the State present? It is only there toll on both defenders and their arriving until late at night. Having to repress. Those of us who are families, and even after being missed the hearing by a full day, opposed are considered insolent released, many continue to suffer they simply turned around and went and poorly educated. We are secondary consequences. They back. listening to what our ancestors tell suffer financially due to legal fees us, who have different rules and and family travel expenses to visit “We were made to ride in the back different ways of thinking. We put the jail, and can encounter problems of a pickup with three others, under hope in God’s help, but also in the returning to work after their release. the sun and rain, without eating, strength of many people.”
Since their arrest, Juárez and OTHER CASES: Saúl Méndez and Rogelio Velásquez were unjustly Baltazar have remained incarcerated detained from May 2012 until January 2013. They in Guatemala City. Their shared were rearrested in August 2013, accused of complicity to murder, and in cell, a small room filled so full with 2014 were sentenced to over 33 years in prison. The sentence was finally bunk beds there is barely room to overturned on appeal; they were released in January 2016. Both were walk, is one of the safer areas of likely targeted due to opposition to Escoener Hydraulic Energy, a Spanish the jail. As in most Guatemalan jails company that plans to build a series of hydroelectric dam projects in and prisons, a heirarchy of inmates Huehuetenango. controls most of what goes on, and luckily in Sector 13, peoples’ basic In 2012, 11 people from Santa Cruz Barillas were detained under martial needs are met. law, and spent between five and eight months in jail on trumped-up charges before being released due to lack of evidence. They had been Other concerns are often more active in local opposition to another hydroelectric project, Hidro Santa Cruz, pressing. The prison authority and owned by a another Spanish company. PAGE 3 The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA
US Congress Calls on Guatemalan President to AUG. 2015 | GHRC documents production at LA PUYA: the El Tambor mine, despite a July 15 court Halt Illegal Mining at La Puya ruling to suspend all operations.
Opposition continues at La Puya four years after residents first physically blocked the entrance to a mining operation in their community – an ongoing act of non-violent resistance that has received global support. And in the last three months, residents' arguments against the mine – legal, environmental and ethical – have been supported by the US Congress, the Municipal authorities, and Guatemalan courts.
Yet the US-owned mine continues to operate.
On October 26, 2015, 12 Congressional members sent a letter to interim Guatemalan President Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre to raise concerns about abuses related to the El Tambor gold mine in San Pedro Ayampuc, Guatemala. Supported by GHRC, the letter calls on the President to use his authority to uphold human rights and to ensure that the mine’s owner–the US-based company Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA)– promptly halts its illegal operations.
The letter responded to a Guatemalan court ruling on July 15, 2015, that found EXMINGUA, KCA’s subsidiary, has been operating the mine without valid municipal permits, did not consult with affected communities before the project began in accordance with Guatemalan and International law, and that the Environmental Impact Assessment was plagued with serious deficiencies. The court ordered an injunction against mining activities at El Tambor, a decision upheld after the company’s appeal.
When mining continued, community members and their lawyers requested the municipal government grant temporary protection measures, which were approved. On Jan. 5, officials from the municipality of San Pedro Ayampuc, accompanied by police officers, arrived at La Puya to take suspend work at the mine. Officials sealed the entrance JAN. 2016 | Officials from San Pedro Ayampuc to the project with tape and banners in order to enforce the measures. sealed the entrance to the El Tambor mine. Photo: This, too, was ineffective; in the early morning hours of Jan. 6, company Resistencia Pacifica La Puya employees and riot police arrived at La Puya and removed the tape and banners, allowing machinery and workers back into the mine site. Community members are now calling on Guatemala’s highest court to confirm the municipal injunction that demands closure of the mine.
The ongoing illegal mining operation is just one of many abuses KCA’s mine has caused at La Puya. There has been no justice for Yolanda Oquelí, shot in 2012 when leaving the community blockade, nor has there been redress for the excessive use of force used by police in 2014 during the violent eviction to force access to the mine.
Activists have also faced trumped-up charges, and the US Congressional letter specifically called on the Guatemalan government to take active steps to release wrongfully imprisoned community leaders and initiate dialogue with residents to peacefully resolve the conflict.
GHRC´s support continues for the peaceful opposition to the mine at the Puya. Staff meet frequently with community members and their lawyers, JAN. 2016 | Represenatives from La Puya and in August spoke directly with municipal authorities. GHRC protest in front of the Constitutional Court in is also urging the US Embassy to take concrete steps to address the illegal Guatemala City, calling on the court to confirm activities of a US company. legal closure of the mine.
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(continued fromCivil page Society 3) Petition Demands Justice for Killing of Activist, Ecocide in Petén
The Petén lowland rainforests of before later denying involvement. At Lorenzo Pérez, Hermelindo Asij and northern Guatemala have been no point were community members Manuel Pérez—were held by REPSA beseiged for years by illegal logging, warned of the spill, but it quickly employees for almost 12 hours, drug trafficking, cattle farming became apparent that the water threatened with being burned alive, and oil exploration. Since the late was poisoned. Later reports have before they were finally released. 1990s, environmental damage in estimated that at least 23 different the region has been exacerbated species of fish and other aquatic During the Nov. 30 press by yet another phenomenon: a life were found dead, affecting conference, Juan Castro of the booming palm oil industry that has the economic livelihood of at least Association of Mayan Lawyers gave made Guatemala one of the world’s 12,000 people from 17 communities. an account of a recent hearing on top producers. Encircled by these The incident has since been referred palm oil in Guatemala, held at the economic giants, human rights to as an "ecocide" by community IACHR in Washington, DC. Activists defenders continue to risk their lives members and experts alike. also hoped that choosing Nov. 30, to save their environment. the date of the kickoff of the Climate Summit On Nov. 30, men and women in Paris, would increase from communities battling pressure on both domestic the destructive effects of and international leaders palm oil production held to do more to protect a press conference in communities defending Guatemala City to deliver a their environment. civil society petition – signed by nearly 50,000 individuals The violence surrounding – to Guatemala’s Attorney the REPSA case is General Thelma Aldana. The representative of a broader petition, spearheaded by pattern of attacks against GHRC, ActionAid and Friends land rights activists, a of the Earth, echoes local phenomenon that many community demands for Photo: Festivales Solidarios Guatemalan human an immediate investigation rights groups consider into the contamination of the GHRC supported a press conference highlighting the to be linked to an unjust Pasión River as well as into detrimental impacts of Palm Oil in communities. economic model that favors the murder of environmental large companies over the activist Rigoberto Lima Choc. Lima, “We deplore these incidents,” said rights and economic livelihoods of a school teacher and indigenous Lima in a June 17 press conference. local communities. leader, had been one of the first to “As community members, we are report a mass die-off of fish along indignant. Truthfully, there are “The prevailing model in Guatemala the river this past summer; on Sept. people who are unable to make a is known as accumulation by 18, he was shot dead by unknown living – they depend on the river and dispossession,” said Jorge Santos, assailants outside a local courthouse they are being left penniless." a member of Guatemalan human in Sayaxché, Petén. rights group UDEFEGUA, in a recent Three months later, on September interview with Telesur. “[It is] based Community members first noticed a 17, REPSA was ordered to on the commercialization of natural smaller die-off of fish in the Pasión suspend its operations while an resources, mining extraction, River in April 2015, but it drew little investigation into the source of the hydroelectric projects to lower costs national attention. Then, in early contamination is carried out. The for industry, and monocultures, June, residents observed tens of next day, Rigoberto Lima Choc was particularly sugar cane and African thousands of dead fish floating on assassinated in broad daylight. palm.” the river's surface. Many media outlets have reported GHRC, a coordinator of the joint The contamination appeared to the likely connection between petition, continues to support the be directly linked to overflow from Lima’s assassination and his public case as communities seek justice the processing plant of palm oil demands to investigate REPSA’s for the death of Lima and the company Reforestadora Palma alleged role in the contamination. contamination of the river, which to de Petén S.A. (REPSA), which first In addition to his murder, three date remains “under investigation.” timidly admitted responsibility other human rights activists—
PAGE 5 Winter 2014-2015 | Issue #18 tz The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA The Guatemala HumanDecember Rights Commission/USA 2014 | Issue #18 continued fromActivists page 1 Discuss Crackdown on Human Rights Defenders at IACHR Hearings
Though it was corruption that testimony that emerged during the Many human-rights organizations ultimately brought down former trial. view these attacks as part of an president Pérez Molina, the protests ongoing pattern of repression against him took place amid a In another hearing, lawyers and against land-rights defenders, broader crackdown on human-rights community leaders emphasized the as well as a test for the defenders of all stripes— including precarious and vulnerable situation transitional government—one human-rights lawyers, journalists, of communities surrounded by the administration has failed. labor activists, and indigenous African Palm production, where They accuse the government of groups resisting large-scale residents suffer harassment from dispatching security forces to protect development projects. palm-oil companies, contamination transnational corporations—and of their water supply, and other suppress any resistance to corporate This past October, members environmental problems. misconduct—while failing to of Guatemala’s Human Rights properly respond to attacks against Convergence and other civil- On September 18, indigenous community leaders. society organizations participated activist Rigoberto Lima Choc in hearings at the Inter-American was assassinated outside a local In a separate hearing on extractive Commission on Human Rights courthouse in the northern town industries, Commissioner Rose- (IACHR) and met with US of Sayaxché, Petén. Lima was one Marie Antoine called the violence government officials to discuss these of the first to publicly denounce against indigenous activists resisting challenges. the actions of the palm company their own displacement a “total REPSA for its alleged involvement in disgrace for democracies in the In back-to-back hearings, petitioners the contamination of the La Pasión region.” highlighted the defamation and River. harassment of lawyers and expert In all these cases, the Guatemalan witnesses in the ongoing genocide Just weeks later, Alex Reynoso— government has categorically denied case against former Guatemalan an environmental activist who any responsibility or wrongdoing. leader Efrain Ríos Montt. has organized against the Tahoe “We’re sorry to see that the state Resources silver mine in southern maintains its same position,” said Pérez Molina, a former military Guatemala—survived a second Center for Human Rights Legal general who vociferously denied assassination attempt. An earlier Action Director Juan Francisco that any genocide had taken place, attempt last year claimed the life of Soto, “even though we now have a was himself implicated in atrocities his daughter, 16-year-old Topacio new president, and new appointed against indigenous Guatemalans in Reyes. officials in the country.”
The 156 period of sessions at the IACHR. Photos left and right: IACHR
PAGE 6 tz The GuatemalaThe Guatemala Human Human Rights Rights Commission/USA Commission/USA Winter 2015-2016 | Issue #20
Activists Discuss Crackdown on Human Rights Defenders at IACHR Hearings
Jimmy Morales: Guatemala's Next President
Riding a wave of anti-establishment for his vague policies, his comedic protests, and some outlets called sentiment, Jimmy Morales—a reliance on racist, sexist, and the country a leader in a new comedian with no political homophobic tropes, and the fact “anti-corruption spring.” But failed experience and backed by military that some of his backers—including electoral reforms and ongoing land hard-liners—has been elected the founders of his political party, rights conflicts have prompted some Guatemala’s next president. the National Convergence Front to ask: Has anything really changed (FCN)—are conservative members in Guatemala? Morales was inaugurated on Jan. of the military linked to war crimes 14 just days after he suffered an from the country’s three-decade Responding to that question at early political setback related to his armed conflict. a panel discussion in DC, Daniel Cabinet. On Jan. 6, one of his top Pascual from the Committee for advisers, Edgar Ovalle Maldonado, Though some Guatemalans are Campesino Unity stated that civil was among a group of ex-military cautiously optimistic about the society has been armed with new leaders accused of crimes against future, many remain skeptical that allies, and the country’s “social humanity. For now, Ovalle cannot awakening” has given rise to a more face prosecution due to his status informed and vigilant citizenry. With as an incoming lawmaker, though more people calling for justice, it will “The social movements (continued on page 7) Attorney General Thelma Aldana be ever more challenging for public has has requested his immunity be we’re experiencing officials not to act on behalf of the lifted, and the appeals process has people. reached the Constitutional Court. may mean that someday we’ll have Still, the vast majority of these Morales saw his popularity surge urgent concerns—the ongoing amid a series of corruption scandals different options— militarization of public security, that led to mass citizen protests, high rates of impunity, deep-rooted the arrest of several high-level candidates who really corruption, and increased violence government officials, and the against environmental activists, resignation of former president represent the people.” among a collapsing healthcare Otto Pérez Molina this September. system and other issues—are issues Capitalizing on his reputation as a - Iduvina Hernández President-elect Morales has barely political outsider, Morales achieved mentioned. To date, he’s shared no an unexpected first-round win in Morales will be able to pull the plan or inclination to address them. September before defeating former country out of its current political first lady Sandra Torres in the turmoil. “Nothing is going to “Neither Morales nor Torres October 25 runoff election. change,” one voter said via Twitter— represent the change we need,” said even as she cast her ballot. Iduvina Hernández. “But the social Morales, like his opponent Sandra movements we’re experiencing Torres, promised efforts to In the past few months, many may mean that someday we’ll have promote transparency and root out Guatemalans have lauded the different options—candidates who corruption. But he’s drawn criticism transformative power of citizen really represent the people.”
PAGEPAGE 67 The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA tz The Alliance for Prosperity Plan: An “Alliance for Rural Poverty”?
One year ago, at the behest of the moment to reinforce United States, the Guatemalan, neoliberal policies Honduran and Salvadoran and strengthen the governments came together to business climate create a plan, an “Alliance for for large national Prosperity,” to address “structural and transnational and multi-dimensional causes of companies. migration” from Central America. “Corporate America The plan, that will receive $750 wants to come,” million in US funds and – in theory Vice President Biden – matching funds from regional assured politicians and governments, is a reaction to the business leaders from unprecedented numbers of Central Guatemala, Honduras American refugees that arrived and El Salvador during at the US border in 2014. Many a speech in March in Guatemala fled a complex set 2015. “There’s great of conditions that include severe opportunities in human rural poverty, lack of employment capital here. […] We're no funding. And while the Plan opportunities, and widespread ready to work with you to get more proposes to strengthen Guatemala’s HUMAN RIGHTS CASE UPDATES violence and impunity – issues that out of the free trade agreement tax collection agency, the plan does GHRC has documented for decades you have with us, and integrate not mention institutions that have – exacerbated in recent years by your economies with each other recently been most plagued with acute problems, such as government by… reducing tariffs, investing corruption scandals, such as the corruption in the health sector and [in] infrastructure, and borders, health sector. increasing large-scale resource streamlining customs, partnering with each other and your neighbors Not surprisingly, there is little on issues like roads and energy.” support for the Alliance for “Corporate America Prosperity Plan in Guatemala at the wants to come.” Guatemala’s private sector embraces community level. Many don’t even this approach wholeheartedly, know it exists. The Guatemalan envisioning local migration from government has not held a public - Vice President Biden rural areas to larger towns where forum in any of their designated “human capital” will get funneled “priority” municipalities, focusing extraction projects. into entrepreneurial programs and instead on lobbying in the US to Analysts and activists alike agree job training for corporations that promote the plan. that addressing rural poverty, needs cheap labor (call centers creating strong and accountable and sweatshops, for example). This “This is a plan for poverty, not institutions, and strengthening rule frees up arable land that can be prosperity,” one Guatemalan of law are essential to improving industrialized and dedicated to cash activist told GHRC in October. “This conditions in Guatemala. Yet crops for export (such as African promotes a regional economic proposals for how to do so vary palm and sugar cane). Changes model that has been principally dramatically. to the justice system will focus responsible for perpetuating on creating a sound investment inequality and forced migration.” Community leaders, human rights environment; infrastructure will be Indeed, the focus of the Plan is activists and some Guatemalan improved to insure mines, refineries not on the most urgent needs congressmen have proposed and other industries have the energy of vulnerable communities in holistic policies to address these needed to operate and access areas where families depend on challenges that focus on combating to good highways to efficiently subsistence agriculture, and even historic exclusion and racism and transport export goods to market. the most basic state services are recognize the right to consultation lacking. and local empowerment as pillars of Meanwhile, institutional sustainable development. strengthening, transparency and The old argument that profits will accountability – the most obvious “trickle-down” to benefit the rural These have been ignored. Instead, areas to invest after recent scandals poor has yet to become reality the US has seized the political -- receive little attention and almost in Guatemala, and the projects Continued on next page PAGE 8 Winter 2015-2016 | Issue #20 tz
Continued from page 8 promoted by the US and Guatemala to enforce existing labor laws migrants and refugees arriving to The Alliance for Prosperity Plan: An “Alliance for Rural Poverty”? as the solution to poverty are almost (Guatemala currently faces the US. This has already begun unanimously rejected by local arbitration from the US under CAFTA through border militarization, populations. These conflicts over for failure to enforce these laws); pressure on Mexico to increase land use have already triggered nor does it commit to strengthening deportations, and pressure on government repression and the the Labor Ministry, protecting the Central American governments to killing of human rights activists. right to unionize, ensuring employer prevent migrants from leaving. accountability in regards to abuses In fact, the very industries bolstered in the workplace, or guaranteeing GHRC advocated heavily for by the plan have been some of a living wage. All will be essential strong human rights conditions the worst abusers of labor rights. to ensuring sustainable labor on US funding for the Alliance for To depend on them as a solution opportunities in Guatemala. Prosperity, which Congress passed for rural development, with no in the FY’16 Omnibus spending bill, mention of the right to consultation, The true social cost of growing and we will be closely monitoring or protections for vulnerable inequality and dispossession in their impact. Yet growing conflict communities, is a recipe for failure. the region under the Alliance for in rural areas and attacks against Prosperity will likely be masked for land rights activists already points to The Plan seeks to increase the labor a time, as the US is simultaneously anything but “prosperity.” force, yet mentions no commitment seeking to limit the numbers of HUMAN RIGHTS CASE UPDATES 18 Ex-Military Leaders Arrested for Crimes Against Humanity Eighteen former military leaders — including former generals, a former army chief of staff, and a former military intelligence chief — were arrested on Jan. 6 on criminal charges related to massacres and disappearances from the internal armed conflict. Fourteen of the arrests pertain to an investigation on a military base known as CREOMPAZ in Cobán (formerly Military Base 21), where the remains of hundreds of people have been found and where the identities of at least 97 people have been confirmed as individuals disappeared during the 1980s, when the ex- officials were in power. Four of the arrests relate to the disappearance of Marco Antonio Molina Theissen, a minor, in 1981. Twelve had trained at the US School of the Americas.
GHRC was one of the first international groups to gain access to CREOMPAZ in 2012 to observe the exhumation, and advocated for families to have improved access. The CREOMPAZ facility, which continues to serve as a regional UN Peacekeeping training base, has received US funding.
The handling of these cases will be a test for president-elect Jimmy Morales, who will took office on Jan. 14. It was rumored that one or more of those facing charges had been tapped to participate in the Morales' administration. One of Morales' closest allies and the president of his party, Edgar Justino Ovalle Maldonado, is also a suspect but could not be arrested due to his immunity. Attorney General Thelma Aldana announced her office requested the Supreme Court to lift Ovalle’s immunity. The court denied the motion, but the decision has been appealed.
The cases also sparked controversy within the Defense Ministry when a high level official, acting, he said, in a personal capacity, filed a motion to annul the Constitutional article that explicitly exempts gross violations from amnesty. The motion was denied and the General was relieved of his post.
The Sepur Zarco Case Goes to Court The Genocide Case Remains Stalled
More than 30 years after dozens of Q’eqchi women After ongoing legal battles, the retrial in the genocide suffered sexual violence and sexual slavery at the Sepur case scheduled for March 16. Rios Montt, found guilty Zarco military outpost, 15 women, with the support of of genocide and war crimes in the 2013 trial, was the Alliance to End Silence and Impunity, will have their diagnosed in August with dementia. Any new trial will day in court. The women, now in their 70s and 80s, be a closed-door proceeding, though plaintiffs hope to are making history, as the trial opened Feb. 1. GHRC is separate the legal proceedings of Ríos Montt and co- present in the courtroom to observe the trial and will defendant Rodriguez Sanchez so the latter could have continue to send updates. a public trial. Victims and their lawyers, despite these delays, remain committed to achieving justice.
PAGE 9 tz The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA Community Radio Activist Joins GHRC for Fall Speaking Tour This fall our speaking tour featured “The mayor didn’t want us to Lorenzo also had the opportunity to community journalist Lorenzo report on him having shot two meet with representatives from the Mateo Francisco from the Snuq’ community leaders, so he shut us International Mayan League and the Jolom Konob’ radio station in Santa down,” Lorenzo explained. He has Parlamento Maya. Eulalia, Huehuetenango. Throughout received threats for his work, but the month of November Lorenzo has remained active and has been The tour then headed to the shared his moving story, talking integral in seeking support for Midwest, where Lorenzo’s work with diverse audiences about the the station and legal recourse to piqued broad interest; the trip was repression against the radio station challenge its closure. Although the full of radio and television interviews, and highlighting the dire situation of station is now broadcasting again public events, university talks, and freedom of expression in Guatemala. online, its headquarters in Santa meetings with key human rights Eulalia remain shut down. organizations. Lorenzo has been involved with the Snuq’ Jolom Konob’ station for Lorenzo’s story is not unique in Local organizers in New York, Ohio, 12 years, initially as a volunteer Guatemala. Wisconsin, and Chicago made the and now as the station’s primary tour a success, particularly the coordinator and member of its “Journalists throughout Guatemala Oberlin Students in Solidarity with Board of Directors. The station, face threats, censorship, arrest, and Guatemala, the Inter-Religious Task founded in 1999 and broadcasting violence,” he said. In one week alone Force on Central America, the Latin in both Spanish and Q’anjob’al, in March 2015, three journalists American Solidarity Committee, and has publicized timely information were murdered. According to the Chicago Religious Leadership
on hydroelectric projects planned the Guatemalan Observatory for Network. A third and integral piece in the region and has reported Journalists at CERIGUA, there were of Lorenzo’s visit was to connect on corruption of local authorities. over 108 attacks during 2015, making with the Q’anjob’al community in the The Snuq’ Jolom Konob radio it “the most dangerous year for United States. To do so, he traveled station has not only been a useful journalists in Guatemala.” Numerous to Omaha, Sioux City, San Diego, tool for sharing information and others have been criminalized for Los Angeles, Alamosa (Colorado), news, but it has also played a vitally exercising their right to free speech. and Taos (New Mexico) with the important role in protecting and generous support of the American promoting native culture and rights The speaking tour started off in Jewish World Service. by broadcasting bilingually and thus Washington, DC where Lorenzo, helping to promote and maintain the on behalf of Prensa Comunitaria, Lorenzo hopes the radio station can Indigenous Q’anjob’al language. received GHRC’s annual Alice reopen as new elected officials take Zachmann Human Rights Defenders office. Unfortunately, local reporters’ Award. While in DC he met with active and hard-hitting investigative the State Department, key leaders Visit our website to learn more about coverage has meant the station has in the US Congress, and with the Lorenzo, the Snuq’ Jolom Konob been a target of repression and Special Rapporteur for Freedom of radio station, and how you can get attacks, and it was illegally closed Expression at the Inter-American involved. down by the mayor in January 2015. Commission on Human Rights.
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2015 ALICE ZACHMANN The Alice Zachmann Human Rights Defender’s Award recognizes an HUMAN RIGHTS individual, organization or community DEFENDERS AWARD: who has demonstrated a commitment to the defense of human rights through Recognizing community media non-violent methods, and for which group Prensa Comunitaria he/she has been exposed to threats, violence and/or other attacks.
GHRC was pleased to present this year's award to community media group Prensa Comunitaria on November 3 at St. Stephen's Church in Washington, DC. An audience of friends and colleagues in Guatemala also watched the event live via Ustream. Lorenzo Mateo Francisco -- a member of Prensa Comunitaria and the coordinator of his community's local radio station -- accepted the award on behalf of the media group, which includes almost 40 researchers and correspondents.
"I want to thank everyone who is here, and all those who are supporting our communities' struggles to defend our rights," said Lorenzo during the event. "I'm accepting this award in the name of my family, Prensa Comunitaria ... But I have a deep pain in my heart, because freedom of expression in my country has been restricted."
GHRC selected Prensa Comunitaria defend land and human rights, and Journalism is a dangerous profession for its commitment to grassroots prominent human rights legal cases. in Guatemala. “The Guatemalan journalism and its focus on government hasn’t implemented any documenting important community One of Prensa Comunitaria’s effectives mechanisms to protect struggles that often receive little regions of focus has been northern journalists. In fact, [public officials] to no coverage in the mainstream Huehuetenango, in the western been directly involved in aggressions media. highlands of Guatemala. The against the press, in particular area has experienced growing against alternative community Prensa Comunitaria is a network social conflict in recent years, media,” explained Kelsey Alford- of communicators – including particularly around mines and Jones, Executive Director of GHRC. analysts, photojournalists, reporters hydroelectric projects. Members and investigators – who work at of Prensa Comunitaria have In this context, correspondents from the community level to document provided in-depth investigations, Prensa Comunitaria have continued stories that affect residents’ lives, analysis and coverage of local to challenge the systems that seek often through the use of personal resistance movements, government to silence them. Their valuable testimonies. The network has repression and militarization, attacks work represents an ongoing effort been hugely important in raising against community radio, and to defend the right to freedom of awareness about under-reported the criminalization of community expression and to freedom of the community movements, efforts to leaders from the region. press.
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