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Guatemala: News & Updates
Guatemala had the longest and bloodiest civil war in Central American history: 36 years (1960-96). The US-backed military was responsible for a genocide (“scorched earth policy”) that wiped out 200,000 mostly Maya indigenous civilians. War criminals are still being tried in the courts.
Learn more here.
RRN Letter
September 25, 2016
Concern for the safety and well-being of Angélica Choc, a Mayan Q’eqchi’ human rights defender from the municipality of El Estor in Izabal Department.
RRN Letter
September 23, 2016
Attack against Esteban Hermelindo Cux and Fredy Qib, two indigenous community leaders. On September 2, approximately 20 masked men armed with machetes and firemarms attacked the home of Esteban Hermelindo Cux, an indigenous Q’eqchi’ organizer in Panzós in Alto Verapaz Department.
News Article
September 8, 2016
RENEWED REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, AND GUATEMALA IN LIGHT OF CONTINUED INJUNCTION IN UNITED STATES V. TEXAS
Dear President Obama:
RRN Letter
August 26, 2016
Escalating wave of intimidation against legal officials. At 6am on August 15 in Guatemala City, eight armed men posing as police officers forced their way into the house of Ramón Cadena Rámila, Central America Director of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).
Event
August 5, 2016
Live Music. Poetry. Refreshments.
Updates from IRTF staff about Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
With special guests from Colombia (Caldwell Manners, CPT) and El Salvador (Leslie Schuld, CIS).
RRN Letter
July 15, 2016
Murder of journalist Álvaro Alfredo Aceituno López,Radio Director of Radio Ilusión. His radio show promoted community rights He would take calls during which people would criticize local officials and municipal programs. This is the second attack in the last three months against journalists in this region of Coatepeque.
RRN Letter
July 13, 2016
Invasion of the office of the human rights defense organization Impunity Watch. On June 21, three masked men forced their way into the office of the international organization. The assailants forced a secretary who was on her way out to open the door. They covered her eyes, taped her mouth shut and ransacked the office. Impunity Watch has worked for many years in Guatemala on issues related to human rights violations committed during the country’s long armed internal conflict.
RRN Letter
July 11, 2016
Assassination of human rights defender Brenda Marleni Estrada Tambito, the Sub-Coordinator of the Legal Aid Commission of the Coalition of the Workers' Union of Guatemala(UNSITRAGUA).
RRN Letter
June 25, 2016
assassination of Diego Choc Pop, an indigenous and campesino human rights defender from the San Juan Tres Ríos community in Cobán Department which he represented at the General Assembly of the Highlands Campesino Committee.