Guatemala: News & Updates

shooting of environmental defenders Marlon Loy Domínguez, Estuardo Bran Clavel, and Alex Reynoso, whose 16-year old daughter Topacio was killed (RRN letter May 24 2014) in demonstration against Tahoe Resources’ open-pit silver mine El Escobal in Jalapa Department

assassination of 70-year-old Sebastian Córdova Sajic, a human rights defender and spiritual leader and one of few survivors of genocide against the Ixil Maya indigenous people in El Quiché Department

assassination of environmental human rights defender Professor Rigoberto Lima Choc, who documented harm resulting from the palm plantation REPSA in El Petén Dept., and kidnapping and threats to members of the Commission for the Defense of Life and Nature (Hermelindo Asij, Lorenzo Pérez and Manuel Mendoza)

unjust 2-year detention and false criminal charges against Saúl Méndez and Rogelio Velásquez, members of the people’s organized resistance to a hydroelectric dam project in Santa Cruz Barillas, Huehuetenango Dept.

intimidation of and shots fired outside the office of CALAS, an environmental group denouncing abuses by Tahoe Resources mining company in Santa Rosa Dept.

unjust detention of Bernardo Ermitaño López Reyes, member of the Council of Mayan People and community leader with high profile in the people’s organized resistance to a hydroelectric dam project in Santa Cruz Barillas, Huehuetenango Dept.

assassination of environmental human rights defender Telésforo Odilio Pivaral González, active in the resistance against the El Escobal silver mining project in San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa

unjust detention of environmental rights defenders Sotero Adalberto Villatoro, Francisco Juan Pedro and Arturo Pablo Juan of Santa Cruz Barillas municipality in Huehuetenango Department.

killing of two journalists, Danilo Zapón López and Federico Salazar, and the wounding of a third, Marvin Israel Túnchez, in Mazatenango in Suchitepéquez Department.