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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
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 7/13/2016
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.
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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 7/11/2016
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).
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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 6/25/2016
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.
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Event
Sophie & Wilber's Report-Backs from Honduras and Guatemala
March 28, 2016

Back from her 2-week delegation to Honduras with the topic Women Leading the Way to Justice and Peace, Sophie will report from her experience of peaceful resistance in the country with the highest homicide rate in the world.

After learning for two weeks from the people protecting their traditional lands and resisting the violence by Tahoe Resources, Wilber will talk about his journey to the counrty directly north of his native El Salvador.

Come and discuss with us:

How can we better act in solidarity with the people in Central America?

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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 3/25/2016
March 25, 2016
Murder of environmental rights defenderWalter Méndez Barrios, who was shot and killed outside his home in Las Cruces, in the Department of Petén, on the morning of March 16. He was a founding member of Petenero Front Against Dams (FPCR), an organization formed in 2005 to fight for the land rights and the right to water and other natural resources of those affected and threatened by the construction of hydroelectric dams.
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Event
Social Justice Teach-In
February 6, 2016
The InterReligious Task Force, in conjunction with Case Western Reserve University, presents the 16th annual Social Justice Teach-In as a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn about critical human rights issues and practice hands-on skills to organize for change. This annual event attracts 500+ participants, many from area high schools and colleges. The Teach-In will provide participants with information, skills, and resources to support their own social justice programming at their schools and congregations.
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News Article
SOA graduates arrested
January 22, 2016
In Guatemala eighteen former military officials were arrested on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in one of the largest mass arrests of military officers Latin America has ever seen. Twelve of them were trained at the SOA.
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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 12/16/2015
December 16, 2015
death threats to Rafael Maldonado, Legal Director for the Guatemalan Centre for Environmental, Social and Legal Action (CALAS). This follows the escape from house arrest of a security director of Tahoe Resources’ open-pit silver mine El Escobal in Jalapa Department
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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 11/22/2015
November 22, 2015
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
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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 10/13/2015
October 13, 2015
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
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