We demand protection and an end to harassment and violence against land defenders in Guatemala

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COMMUNIQUÉ

Guatemala, September 11, 2024

The International Land Coalition in Latin America and the Caribbean (ILC-LAC), the Plataforma por la Defensa de la Tierra y el Territorio - Coalición Nacional por la Tierra de Guatemala (CNT Guatemala) and the Plataforma de Defensoras y Defensores de la Tierra y del Territorio de América Latina strongly condemn the attacks and cyber harassment against Neydi Juracán, member of the Comité Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA) in Guatemala and member of the Regional Committee of ILC-LAC. Compañera Juracán is a well known leader and defender of human rights, land and territories at the international level.  She was recently elected to the board of directors of the National Land Fund in the framework of the Agrarian Agreement. Systematic attacks through social networks and virtual media seek to intimidate her and silence her work fighting for the rights of peasant and indigenous communities in Guatemala. They are a clear retaliation for her commitment to these causes.

This situation is part of a disturbing pattern of persecution and violence against defenders of land and territory and their communities, including threats, assassinations, criminalization and evictions. In recent weeks, we have learned of a series of attacks and murders against peasant and indigenous leaders in Guatemala. These cases affect several organisations in the country, including four that are members of ILC-LAC and part of CNT Guatemala and the Platform of Defenders of Land and Territory: the Comité Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA), the Central Campesina Ch'orti Nuevo Día, the Unión Verapacense de Organizaciones Campesinas (UVOC) and the Comité de Desarrollo Campesino (CODECA). 

Recent acts include:

  • The murder of Santos Lopez Hernandez, leader of CODECA in Jalapa, on August 19, 2024.
  • The assassination of Valeriano López Méndez, Ch'orti' indigenous authority and member of Nuevo Día, on August 31, 2024.
  • The illegal detention of nine leaders of CCDA, from the community of Nueva Esperanza, Barberena, Santa Rosa, on August 28, 2024. 
  • The assassination of six peasant leaders from the Port of San José, department of Escuintla, along with attacks that left  three members of the CCDA seriously injured  by gunshot wounds.
  • The physical assault of Andres Maquin and Gilberto Caal, CCDA leaders in Alta Verapaz.
  • The attempted extrajudicial eviction of the Chinamoch community in Cahabón, Alta Verapaz, on August 17.
  • The attempted extrajudicial eviction of 36 Q'eqchi' families from the Río Tebernal community in Livingston, Izabal, on September 4.

We demand:

  1. The immediate cessation of persecution and harassment of Neydi Juracán, and the full respect for her physical, emotional, and digital integrity.
  2. An end to the policy of evictions, criminalization and violence in and against rural territories and communities.
  3. Effective protection of human rights defenders and territorial leaders in Guatemala, in accordance with the international human rights commitments signed by the State of Guatemala.
  4. Prompt and thorough investigations by the Guatemalan Public Prosecutor's Office to identify and punish those responsible for the attacks and murders of human rights defenders and community leaders.
  5. The Government of Guatemala's firm commitment  to guarantee the safety of those who defend collective and territorial rights.

The International Land Coalition will remain vigilant and continue to denounce these acts of intimidation and violence. We reiterate our solidarity with Neydi Juracán and all individuals and collectives who suffer attacks due to their struggle for land, justice and human rights.