INTERVIEW WITH MARCELO SABUC XALCUT
Land defender and fighter against extractivism, Marcelo Sabuc Xalcut participated in the 3rd Conference of the Parties to the Escazú Agreement. We had a conversation with him about the situation of land defenders in Guatemala, and how the recently approved Regional Action Plan can contribute to guaranteeing their rights.
The situation of land and environmental defenders in Guatemala has long been alarming. Between 2012 and 2022 alone, 82 defenders were killed in the country (according to the latest Global Witness report from 2023). At the same time, UDEFEGUA records show a steady increase in attacks: from 55 in 2000, the number of attacks rose to 1002 in 2021.
In this context, ILC LAC will lead -in alliance with Trócaire- the implementation in the country of the Standing Together for Environmental Defenders (STAND Initiative). Promoted by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Alliance of Land, Indigenous and Environmental Defenders (ALLIED), the STAND Initiative aims to strengthen the capacities of defenders and their organisations, support them in their advocacy through seed funding and enhance their collaborative alliances.
Learn more about the STAND initiative
As part of the first actions of this initiative, Marcelo Sabuc Xalcut, land defender and member of the Comité Campesino del Altiplano (part of the National Land Coalition of Guatemala), travelled to Santiago de Chile to bring the voice of land defenders to the 3rd Conference of the Parties (COP3) of the Escazú Agreement.
Marcelo at the ECLAC headquarters in Santiago de Chile, where the COP3 of the Escazú Agreement was held.
As a land and environmental rights defender from Guatemala, what was the key message to position at this COP3?
Although in 2018, the State of Guatemala signed the Escazú Agreement, in order for it to enter into force, the ratification procedure must be carried out.
THAT IS THE CENTRAL THING THAT WE ORGANISATIONS ARE DEMANDING, THAT GUATEMALA RATIFY THE AGREEMENT.
We are also asking that the demands of the Indigenous Peoples and communities be heard so that their rights do not continue to be violated, so that repression and criminalisation are stopped, and so that they have access to justice.
The big milestone of this COP was the approval of the Regional Action Plan on human rights defenders in environmental issues. What actions of this plan do you consider urgent?
WE BELIEVE THAT THE PLAN'S HIGHEST PRIORITY ACTIONS SHOULD BE THOSE THAT ALLOW ACCESS TO JUSTICE.
In Guatemala there is no justice, rather there is persecution against honest judges and prosecutors. Although as CCDA we have signed an Agrarian Agreement with the new government of President Arévalo, we are concerned about the actions of the Public Prosecutor's Office, as it continues to issue arrest warrants. We understand that this is a strategy of the attorney general, who is in favour of the extractive companies and the association of farmers, to generate friction between the organisations and the new authorities, and to weaken the Agrarian Agreement signed last February.
The allocation of funding must also be a priority, so that the Action Plan can be effectively implemented. Another point that requires urgent action is the inclusion of indigenous peoples, so that they have a voice and a vote in decision-making and have real access to information.
THE SITUATION OF REPRESSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN FACING IS VERY HARSH.
Since 2014 in the CCDA alone, we count 16 comrades murdered, comrades who have been disabled by firearms projectiles and 1050 brothers and sisters with arrest warrants. We hope that the Escazú Agreement and this Action Plan can help us. We are well aware that it does not solve the problem. In spite of everything, our dream is still to stop the mining and hydroelectric companies from committing major human rights violations and polluting resources, especially in the current context of a deepening climate crisis.
What strategies does the CCDA adopt to address violations of the rights of defenders?
From the CCDA we have been carrying out different processes. To confront persecution and criminalisation, we have filed complaints with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which have resulted in precautionary measures, but so far the Guatemalan state has ignored them.
On the other hand, strengthening networks. We are part of the International Land Coalition, and we have been coordinating with sister organisations such as CODECA and UVOC. We believe that it is fundamental to sustain and strengthen networks, to bet on coordination and strategic advocacy in order to continue promoting demands. When we coincide in our struggle, we mobilise together.
What capacities of defenders in Guatemala do you think need to be strengthened?
In Guatemala, the grassroots and civil society organisations have a great capacity, mainly to achieve articulations. For example, with regard to the Escazú Agreement, we have been sharing information and disseminating this instrument among all social organisations, youth, women, Indigenous Peoples and ancestral authorities. But it is still necessary to strengthen networks and knowledge of tools or instruments such as Escazú. We are aware that the Agreement will benefit environmental rights defenders in our country, which is why we must continue to advocate and work so that the State of Guatemala ratifies it.