Guatemala, May 2013

The purpose of this “Alert” is to draw attention to, and share our concerns regarding the intensification and severity of attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala, the defamation and disparaging of social movements, and the trend in bringing criminal charges against those who form part of, or support them, be they individuals, organizations, or campesino and indigenous communities.

Earlier this week, WOLA, the Latin America Working Group (LAWG), and Peace Brigades International (PBI) sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he include a meeting with members of Mexican civil society during his upcoming visit to Mexico in order to consider human rights concerns from a non-governmental perspective.

Mexico City- 8 April 2013.

URGENT COMMUNIQUÉ

Opposition to the wind-power project in San Dionisio del Mar

In March 8th we received notice of the cruel Front for Struggle (FNL), the Coordination of Popular, Indigenous, Religious, Workers' and Campesino Organisations of the Oriente (COPIISCO) and the Camotán Campesino Association of the department of Chiquimula, municipality of Camotán. According to the information received he was killed by shots fired from another vehicle on his return from a trip from Honduras.