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WE CONDEMN STATE SPONSORED REPRESSION AGAINST THE MAYA Q’EQCHI’ NATION IN CHAPÍN ABAJO, EL ESTOR, IZABAL, GUATEMALA
Piscataway Nation Territory | Washington, D.C. – Maya peoples of the diaspora and allies unequivocally denounce the latest violent evictions affecting the Maya Q’eqchi’ Nation. At approximately 5 a.m. on December 6, 2022, large contingents of the PNC (National Civil Police) invaded the Chapín Abajo community in El Estor, Guatemala to execute 25 arrest warrants1. This aggression targeted the Maya Q’eqchi’ peoples including women, children, and elders, as documented and reported by community leaders, media outlets such as Prensa Comunitaria, and other Indigenous journalists. The PNC’s repressive tactics against the community have caused widespread injuries, damage to property, fear, and trauma2. We are outraged that the state values the expansion of African palm oil plantations over human life in complete disregard of the Maya Q’eqchi’ Nation’s right of self-determination and autonomy over their ancestral lands.
As the International Mayan League, we are indignant that the Biden Administration provided further military aid to the Guatemalan government in October 20223, as Guatemala continues to violate the human rights of the majority Indigenous population. Hours after the repression in El Estor, Guatemalan President AlejandroGiammattei announcedthatheisworkingtobetterenforce the border, which often means militarization with U.S. support and funds. The U.S. government is actively aware of military donations being misused to commit human rights abuses in places like El Estor
The Maya Q’eqchi’ people and their territories have been increasingly under attack in the last couple of years by multinational corporations that include the Guatemalan Nickel Company (CGN)4, a subsidiary of the Solway Investment Group5, and NaturAceites6. These multinational corporations acting with the support of the government and the PNC have carried out violent evictions and arrests of Indigenous peoples, notably in the fall of 20217 and over this past year. The state-sponsored violence in El Estor has been condemned by international organizations such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights8, among others.
In the first official documentation, Report of the Commission of Ancestral Authorities on the repression of the community of Chapín Abajo9 , by the Ancestral Authorities, comprised of Authorities of the Four Maya Q'eqchi' Ancestral Councils, and reporters from independent media, traveled on the morning of December 6th to assess the situation in the raided community. After their visit, they reported the following:
1 https://fb.watch/hgFZCwLDvL/
2 https://www.prensacomunitaria.org/2022/12/continua-la-violencia-contra-la-comunidad-chapin-abajo-en-el-estor/
3 https://www.wola.org/analysis/us-military-aid-donation-guatemala-mistake /
4 https://www.prensacomunitaria.org/2021/12/la-noticia-de-2021-la-toma-de-el-estor-por-la-minera-suizo-rusasolway/
5 https://cgn.com.gt/
6https://www.prensacomunitaria.org/2022/08/el-estor-declaran-inocente-a-comunitario-acusado-falsamente-pornaturaceites/
7 https://www.prensacomunitaria.org/2021/10/guatemala-decreta-estado-de-sitio-en-el-municipio-de-el-estor/
8 https://www.oas.org/fr/CIDH/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2021/293.asp
9https://www.prensacomunitaria.org/2022/12/el-estor-primer-reporte-de-la-comision-de-autoridades-ancestralessobre-la-represion-de-la-comunidad-chapin-abajo/
“1)A17-year-oldboywasinjuredandinneedofmedicalattention. 2)Twomenhadminorgunshot wounds. 3) Several women were beaten on the body and face. 4) Other women and children were intoxicated by the use of tear gas. 5) The presence of said commission of Ancestral Authorities and the press momentarily managed to lower the tension in the area a bit. 6) Houses were raided, and food and other goods were stolen from the families. They know that there is a presence of paramilitariesusingriflesthatarenotusedbyStatesecurityforces.Lastnighttheyweretransferred by boat from Mariscos and may have been hired by the company.”
Mostrecently,AlbaMaríaChoc,wifeofPedroCucPan - AncestralAuthorityandleaderofChapín Abajo - was arrested along with her two minor children. Per the Report of the Commission of Ancestral Authorities, Alba and her children were unjustly and violently arrested so that her husband, Pedro Cuc Pan, would turn himself in exchange for his children.
As the International Mayan League we express our outrage against these grave human rights violations towards the Maya Q’eqchi’ Nation and in general, the Maya. We are committed to supporting the demands of the Maya Q’eqchi’ Ancestral Authorities and their communities and call on the International community to help and stand in solidarity with our peoples at this time.
● We uplift the community’s request for urgent international intervention by Human Rights Experts from the United Nations and the Inter-American Human Rights System for a Human Rights monitoring and verification delegation.
● You can call your congressional representative and tell them to stop providing military aid to Guatemala and to co-sponsor Resolution 1481 introduced by Rep. Norma Torres Congress is aware of the human rights abuses and criminalization of Indigenous peoples. History is repeating itself as the U.S. continues to support Guatemalan state entities responsible for violence and systemic oppression against the Maya.
● Write to the company, NaturAceites, to let them know that the world is vigilant, and we will not be silent. The death threats and intimidation tactics against Ancestral Authorities, women, and children, will not be tolerated. We can stop buying their products as an act of solidarity with the Maya Q’eqchi’ Nation. #BoycottNaturAceites #BoycottCapullo #BoycottBeiker #BoycottGreatFry
● Join us by uplifting #IndigenousMedia to shed light on the local realities of Maya communities. Follow our social accounts @MayanLeague and please share, retweet, add us to your stories. Mainstream media is completely silent as evictions are on the rise in favor of corporations like NaturAceites.
● Donate! The Community needs emergency support for food, supplies, medical and legal costs. Please consider a donation to the Indigenous Solidarity Fund!
We are not invaders in our own lands! Maawa'o aj elq' ch'och' sa' li qana'aj Justice for the Maya Q’eqchi’ Nation!
December 7, 2022 | 2 Tijax