|
We strongly repudiate these actions of the Guatemalan State. Angelica Choc is a 57 year old widow in poor health, after so many years of struggle in defense of Q'eqchi' territories and rights, and so many years of mining-related attacks against her person and family.
We demand that the State of Guatemala respond and assume responsibility for this abuse of the administration of justice, for yet another 'criminalization' of human rights defenders, and for the state of health of our sister Angelica Choc.
Angélica Choc is the victim of several attacks and human rights violations against her and her family, including the vicious assassination on September 27, 2009 of her husband Adolfo Ich Chaman, for defending Mother Earth against the invasion of mining in our territory. She is also a plaintiff, along with 11 women from the village of Lote 8, and German Chub, in the civil lawsuits in Canada against Hudbay Minerals, former owner of CGN (Compania Guatemalteca de Niquel) and the Fenix mine, for being victims of acts of repression linked to the mining operation in the years 2007-2009.
We demand, once again, that the State of Guatemala stop violating human rights and intimidating defenders, in a country where indigenous peoples defend Mother Earth and human rights, especially in this Maya Q'eqchi' territory of El Estor, Izabal.
Maya Q'eqchi' Ancestral Authorities of the La Unión neighborhood and COCODES.
|
