TAKE ACTION: Call Canadian Government to Act in Support of Indigenous Communities and Guatemalan Democracy

Last week, the BTS community learned about the devastating murder of Noé Gómez Barrera, Xinka ancestral authority and community leader.

We ask you to stand with his loved ones and the Xinka People by writing to the Canadian Embassy, as well as the foreign affairs minister and opposition critics, and demanding that the Canadian government take action in the face of this violence.

We have provided a sample letter below with useful background information, but please make the message your own for maximum impact. You can include a sentence at the beginning introducing yourself as someone deeply concerned about human rights in Guatemala. You can also share how you have been involved in solidarity with Guatemala, e.g. as a BTS Intern, delegation member, a long-time member of BTS, etc.

 

Letter Recipients

Embassy contacts (To: Ambassador Rajani Alexander, CC: other Embassy staff)

Amb. Rajani Alexander, Ambassador of Canada to Guatemala, Rajani.Alexander@international.gc.ca
Caroline Amyot, Head of political section, Caroline.Amyot@international.gc.ca
Christine Faveri, Head of international cooperation, Christine.Faveri@international.gc.ca
Monica Izaguirre, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy and Communications Officer, Monica.Izaguirre@international.gc.ca

CC: Opposition Critics

Tories: Michael Chong, michael.chong@parl.gc.ca
NDP: Heather MacPherson, heather.mcpherson@parl.gc.ca 
Green Party: Elizabeth May, elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
Bloc Quebecois: Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Alexis.Brunelle-Duceppe@parl.gc.ca (Note: if you speak French, please feel free to forward your email again with a message in French)

CC: Foreign Minister

Mélanie Joly, melanie.joly@parl.gc.ca

Sample Email

Dear Ambassador Rajani Alexander,

As you are aware, on October 28, 2023, Xinka community leader, 69-year old Noé Gómez Barrera was murdered in the department of Jutiapa, Guatemala. Don Noé, loved and respected by the community, was a member of the ancestral authorities of the Xinka Parliament, and since 2002 fought for Xinka cultural and environmental rights in Jutiapa. In recent weeks, he participated actively in Guatemala’s indefinite National Strike for democracy.

The Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS) is in constant communication with the Xinka Parliament, one of our long-term partners in Guatemala. Indeed, on October 12 we organized a webinar with Don Noé’s daughter and Xinka leader in her own right, Emy Gómez, in which Emy spoke to our network about the current political situation, Indigenous organizing for democracy, and the current threats against Indigenous activists.

Don Noé’s assassination takes place in a generalized context of violence, threats and heightened security concerns. His murder, along with other acts of violence, speaks to the current context of insecurity and human rights threats which BTS has informed the Canadian Embassy about, including in our letter on October 13, 2023.

Don Noé was at particular risk as a leader of the Xinka People, given the Xinka communities’ dignified struggle to defend their health, water, lands, and territory against the threat of megaprojects including the Escobal mine, owned by Canadian mining company Pan American Silver. While defending their collective rights, the Xinka People have faced years of intimidation, defamation, criminalization, attacks, and assassinations, including this most recent murder.

In light of this devastating news, we collaborated with partner groups to produce a solidarity letter which has received strong support from 120 international organizations and is now online in English and Spanish.

In the Canadian Embassy’s letter on October 19, 2023, the Embassy stated that “Canada consistently raises via public statements and in private engagements the need to uphold democracy and rule of law, and promote respect for human rights and freedom of expression, risks for defenders in Guatemala.” Therefore, and in accordance with Canada’s Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders, Voices at Risk, we urge the government of Canada in coordination with its Embassy in Guatemala to:

  • Speak out against the threats of violence and criminalization faced by Ancestral Indigenous Authorities, particularly the Xinka People who are peacefully demonstrating in defense of life, territorial rights, and democracy.

  • Publicly express concern for the situation in Guatemala in order to ensure respect for democratic governance and inform the Canadian public of their efforts to support democracy in Guatemala.

  • Advocate for Guatemalan authorities to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for this atrocious act of violence.

  • As a member of the OAS, advocate for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to grant precautionary measures to protect the Ancestral Authorities that are leading the National Strike in Guatemala.

  • Inform the Canadian public of actions being taken in support of democracy and the protection of human rights, including through regular meetings with Canadian organizations in Guatemala.

Ambassador, can the Embassy commit to taking these actions? I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,