Over the past decade in Guatemala, criminalization has increasingly served as a strategy to stifle public participation in civic life. In most cases, Guatemalan authorities have collaborated with both business and military interests to criminalize those who seek justice and fight against impunity. Unending criminalization of Indigenous land defenders Early [...]
The court buildings where hearings are taking place. Photo credit: Lenora June 15, 2023 Written by Lenora A Pattern of Genocidal Violence Four witnesses shared recorded testimonies today. While the sound was not very good and it is preferable to have the witness present, it was crucial to [...]
June 14, 2023 Written by Lenora [Content warning: Survivor testimony contains graphic and disturbing descriptions of the aftermath of the massacre.] Three more witnesses from Rabinal gave testimonies today. Three Witnesses Remember the Family Members They Lost, Demand Justice The first witness, Paulina Alvarado Ixpatá, is one of the 36 [...]
June 13, 2023 Written by Lenora [Content warning: Survivor testimony contains graphic descriptions of the aftermath of the massacre.] Today witnesses for the prosecution continued to provide testimony in the Rancho Bejuco case. As a reminder, 11 men stand accused in the Rancho Bejuco massacre. On July 29, 1982, 10 [...]
Monday, June 12, 2023 Written by María Photos of the victims from the massacre of Rancho Bejuco posted on the wall surrounding the cemetery in Rabinal, BV. (Photo Credits: Verdad y Justicia) First Expert Witness Describes Military Structure, Campaigns and Chain of Command On the second day of [...]
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 Written by Lisa A monument at the Rabinal cemetery honors the Rancho Bejuco massacre victims. Photo credit: Lisa Rankin Today, the High Risk Court D's three judge panel opened the trial for the Rancho Bejuco case in Guatemala City. The trial is for the [...]
Altar honouring the 177 victims of the March 13th, 1982 massacre at Pak’oxom in Rio Negro (photo credit: ADIVIMA) Sabrina Jeria, a cooperant at the Rabinal Community Legal Clinic, shares her reflections following the March 13th commemoration of the Río Negro massacre. On March 13, I accompanied a [...]
Written by María Reyes The Maya Achi Women Survivors waiting to enter the court room on the day the verdict is to be read On January 24, 2022, the High Risk Court "A" presided by Yassmin Barrios, Patricia Bustamante and Gervi Sical, sentenced Benvenuto and Bernardo Ruiz Aquino, [...]
This month saw the opening of the First Declarations for the 11 men accused in the massacre of Rancho Bejuco, where on July 29, 1982, 10 soldiers, 15 civil patrolers and 4 military commissioners came to the hamlet, tortured 2 men and captured the rest of the community. They then [...]
Abner Peréz giving certificates of appreciation to organizations and individuals who have supported the CCDA during the past four decades. On March 1st, 2022, the Highland Committee of Small Farmers (CCDA) held a National Assembly to celebrate their 40th anniversary. To commemorate four decades of fighting [...]
