• About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
Thursday, January 21, 2021
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Arts & Culture
  • Videos
  • COVID-19
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Arts & Culture
  • Videos
  • COVID-19
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home Economy

Wave of attacks against women activists in Guatemala

by Renata Avila
July 10, 2012
2 min read
Wave of attacks against women activists in Guatemala

Lolita Chavez speaking at a preparatory meeting for a community-organized consultation on large-scale extractive projects in Santa Cruze del Quiché, Guatemala in May 2010. Photo: Tracy Glynn.

The intensity of violence against female activists is on the rise in Guatemala. Lolita Chavez, member of the K’iche’ People’s Council, was attacked by armed men who attempted to lynch her as she was returning home after a peaceful protest against abusive extractive practices and projects affecting the environment.

Photojournalist James Rodriguez from Mimundo.org explains:
During the morning of July 4th, roughly 400 residents of Quiché, along with members of the CPK, carried out a peaceful protest denouncing local mayor Estuardo Castro’s continuous arrogance and his lack of respect for the people’s refusal to sell their lands to transnational corporations, as proved during the 2010 community consultation.

As the protesters passed the community of Xetinap Quinto, a group of men armed with machetes, sticks and knives intercepted members of the CPK and proceeded to chase and beat several of them. These armed men were particularly interested in recognized leader Lolita Chávez, as they called out her name, chased her, and did manage to injure her, but not seriously. Lolita received cuts and bruises but managed to escape. Nevertheless, three other women were hospitalized due to injuries.

Two weeks ago, in an area close to Guatemala City, Yolanda Oquelí Veliz, a human rights lawyer and leader of a movement against the expansion of mining activities, was also attacked when returning from a pacific protest.

The blog FrontlineDefenders reports:
Yolanda is a woman human rights defender in San Jose de Gulfo who is a community leader resisting the Exmigua mine. From everything we’ve heard, from all sides, mining of minerals such as gold and silver, sand and alloys is a huge issue in Guatemala. Generally the community affected is not consulted. No objective information or public process of consultation takes place to allay fears about damage to the environment; whether the rivers will be polluted; whether the forests will be felled and thus their water supply compromised; and also, what will happen after the mining licence expires and the environment needs to be repaired and rebuilt.

They add:
Yoly (as she wrote her name) has a history of intimidation because of her work. Her lawyer (pro bono) has lodged roughly 10 complaints through the legal process. She has been tear-gassed; graffiti had been written on her walls and threats against her and her children have been significant. Despite this, the Government to date has been mute.

Different networks issued Urgent Actions but the Government has not responded with the requested protection for the activists. Furthermore, civil society has been extremely quiet about the crimes.

The defenselessness of citizens directly affected by transnational energy and extractive companies is more visible than ever. However, the apathy shown by media and educated civil society in Guatemala is a sign of the normalization of violence. Traditional media, which labels most acts of dissent as “terrorism,” has given more coverage to arguments in favor of these foreign investments, ignoring the danger faced by activists and citizens who oppose them.

The growing number of attacked human rights defenders, both in urban and rural areas, has been met with silence, rather than adequate responses, from the authorities.

Renata Avila is a human rights lawyer specialising in Intellectual Property and Technology.

Originally published at Global Voices Online.

Tags: GuatemalaLolita ChavezminingRenata Avilatransnational corporations
ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

Sisson Mine update: milking the pandemic in New Brunswick
*Opinion*

Sisson Mine update: milking the pandemic in New Brunswick

July 25, 2020

It seems that mineral exploration companies sense the panic in the Higgs government and its desire to appear to be...

Maritimers return home after being stranded in Guatemala [Updated]
COVID-19

Maritimers return home after being stranded in Guatemala [Updated]

March 21, 2020

Update, March 25: On March 23, the three volunteers with the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS) that were stranded...

Sisson update: Todd Minerals keeps Northcliff afloat (for 5 pennies a share!!)
*Opinion*

Sisson update: Todd Minerals keeps Northcliff afloat (for 5 pennies a share!!)

February 5, 2020

Like two drunken canoeists, each with half a paddle, Northcliff Resources of Vancouver and Todd Minerals of New Zealand are...

Rural New Brunswickers talk about home through photovoice
Economy

Rural New Brunswickers talk about home through photovoice

January 21, 2020

Scarlet runners and garlic, gas flares and roadkill are just some of the subjects of more than 30 photo-stories being...

Load More

Recommended

Is the International Student Movement the future of global organizing?

Is the International Student Movement the future of global organizing?

8 years ago

Be the Media & Join Your Local Media Co-op

10 months ago
deodora

Divide and rule in the land of gold

8 years ago

Harper government cuts co-op funding

9 years ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In