Further attacks and attempted break-ins against Central Campesina Ch’ortí Nuevo Día
On 1 July 2019 the Central Campesina Chorti Nuevo Día suffered an attack against one of the members of the organization and damage to the building’s facade. This is believed to be linked to a mining project to which the organization has been peacefully resisting for the last months. These attacks are carried on in a week in which two break ins have also been attempted and gunshots were fired outside the resistance.
The Nuevo Dia Ch’orti Indigenous Association (Central Campesina Ch’ortí Nuevo Día, CCCND) provides legal support and visibility to indigenous Chortí communities in the region of Chiquimula, Guatemala. The communities supported by the organisation face threats and human rights violations due to the implementation of hydroelectric and mining projects on their territories.
On 1 July 2019 the Central Campesina Chorti Nuevo Día suffered an attack against one of the members of the organization and damage to the building’s facade. This is believed to be linked to a mining project to which the organization has been peacefully resisting for the last months. These attacks are carried on in a week in which two break ins have also been attempted and gunshots were fired outside the resistance.
The Nuevo Dia Ch’orti Indigenous Association (Central Campesina Ch’ortí Nuevo Día, CCCND) provides legal support and visibility to indigenous Chortí communities in the region of Chiquimula, Guatemala. The communities supported by the organisation face threats and human rights violations due to the implementation of hydroelectric and mining projects on their territories.
On 1 July 2019, the alleged owner of Cantera Los Manantiales, in Olopa, Chiquimula, violently tried to break-up the occupation that Ch’ortí communities have maintained for four months now as a peaceful demonstration against the mining project that the company carried out without prior consultation and in violation of international legal conventions. When he was challenged by members of the community, he and his son violently attacked members of the community and called their personal security staff and others, who shot at the building of the association repeatedly. In the midst of the attack, one of the perpetrators hit indigenous authority Irma Mendez, provoking bruises and contusions in her face. In this violent outburst, they also damaged one of the organizations motorcycles. When the police showed up to gather evidence and take a statement, there was a dialogue between the members of CCCND and the owner of Cantera los Manantiales, however, no one was arrested.
On 25 and 20 June 2019, there were also two attempted break ins into the organization’s offices, leaving the windows broken, CCTV cameras manipulated and a series of instruments around the office that may have also been used to break in without success.
On May 2019, Front Line Defenders stated concern due to direct threats and intimidation attempts by local authorities and individuals linked to the mining project Cantera de los Manantiales, INCAMIN S.A, and the development project Interoceanic Corridor in the previous months, on a daily basis, against members of the Central Campesina Chortí Nuevo Día. On 2 May 2019, a former member of the organisation was killed in connection with its work. Human rights defenders from the Maya Chortí indigenous communities in Chiquimula have been the target of increased and coordinated smear campaigns and threats for defending their right to free, prior and informed consent to any activities on their lands.
Front Line Defenders remains concerned at the continuous attacks against the CCCND, and the attempts to break-in the organizations offices, as they are believed to be directly linked to their legitimate human rights work. Front Line Defenders expresses further concern about the ongoing criminalisation of indigenous, environmental and land rights defenders working to protect their land and livelihoods in Guatemala.
