Urgent: Indigenous Peasant Leader Kidnapped in Guatemala
August 11, 2017
The GSP strongly denounces yesterday’s kidnapping of indigenous community leader Ricardo Chun Caal. We request solidarity from people of conscience. Caal was forced into a grey truck while at an open market in Ribaco. This morning he was taken to the police, and is now being held on fraudulent charges. We are urgently organizing with local leaders and organizations on the ground to assure his short term safety and gain more information.
Caal’s arrest is part of the rapidly increasing repression against indigenous leaders from Panima, a “microregion” consisting of eight communities in the municipality of Purulha, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. These communities have stated their opposition to the construction of numerous illegal damns and rerouting of rivers and natural springs in the area. This construction is having a devastating impact on local ecosystems and local agriculture. It is taking place without the consultation of indigenous communities in the area, in violation of Guatemalan and international law.
On August 1, community leaders Roberto Caal Ayu and Isaias Ayu were arrested on fraudulent charges. Our partners asked us to stand with them in denouncing the arrest, and thanks to collective action the two were released from prison on Monday, August 7. This was an enormous victory. However they had to pay substantial bail and still face numerous legal charges and upcoming hearings.
Yesterday the repression escalated with the kidnapping of Ricardo Chun Caal and his being held overnight at an undisclosed location. It is clear that the police are either collaborating with or are themselves part of this illegal act.
Our partners is Panima are courageously speaking out in favor of their human rights and against the destruction of their ecosystems and culture. We stand with them and ask you to take action in solidarity as well.
1) Contact the Guatemala Embassy in Washington, DC at Ygutierrez@guatemala-embassy.org or 202-745-4953 (If you call please ask to speak with consular Yanira Gutierrez)
Sample message:
“Dear Consular Gutierrez,
I am writing to denounce the escalating repression against indigenous community leaders from the micro region of Panima, municipality of Purulha, Department of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. This repression includes what appears to be the kidnapping of Ricardo Chun Caal on August 10, 2017. Chun Caal is now being held in prison because he has asked the Guatemalan government to obey the law and consult indigenous communities about damns and other megaprojects being considered in the region. Please do everything in your power to ensure the immediate release of Chun Caal and the end of repression against indigenous community leaders from Panima, including arrest warrants.
Sincerely,
________”
2) Donate to the GSP. All donations go to our partners. Donations are tax-deductible in the US. There is an urgent for us to help our partners mobilize in the face of growing repression in Panima. Please consider making a donation of any size via our website www.GuatemalaSolidarityProject.org
3) Join our urgent action email list to receive updates and participate in ongoing actions. To join our urgent action list email info@guatemalasolidarityproject.org with “Add to urgent action list” in the subject line, and we will let you know of important actions to take immediately after emergencies such as the arrest of a community leader or an attack on a community.
Recent related alerts:
Roberto Caal Ayu (left, in white and yellow striped shirt) speaks with GSP activists earlier this year
Video featuring Roberto Caal Ayu now available:
August 3, 2017
The GSP is disgusted but not surprised that the Guatemalan government is accusing indigenous community leaders Roberto Caal Ayu and Isaias Ayu of being drug traffickers. The ridiculous accusation is part of a systematic strategy being used by the Guatemalan and US governments. The drug trafficking allegation allows the governments to publicly slander indigenous leaders and is used as an excuse to increase militarization in the region.
The charges also make it easier to keep the activists in prison without evidence or trial, and forces them to appear in a special court where their rights can be further limited.
The GSP and our partners are urgently organizing to support these courageous leaders. They face the short term threat of physical and sexual violence, and the long term threat of remaining in prison for various years. We know from previous experience that by quickly mobilizing solidarity actions, including in the international community, we can help win freedom for political prisoners shortly after their arrest. But we must act now before the legal charges move forward in the court system, making their release even more difficult. Please take the actions described at the bottom of this page
August 2, 2017
The Guatemala Solidarity Project calls for urgent action in solidarity with Roberto Caal Ayu and Isaias Ayu, indigenous activists who were arrested yesterday as a result of their nonviolent organizing on behalf of indigenous territorial rights.
“We really don’t want the hydroelectric damns because they cause us problems, consequences,” Roberto recently told the GSP. “They are causing great damage to nature and therefor we ask for the presence of other countries to support us in rejecting all the big transnational businesses that are coming to exploit our region.”
Roberto and Isaias were not arrested for any crime. They were arrested because they have courageously spoken out against the massive environmental damage being caused in indigenous lands by transnational corporations, including hydroelectric damns.
The GSP is rapidly organizing on the ground to demand freedom for Roberto and Isaias. In the coming days we will be releasing more information and videos about their struggle. Meanwhile we urgently need your support. We have found that quick action in solidarity with political prisoners can help win their release. If the legal charges move forward in the court system before action is taken it will be much more difficult to win freedom for these two inspirational leaders.
Take action now!
1) Contact the Guatemala Embassy in Washington, DC at Ygutierrez@guatemala-embassy.org or 202-745-4953 (If you call please ask to speak with consular Yanira Gutierrez)
Sample message:
“Dear Consular Gutierrez,
I am writing to denounce the arrest of indigenous community leaders Roberto Caal Ayu and Isaias Ayu. They were arrested on August 1, 2017, in the Purulha market. I understand that the two are highly respected in the community. I also understand that they have spoken out in calling on the Guatemalan government to respect the rights of indigenous people. It is clear that their arrest was related to their nonviolent organizing in support of indigenous rights. I ask that Roberto Caal Ayu and Isaias Ayu be immediately released from prison. I will continue to follow the case.
Sincerely,
________”
2) Donate to the GSP. All donations go to our partners. Donations are tax-deductible in the US. There is an urgent need for $500 in legal fees to support the release of Roberto and Isaias. Please consider making a donation of any size
3) Join our urgent action email list to receive updates and participate in ongoing actions. To join our urgent action list email info@guatemalasolidarityproject.org with “Add to urgent action list” in the subject line, and we will let you know of important actions to take immediately after emergencies such as the arrest of a community leader or an attack on a community.