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polly7

(20,582 posts)
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 10:27 AM Apr 2013

Guatemala: Wave Of Persecution And Assassination Of Social Leaders

By Rocizela Pérez Gómez

Source: America Latin

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

In the first three months of 2013, a number of social leaders, defenders of the rights of their communities, have been assassinated or kidnapped, even as a policy of criminalization, defamation and repression has been mounted.

The struggle of men, women, youth and children in defence of individual and collective rights has intensified in Guatemala during recent years; various communities have organized to demand the fulfilment of national and international agreements, respect for mother earth, an end to the looting and contamination on the part of hydroelectric enterprises, mining and cement factories, as well as the struggle to defend the rights of the working classes.


The report presented in October of 2012 by the Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (UDEFEGUA), a Guatemalan NGO, pointed out that from January to October of 2012 there were 254 attacks carried out against men and women engaged in the defence of human rights.

Among the principal observations and recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, corresponding to the year 2012, are those pointing out aggression that particularly affects work in defence of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights on the part of indigenous peoples, all related to the exploitation of natural resources and these without any consultation or information for the affected communities.


Full Article: http://www.zcommunications.org/guatemala-wave-of-persecution-and-assassination-of-social-leaders-by-rocizela-p-rez-g-mez
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Guatemala: Wave Of Persecution And Assassination Of Social Leaders (Original Post) polly7 Apr 2013 OP
The report also hits what should be considered a deep raw wound: Judi Lynn Apr 2013 #1
It's so sick. ocpagu Apr 2013 #2

Judi Lynn

(160,211 posts)
1. The report also hits what should be considered a deep raw wound:
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 01:43 PM
Apr 2013
In addition, the report expresses its concern with the possible disproportionate recourse to penal categories such as resistance, terrorism and illicit association, used against protests of indigenous and campesino communities involved in conflicts over land use; at the same time, it highlights the participation of non-state actors in practices that can generate vulnerability or direct attacks against men and women who are defending human rights, as well as violent and racist comment in the media and in social networks, categorizing men and women who are defending human rights as criminal terrorists.


This typical work has been carried on by "news" media throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. It's filthy to seeing this is how "journalism" has been turned to become used as simply another evil tool by the oligarchs. What a hellish situation.

Thank you, Polly.
 

ocpagu

(1,954 posts)
2. It's so sick.
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 02:18 PM
Apr 2013

And has been happening for a long time. Just goes to show the war on the leftist movement in Latin America has never ceased, only has been stopped in the countries that had achieved conditions of countering and partially stopping it. But everywhere in the continent the murder, intimidation and persecution of environmentalists, union leaders, activists, nuns, progressive representatives, etc. keeps going, and in Central America the progressive movements are suffering a siege on all fronts. Thanks for the information.

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