Monthly information packets from PBI-Guatemala

MIP 76 January 2010

Our Monthly Information Package for December details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - 40 thousand outstanding arrest warrants accumulated over 40 years - Presiding judge named for Carpio Nicolle case - LAND - FAO: Estate owners not paying minimum wage to farm workers - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Maya Biosphere Reserve: 45% of forest lost in two years - New attacks against human rights defenders in San Marcos - San Marcos under state of prevention protests against abuses by Unión FENOSA - Huehuetenango councillors protest mining - Canada Supreme Court requires Canadian mining companies to present comprehensive environmental impact evaluations

MIP 76 January 2010 (pdf 130 KB)

MIP 75 December 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for December details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - Colonel sentenced to 53 years in prison for disappearances in El Jute - PNR lodges complaints for human rights violations during the armed conflict - AJR submits copy of Plan Sofía 82 to Attorney General - Inter American Court of Human Rights condemns Guatemala for massacre in Dos Erres - LAND - Vía Campesina: twelve campesino leaders murdered in 2009 - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Activists travel to Canada to denounce the Marlin Mine - The Constitutional Court allows communities to carry out community consultation - OTHER - Thirteenth anniversary of the Peace Accords commemorated.

MIP 75 December 2009 (pdf 264 KB)

MIP 74 November 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for November, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - San Juan Cotzal: The army closes San Juan Cotzal detachment in order to protect the personal safety of its soldiers - CICIG: Insufficient response from the State on violence against women - US Ambassador seeks justice in the case of El Jute - LAND - LIDER blocks approval of Development Alliance Law - FONTIERRAS to allocate small loans to campesinos - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Representatives from 27 villages in Huehuetenango object to changes in mining law - INDE to restart the Xalalá project

MIP 74 November 2009 (pdf 162 KB)

MIP 73 October 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for October, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - Election of new members of the Supreme Court of Justice - Murder of Fausto Otzin, leading indigenous rights defender - Campesinos call on the Interior Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the persecution of social leaders - LAND - Organic agriculture as an alternative for prevention and reparation of the land - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Inhabitants of El Estor, Izabal, denounce threats by the Guatemalan Nickel Company - Congress Commission asks CICIG to investigate conflicts in mining zones - Community Consultation in the municipality of Cunen, El Quiche: 72 communities express an absolute rejection of mining.

MIP 73 October 2009 (pdf 126 KB)

MIP 72 September 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for September, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - Spanish Judge Santiago Pedraz insists on obtaining copies of key military archives for the Guatemalan genocide case being brought before the Spanish National Court - Large part of adoptions during the civil conflict were illegal, estimates SIPAZ - Congress approves the integration of six lawyers vetoed by civil society into the Supreme Court of Justice - LAND -Social organisations denounce increase in killings of leaders of campesino and indigenous communities - Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur, recommends combating structural problems to end famine - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION Communities of Alta Verapaz reject construction of a hydroelectric plant in Lanquín municipality - Congressional Committee holds public hearings about problem of San Juan Sacatepéquez cement plant.

MIP 72 September 2009 (pdf 184 KB)

MIP 71 August 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for August, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - Historic conviction of ex military commissioner for the forced disappearance of six indigenous people - The Spanish High Court requests copies of military plans from the 80s - Ex director of the National Civil Police detained and remanded in custody - LAND - Violent evictions in indigenous and campesino communities continue in Alta Verapaz - Demands for integrated attention to the food crisis - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Colom commits to reparation for victims of the construction of Chixoy hydroelectric plant - New hydroelectric plans from the company Generación Limpia de Guatemala, S.A. - Mayors demand information about the Northern Transversal Strip.

MIP 71 August 2009 (pdf 151 KB)

MIP 70 July 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for July, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - International community continue financial support of National Police Historic Archive - Director of Survivors Foundation, Norma Cruz, ends 10-day hunger strike following advances in two cases of irregular adoption - LAND - Intervention of CICIG requested in the judicial process of campesino leader, Ramiro Choc - Colom presents his rural development project for western Guatemala - Campesino organisations block the country’s highways to demand solutions to rural problems - Agrarian Platform and Government sign letter of commitment - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Oxfam: proof that “Mining does not imply development” - 50% of electorate would reject mining - Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (MARN) releases new resolutions in the case of Montana Exploradora.

MIP 70 July 2009 (pdf 338 KB)

MIP 69 June 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for June, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - Cardenal Quezada Toruño criticizes changes in direction of the PNC - Gladys Monterroso, victim of illegal detention and aggression, accepts CICIG as plaintiff in her case - PDH accused of censoring work of the Historic Recuperation of the National Police Archive Project - LAND - The IDB approves US$22 million loan to Guatemala to finance land registry programme - Eviction of community in Sierra del Lacandón National Park, El Petén - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION: Mayors of San Marcos opposed to mining, linked to destruction of natural heritage and social irresponsibility - Protests in San Marcos against excessive charges by DEOCSA - OTHER ISSUES - 49% of Guatemalan territory threatened with desertification.

MIP 69 June 2009 (pdf 0.9 MB)

MIP 68 May 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for May, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp). Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press: IMPUNITY - Colonel involved in the assassination of Gerardi is murdered - Threat received by activists from SEDEM and UDEFEGUA - European Union Member States and Canada concerned for the deteriorating situation of violence and impunity - LAND - Agrarian Platform demands attention towards campesino communities to avoid a food crisis - 580 agrarian conflicts in Alta Verapaz - NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Drop in taxes collected in Central America - Communities from Huehuetenango monitor the effects of mining activity around the River Cuilco -Strategies of coercion and land usurpation by Montana Exploradora denounced in San Miguel Ixtahuacán

MIP 68 May 2009 (pdf 244 KB)

MIP 67 April 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for February, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp). Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press:
IMPUNITY - CICIG investigation implicates 32 military personnel in Q906 million Defence Ministry embezzlement; CICIG identifies eleven people responsible for massacre in Huité, Zacapa; Interior Ministry closes feminicide and human rights units. LAND - Government and social organisations sign proposal for Integral Rural Development Policy; Peasants occupy estate in Santa Cruz Muluá; Social organisations demand that President Álvaro Colom pass the proposed Rural Development Law; NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION - Archbishop Ramazzini and Peoples’ Council of San Marcos say mining companies should pay up to 50% in royalties; Ministry of Energy and Mines begins administrative process for illegal mine in Zacapa; Indigenous youth demonstrate their rejection of mining projects and activities.

MIP 67 April 2009 (pdf 395 KB)

MIP 66 March 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for March, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp). Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press: Advances: Creation of the Support Commissions of the International Comission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and the declassification of the miltary archives - Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH) lays bare the repression of now-defunct National Police (PN) - Gladys Monterroso, wife of the Human Rights Ombudsman, is kidnapped and tortured the day after the report “The Right to Know” is published - Social Organisations and Campesinos: Integral agrarian reform cannot be postponed a second longer - The results of the popular consultation on mining in Santa Barbara, Huehuetenango, are handed to the authorities - Communities fail to receive multi-million mining profits - Four Years On: Negative Impacts of the Free Trade Treaty of Central America, the Dominican Republic, and the USA (DR-CAFTA).

MIP 66 March 2009 (pdf 114 KB)

MIP 65 February 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for February, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp). Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press: IMPUNITY - Army’s failure to fulfil its obligation to open military archives is “disobedience” says civil society; US Department of State alludes to worrying situation of impunity in Guatemala LAND - One dead and three injured in violent eviction in San Miguel Tucurú, Alta Verapaz; Faltering progress in dialogue on rural and farming development between Government and indigenous and campesino organisations. GLOBALISATION - Congress passes reading of proposed law to suspend all mining exploration and exploitation licences; Residents of San Marcos reject proposed law exempting mining companies from tax liability. OTHER - Military to employ 2000 new soldiers and reopen five bases.

MIP 65 February 2009 (pdf 130 KB)

MIP 64 January 2009

Our Monthly Information Package for January, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press: Salvador Gándara: New Interior Minister; Civil society questions the naming of Salvador Gáldara as Interior Minister; Indigenous authorities reject lynching and public punishment as part of the Maya Path; Constitutionality Court grants provisional protection to four individuals sentenced to the death penalty; Social activists express their rejection of recent judicial rulings in cases of crimes against humanity; Campesinos block highways and demand that the Government solve agrarian conflicts; Population opposed to governmental management demonstrates in front of the Congress of the Republic; The state will review licences granted to Progreso Cement and mining companies; Israeli company will construct a hydroelectric plant in San Juan Cotzal; The Guatemala Electric Company (EEGSA) begins process to obtain international arbitration against Guatemala; The United States will not sanction Guatemala for labour rights violations.

MIP 64 January 2009 (pdf 118 KB)

MIP 63 December 2008

Our Monthly Information Package for December, details the activities of PBI during the month (including all meetings with national authorities, civil society organisations and the diplomatic corp).
Syndicated news from the Guatemalan press: Human Rights Ombudsman: 2008 the most violent year on record - Death in Coatepeque denounced - CONGCOOP: More than 700,000 families live in unsafe zones - Colom grants property titles to residents of more than 80 settlements - Xinca communities in Japaa reject mining concessions - Progress Cement commences construction of plant in San Juan Sacatepequez - Rise in mining taxes will not apply to current licences - As 2008 draws to a close, so do 17 garment factories (maquilas) - Colom will neither sanction nor veto the “Fonpetrol Law” - 669 Women murdered in the first 11 months of 2008 - Alvaro Colom emphasises the advances made in the peace accords on their XII anniversary.

MIP 63 December 2008 (pdf 255 KB)

MIP 62 November 2008

Congress of the Republic Approves 2009 State Budget and Solidarity Tax - Activist leader denounces armed attack - COPREDEH President’s house raided - Human Rights Ombudsman acts against Police director over passive and omissive attitude to violence - Death squads operating freely - Changes in production and land use provokes food insecurity - Disturbances and injuries follow highway blockades demanding land and agrarian reform - Platform promotes approval of Rural Development Law - Social organisations accuse the State over violation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples - More opposition to mining - Bidding for construction of hydroelectric project declared abortive - Maquilas (garment factories) violate women’s rights, says Human Rights Ombudsman.

MIP 62 November 2008 (pdf 656 KB)

MIP 61 October 2008

CELEBRATION OF THIRD 'SOCIAL FORUM OF THE AMERICAS' IN GUATEMALA CITY - Ministry of Defence refuses to turn over files to SEPAZ -Myrna Mack Foundation alledge "Cases of violence against justice officials are not investigated" - US to train kaibiles (Guatemalan Special Forces) for anti-terrorism - CALDH presents report: In 2007, 30% of violent deaths of youths were extra-judicial - Security Forces evict 200 Suchitepéquez families - Executive and social sectors achieve consensus on Rural Development Law - Catholic Church denounces Marlin Mine contamination in San Marcos - Huehuetenango residents reject mining licensing concessions.

MIP 61 October 2008 (pdf 127 KB)

MIP 60 September 2008

Organisations and government bodies condemn attempt against environmental activist - President denounces espionage and dismisses the heads of the SAAS and the SAE - The Women’s Sector denounces the failure to apply the Law Against Feminicide - According to the CNOC, three thousand families have been displaced in the Verapaces - Peasant organisations demand a dignified dialogue with the government - Residents of San Antonio Suchitepequez reject privatisation of water service

MIP 60 September 2008 (pdf 264 KB)

MIP 59 August 2008

Monthly Information Package covering the activities of PBI during August 2008. Current situation: Judge frees 43 detained during the State of Emergency declared in San Juan Sacatepéquez - National Civil Police arrest ex- member of congress for alleged links to murders of Salvadorian delegates - Organisations lobby for rights of indigenous communities draft law - Violent forced evictions from market are denounced in Coatepeque - Human Rights Ombudsman warns Government of food problems.

MIP 59 August 2008 (pdf 218 KB)

MIP 58 July 2008

CC upholds sentence for assassination of Bishop Juan Gerardi - Government will not extend State of Prevention in San Juan Sacatepéquez - New threats against Judge Eduardo Cojulún - Guatemala ratifies Protocol of Convention against Torture - First effects of DR-CAFTA begin to appear in agriculture - Rise in petroleum prices and growing popularity of biofuels spark increased demand for land

MIP 58 July 2008 (pdf 178 KB)

MIP 57 June 2008

Notes on the current situation: Dialogue with the guatemalan authorities and the diplomatic corps - Army suspends annual 30 June march - CSJ reject legal action by Rios Montt - CONGCOOP propose expropriation of 18,000km of unused land

MIP 57 June 2008 (pdf 246 KB)

MIP 56 May 2008

Notes on the current situation: - 162 women recorded dead in less than 4 months. - Organisations request PDH intervention on issue of adoptions. - Union member assassinated in Izabal. - Judge who attended the Spanish National Hearing on genocide denounced death threats. - Totonicapán inhabitants denounce deforestation before National Forest Institute. - San Marcos communities march and rally to reject mining activities.

MIP 56 May 2008 (pdf 414 KB)

MIP 55 April 2008

Notes on the current situation: - Álvaro Ramazzini receives death threat. - Law against feminicide is approved by Congress. - Quiche´s Sentencing Tribunal convicts ex police officer Antonio Rutilo Matías López for rape. - Civil organisations condemn Guatemala´s failure in accomplishing CIDH resolutions ten years after Gerardi´s murder.

MIP 55 April 2008 (pdf 308 KB)

MIP 54 March 2008

Notes on the current situation: - Women demand legal framework to defend their rights. - First trial for forced disappearance. - President Colom says no to the death penalty in Guatemala. - State Violence against ‘terrorist’ campesinos. - US deports Guatemalan migrants.

MIP 54 March 2008 (pdf 212 KB)

MIP 53 Febuary 2008

Peace Brigades International - Monthly Information Package 2008

MIP 53 Febuary 2008 (pdf 208 KB)

MIP 52 January 2008

Notes on the current situation: - Spanish judge asks for international cooperation in the investigation into genocide in Guatemala. - Campesino Organisations demand resolutions to agrarian debt and violent evictions. - US deports 346 Guatemalan migrants.

MIP 52 January 2008 (pdf 125 KB)