‘New Day’ Chortí Campesino Central Coordinator

In December, by means of contacts and meetings with members of the organisation, we continued paying close attention to the situation in Chiquimula, in particular to members of the organisation that have been threatened and intimidated as a result of the work they carry out in defence of natural resources in the Chortí area.

Background: ‘New Day’ Chortí Campesino Central Coordinator is part of the Agrarian Platform, working in the Municipalities of Camotán, Jocotán, Olopa and San Juan Hermita in the department of Chiquimula. It trains rural communities on issues relating to the rural economy, the environment, rights and land, in coordination with other local organisations. It has 7,400 members and a political council made up of 16 people (eight senior members and eight vice-members). Omar Jerónimo is the coordinator of the organisation. In 2006 New Day became aware of construction projects for three hydroelectric plants in two of the department’s municipalities: “El Orégano” which would be built on the Rio Grande in the municipality of Jocotán and which would have the capacity to generate120 megavolts; and “Caparjá”, in the municipality of Camotán with a potential of 57 megavolts. They are both projects of the Company Desarrollo de Generación Eléctrica y Manejo de Recursos Naturales Las Tres Niñas SA (Development of Electricity Production and Management of Natural Resources Las Tres Niñas Inc). The third project, “El Puente”, in Jocotán, is a project of the company Generación Limpia de Guatemala, S.A. (Clean Generation of Guatemala Inc) and would have a potential of 27 megavolts. Since learning of the projects, New Day began to inform communities about the projects and their effects.

Members of New Day have received threats and attacks that they relate to the work they carryout. In September one of their members was victim to a gun attack close to the community.