Guatemala:Urgent Action at the Request of FENTRAVIG

CONDEMNATION OF REPRESSION AGAINST THE MAYAN AUTHORITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF TOTONICAPÁN

The national and international community, the Guatemalan Association of Mayors and  Indigenous Authorities (AGAAI) declare our complete rejection of the actions of the government in turn, against Mayan communities and authorities of Totonicapán, who conducted a peaceful demonstration in a place called Cuatro Caminos and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, where the army and police applied repressive and undemocratic methods, attacking with firearms the people. As a result they left six persons dead and thirty-six wounded. After the attack, the government intended to persecute women leaders, community leaders, ignoring the just demands the communities have , who for several months have tried to dialogue to solve their demands that electricity services establish fair prices; that they hear their proposals for educational reforms and express their rejection of the proposal made by the Ministry of Education, they also reject the proposals for Constitutional reforms by the current government, which does not benefit the general population.

WE DECLARE

Our full and complete solidarity with the people and Indigenous  Authorities of Totonicapán, Guatemala,  in their just demands for the defence of their economic, political, cultural and social rights.

We call on the international community to:  

• Express condemnation against this repressive government and solidarity with the indigenous authorities and people of Totonicapán.

•    Reject racist policies against the indigenous people

We urge the government to:

• Arrest, put on trial and punish those responsible for this crime, also the persons who ordered and allowed this criminal and repressive action against Totonicapán communities.

• Compensate the families of those killed and injured in this criminal attack.

Guatemala 5^th October, 2012