Guatemala: ancestral healer killed, repression against Women Defenders

By A Planeta

From exile, Lolita Chávez, a K’iche’ Mayan leader and defender of the territory denounces with great pain the murder of the Mayan spiritual guide and naturist healer Domingo Choc Che. He was a member of the council of spiritual guides based in Poptún, Petén, and collaborated in various university studies. Choc Che was burned alive, accused of being a «sorcerer». Local authorities arrived at the house where Choc had been tied up and beaten through the night, but left the place without intervening. Therefore we hold them also responsible for the outrage, torture and murder of this healer. The perpetrators of the murder recorded Choc running in flames asking for help (we do not show it so as not for hurting sensibilities). According to a report by the Mutual Support Group, lynchings caused at least 348 deaths in Guatemala between 2008 and 2018. As Lolita Chávez demands, this crime cannot remain in impunity. Goian Bego Domingo Choc Che anaia!

  Lolita Chávez also demanded a few days ago the release of Manuela Alejandra Ajpop Tuy, who was kidnapped from her home through a raid led by the army and the PNC, and taken to Panajachel. A day later, on June 1, Chávez also denounced the detention of another defender of the territory, Ana Guachiac Tum, as well as the situation of terror and panic suffered by families, defenders and ancestral authorities in Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán and throughout the country due to occupation and military repression.

Testimony of Lolita Chávez Ixcaquic, Community Leader and Feminist of the Mayan Territories in Guatemala.

Two days ago the army proceeded to arbitrarily and illegally arrest Ana Guachiac Tum. People are concerned because her 3 children were locked up in the house, Ana is originally from Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán in Sololá. WE DEMAND THE CLARIFICATION OF THE CASE AND THE RELEASE OF OUR NATIVE SISTER.

THE DICTATORY IS ALREADY ON THE WAY TO INVASION: in the last few weeks we have seen «confrontations» between two communities in Sololá WHICH ARE ORGANIZED AND FINANCED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND A COMPANY FROM THE  UNITED STATES WHO WANT TO START MINING BY LAW AND FORCE. THE STRATEGIES THEY USED WERE TO CAUSE CONFUSION AND CONFRONTATION BETWEEN NAHULA AND IXTAGUACAN, WHEN THE CONFLICT WAS LED BY THE AMERICANS WHO HAVE USED A GROUP OF LOCAL PEOPLE AS THEIR ALLIES, THE SMALL GROUP THAT IS ALWAYS USED AS PUPPETS, WHICH HAS HELPED TO SPREAD THE RIOTS.

NOW THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAS MILITARIZED NOT ONLY THE TWO MUNICIPALITIES BUT THREE, INCLUDING THE TOWN WHERE OUR LAND DEFENDERS RESIDE, BLAMING THEM FOR THE CLASHES ORCHESTRATED BY IT.

THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STATE OF SIEGE IS THAT THE FIGHTING IS ALREADY UNCONTROLLABLE, NOW IF WE APPLY CRIMINOLOGY AND LOGIC WE ARE GOING TO ASK OURSELVES: WHY DID THE POLICE NEVER ARRIVE WHEN BOTH COMMUNITIES ASKED FOR HELP?

HOW IS IT THAT THE EVILDOERS HAD THE TIME OF 6 TO 8 HOURS TO REPRESS THE VILLAGES WITH BULLETS?

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CAPTURE THE DEFENDERS WHO OPPOSE AND DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS AND WHO ARE THE OPPONENTS OF THE OLIGARCHY, WHO LIVE IN  THAT LAND.