Tracking cases that protect freedom of expression, association, and assembly
Topic: Indigenous Peoples
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Carlos Choc Case
Carlos Choc is a Mayan community journalist who has faced constant criminalization since 2017, as a result of his work documenting and investigating environmental rights violations. There is one on-going criminal proceeding against Mr. Choc.
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Minor Delgado Case
Indigenous rights defender Minor Ortíz Delgado has been victim of several attacks, aggressions, threats and assassination attempts that have gone unpunished to this day, despite having many of its perpetrators identified. Additionally, there are currently four criminalization proceedings against Mainor and his family.
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Norma Sancir Case
Indigenous journalist Norma Sancir was detained and beaten when she was covering a demonstration in September 2014. More than eight years later, the criminal procedure against the four police agents responsible for the attack is still on-going, as a result of intentional delays caused by the agents’ defense.
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Zongo Communities
The Zongo communities have been greatly affected by a scheelita’s mine for the past decades. Even though the Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional has acknowledged the indigenous jurisdiction and backed its decisions to expel the mining company, they have not been complied with. Additionally, many community members have been criminalized.
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Bernardo Caal Xol Case
Bernardo Caal is a Q’eqchi Mayan community leader, teacher, and defender of land rights and the environment in Guatemala. Bernardo was criminalized for his fight against the construction of a hydroelectric plant on the Cahabón River. After spending four years in prison, Bernardo was released on March 24, 2022.
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Criminalization of Mayan Women Journalists
Anastasía Mejía Tiriquiz, an indigenous journalist, and Petrona Siy Castro, an indigenous community leader, were arrested in the context of a protest that took place on August 24, 2020 in Joyabaj, against the local mayor. After facing a criminal proceeding for the crimes of sedition, arson and aggravated assault, they were released on September 3,…