Enviado a la página web de Redes Cristianas
No sé si se enteraron de los eventos que sacudieron comunidades Q´eqchies en Guatemala a mediados del mes de agosto, aqui les mandamos un resumen de los hechos violentos de represión estatal http://cmiguate.org/gobernacion-pretende-ocupacion-del-pueblo-qeqchi/
Quisiéramos si nos podrían apoyar con lo siguiente:
1) Le adjuntamos una carta que estamos dirigiendo a la relatora de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU para pedir que haga una investigación formal, que visite el lugar, se reúna con los pueblos indígenas y pida al gobierno de Guatemala que tome acción inmediata de precaución, al detener la construcción de la presa hasta las preocupaciones de los pueblos indígenas de la zona hayan sido plenamente abordadas.
Estará firmada por varias organizaciones locales y nacionales (CPT, MadreSelva, CUC, CCDA, entre otras y ojalá FONGI y GHRC) y vamos a pedir a organizaciones internacionales que nos han apoyado hasta la fecha (Carbon Market Watch, Salva la Selva, PWS, Society for Threatened People, Frontline Defenders, Rights Action, International Rivers, Oxfam, Both Ends, SOMO y Ugerwalds).
¿Estarían interesado-a-s en firmarla también?
2) También estamos afinando todo para hacer denuncias formales a los fondos de supuesto desarrollo que pretenden apoyar el proyecto
hidroeléctrico Santa Rita: DEG de Alemania, FMO de Holanda, AECID de España, SIFEM de Suiza e IFC del Banco Mundial. Si tienen ideas de otras organizaciones que podrían hacer incidencia en estos países para que se logre que no se financie este proyecto, sería genial. En paralelo se prepara una petición internacional y una acción nacional más.
Mil gracias por su respuesta.
Saludos,
Anne
Colectivo MadreSelva
Ms. Victoria Tauli Corpuz
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Via facsimile: +1 (520) 621-9140
Via email: indigenous@ohchr.org
Request to conduct formal investigation on Santa Rita Hydroelectric Plant, Guatemala, approved by the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism
Dear Special Rapporteur Tauli Corpuz:
The undersigning organizations [add organisations] respectfully write to you to bring your attention the Santa Rita Hydroelectric Plant which was approved under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in June 2014 (project reference number 9713) despite concerns about human rights abuses.
Since 2010, numerous communities that will be impacted by the project have expressed their opposition to the development of the hydro power plant in their territory. Many of the affected people were never consulted in accordance with the obligatory public participation process enshrined in the rules of the CDM registration process or the Guatemalan Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The latter states that regarding the measures, inter alia, related to Regularization of the land tenure of indigenous communities, Land tenure and use and administration of natural resources and Restitution of communal lands and compensation for rights “the Government undertakes to adopt directly, when that is within its competence, and to promote, when that is within the competence of the legislative organ or the municipal authorities, the following measures, inter alia, which shall be implemented in consultation and coordination with the indigenous communities concerned.”
Actions of project developer breached the before mentioned regulations in many ways. In the first community meetings in 2009, not whole communities were invited to consultations, but rather those found inclined to the project. Despite strong opposition by Q´eqchi´ inhabitants against the project and agreement submitted to the departmental and municipal government regarding their objection, neither reply nor follow up was received. Moreover, construction tried to start in February 2012, and ceased only due to another opposition of communities. Project developer disregarded the CDM modalities and procedures, according to which all relevant stakeholders must be informed about the project through appropriate channels and project developer must respond to all stakeholder comments and describe a course of action to minimise negative impacts. Furthermore, the rights of indigenous peoples were violated, by disregarding their voice in project development and moreover, through actions of intimidation, persecution, displacement, illegal retention, and even killings.
As reported by local media reports, the national police attempted to illegally retain one of the spiritual leader and communitarian rights defender in August 2013. The situation escalated when two children of the community were allegedly shot and killed by assailants searching for a leading activist who was meeting the rapporteur of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights at the time.
Since November 2013, the departmental government installed a roundtable for the hydroelectric plant implementation where communitarians were invited to reveal the name of the communities and persons that are opposed to the project. In April 2014, security staff opened fire on the ‘Nueve de Ferebro’ community under the auspices of a community meeting to discuss the construction of the hydroelectric dam. On 14 August 2014, the Government of Otto Perez Molina through the Ministry of Interior initiated a repressive operation against Q’eqchies communities of Cobán, Chisec and Raxruha. More than 1500 police officers were mobilized in the area, spreading terror on the civilian population and dismantling the blockage of around 200 indigenous families. Three women and two men were allegedly illegally captured and humiliated. Tear gas was fired at children, women and elders, who were blocking to street to call to pacific dialogue, causing intoxications and panic among the Monte Olivo inhabitants. The police occupied their land for more than a day forcing families to take refuge in the mountains.
In summary, over the past years, the opposition of local communities against the construction of the hydro dam resulted in intense intimidations of the affected community, aggression and persecution of community leaders and Q’eqchi´ farmers. Through repressive operations, 25 houses were burned and plant employees carried out attacks with machete and firearms on local population. In actions of intimidation and repression, 70 civilians were injured, 30 illegally arrested, more than 40 persons with warrant restricting their rights and 6 people allegedly killed, including 2 children of 11 and 13 years.
In sum, the events over the past year indicate that the State of Guatemala has not fulfilled its national and international obligations with respect to (i) free, prior and informed consent of indigenous communities who will be affected by development projects; (ii) protection of indigenous lands, territories, and natural resources; and (iii) protection from state-sponsored violence. Human rights affected by the dam and Guatemala’s failure to act include the rights to culture, physical security and integrity, land, health, subsistence, freedom of movement and residence, as well as to access to information, public participation, and access to justice. Considering that the Guatemalan government has failed to take the necessary actions to protect indigenous peoples,they are seeking recourse through other means.
The approval decision was taken by the CDM Board despite repeated concerns about ongoing human rights violations and continued letters providing evidence about flaws in the local stakeholder consultation that was conducted as a pre-requisite for all CDM projects. The CDM Board argued “…the board has registered the aforementioned project as, after careful assessment, it was considered to be in compliance with the applicable CDM requirements, including the local stakeholder consultation process. Further, the designated national authority of Guatemala issued the required letter of approval, and also assured the Board, in the course of review of the project, that the local stakeholder consultation process was followed.”
Yet, the approval decision by the CDM Board was taken without further investigation and solely based on correspondence with Parties associated with the project. However, the statements by the project developers and the State of Guatemala are in stark contrast to the reports by the indigenous groups Q´eqchi and Poqomchi who continue to suffer from the repression in their indigenous territories associated with the Santa Rita Hydroelectric Plant. Moreover, it has been acknowledged that the CDM rules for local stakeholder consultation are weak, lack guidance and are insufficient to uphold and protect human rights.
We are therefore writing to respectfully request that you do all in your power to prevent and minimize imminent and serious threats. Such actions may include, as appropriate, conducting a formal investigation, making a site visit, meeting with indigenous peoples and calling on the government of Guatemala to take immediate precautionary action by halting the dam’s construction until the concerns of the indigenous peoples in the area have been fully addressed.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, or wish to schedule a meeting, please contact Maximo Ba Tiul, ajpop2004@yahoo.com, (502) 5041 2542.
Respectfully,
El 23 de Agosto del 2013 un trabajador de la Hidro Santa Rita irrumpe la convivencia armónica de la comunidad Monte Olivo, busca atentar contra la vida de David Chen y otros líderes comunitarios que permanecen en resistencia desde el 2009 contra la
construcción de esta hidroeléctrica, los acusa de criminales y terroristas, por solo el hecho de luchar contra el gran capital que pretende el saqueo de los recursos comunitarios.
Esta incursión no logra el objetivo original pero si asesta un golpe bajo, triste y denigrante a la resistencia pacífica de Monte Olivo, David Estuardo Pacay Maas y Ageo Isaac Guitz Maas niños de 12 y 13 años son agredidos de bala mortalmente, ambos fallecen por la gravedad de las heridas el día 29 de Agosto.
El trabajador de la Hidroeléctrica, al no encontrar a los líderes rompe en ira disparando indiscriminadamente contra la vivienda de uno de los líderes, 2 niños inocentes mueren.
Hoy 29 de agosto de 2014, a un año de esta agresión las muertes siguen impunes, el ministerio público no ha avanzado en la investigación de quien ordeno las muertes, quienes fueron los autores intelectuales, con lo cual reina la impunidad.
A un año también de este triste suceso, la comunidad de Monte Olivo es nuevamente agredida, una estrategia represiva sin precedentes hacia las comunidades en resistencia contra la Hidro Santa Rita en el Río Dolores, Cobán, genera la movilización de más de 1600
elementos policiacos, los cuales irrumpen en la comunidad agrediendo indiscriminadamente a los comunitarios, cientos de comunitarias y comunitarios son reprimidos y obligados a huir a la montaña, mujeres embarazadas, ancianos y niños huyen con el terror a cuestas, la intención instalar en la comunidad una estación policiaca para el control social de esta zona y permitir el ingreso de la hidroeléctrica.
De esta campaña represiva, 3 mujeres y 2 hombres son capturados y enviados a prisión, cientos son heridos y huyen a la montaña, un día después en este mismo acto represivo se desaloja violentamente a la comunidad 9 de febrero la cual también está en resistencia
contra la construcción de la hidroeléctrica, violando el derecho elemental a vivienda, alimentación y una vida digna de más de 30 familias, en este desalojo no se respetaron los protocolos de desalojo firmado por el Estado de Guatemala en el Sistema de Naciones
Unidas pues hubo quema de viviendas y sus pertenencias.
Acciones de solidaridad se suceden en varios puntos del departamento de Alta Verapaz, el Gobierno lanza una ofensiva letal nuevamente, en la comunidad de Semococh, Chisec, la policía desenfunda sus armas para atacar nuevamente a la población, esta vez, 3
campesinos mueren tras una lluvia de balas que se emplean para diezmar la resistencia de los que estaban en solidaridad con la población agredida en Monte Olivo, 22 comunitarios son capturados.
En el municipio de Raxruhá, Alta Verapaz, la campaña represiva también se desata, la policía captura a comunitarios que se solidarizan y agrede nuevamente a la población en general, indiscriminadamente son lanzadas bombas lacrimógenas, más de 40 heridos y 3 detenidos es el saldo en este municipio.
Manifestaciones de solidaridad se generan a nivel nacional e internacional, las violaciones a los derechos humanos son evidentes, el gobierno reprime al pueblo.
En el marco del aniversario de la muerte de David y Ageo niños de Monte Olivo y a ocho días de la campaña represiva ejecutada por el Gobierno de Otto Pérez Molina en Alta Verapaz, EXIGIMOS Y DEMANDAMOS AL SISTEMA DE JUSTICIA QUE ESCLAREZCA:
¿Quién ordenó los asesinatos de los niños David y Ageo?
¿Quién ordenó el asesinato de los comunitarios en Semococh?
¿Quién orquestó este plan de tierra arrasada ejecutado por la policía?
¡¡EXIGIMOS JUSTICIA Y CONDENA PARA LOS CULPABLES!!
Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, 29 de agosto de 2014.
Comunidades en Resistencia del Río Dolores, Consejo del Pueblo de Tezulutlán-CPT-, Comité de Unidad Campesina-CUC-, Asociación de Jóvenes para el Desarrollo y Rescate Social-AJODER-, Coordinación y Convergencia Nacional Maya -Waqib Quej-, Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas –CONGCOOP-, Colectivo Madre Selva, Coordinadora Nacional de Viudas de Guatemala-CONAVIGUA-, Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud-ASECSA-, Instancia de Consenso del Pueblo Q’eqchi’ y Pocomchí, Asociación Maya para el Servicio y Desarrollo Comunitario-ASOMADIC-, Red para la Soberanía Alimentaria en Guatemala REDSAG, Unión de Defensores de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala- UDEFEGUA-, Asociación de Abogados Mayas, Comité Campesino del Altiplano-CCDA-
