The Diplomat in Spain

Funeral of José Xol, of CCDA, murdered in May./ Photo: Rolanda García CC cmiguate.org

Eduardo González. 22/07/2018

Spanish Government is committed to continue working to promote human rights in Guatemala, both through bilateral contacts and within the EU and in international forums.

The Executive responded well earlier this month to a question from the Parliamentary Group Unidos Podemos in the Congress in which it was reported that, «in less than two months, six activists of the indigenous peasant movement and defenders of land rights have been killed in Guatemala». Those killed belonged to the Peasant Committee of the Altiplano (CCDA) and the Peasant Development Committee (CODECA).

These murders, according to the purple party, took place «after several acts of threats and coercion» that «were known by the government authorities» and «in a scenario of stigmatization that comes from the Guatemalan president, Jimmy Morales, who never ceases to pronounce against the peasant organizations».

Therefore, Unidos Podemos asked the government what cooperation mechanisms it will develop to «eradicate the escalation of threats, coercion and assassination of activists» and if «the new government plans a change of direction in its relations with Guatemala focused on promoting human rights in that country.

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Podemos denounce the murder of activists in the midst of the «stigmatization» created by «Morales himself»

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In its response, the Government assured that human rights are a «priority of Spanish foreign policy» and that Spain «is contributing to the strengthening of the Rule of Law in Guatemala through bilateral cooperation, and also in coordination with the Union European».

On a more specific level, the Executive assured that, in recent years, and through cooperation funds, the AECID «has been oriented towards improving the capabilities of the justice and security system for victim assistance, research, case management, personnel management and information management».

The Government also recalled that, during the Universal Periodic Review of November 2017 of the Human Rights Council of the UN, the Government of Guatemala was recommended «the application of public policies to protect the work of defenders in accordance with international standards and implementation of measures aimed at the effective reduction of attacks and independent and effective investigation of them”.

Besides, «both in Guatemala, through the Embassy, ​​and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs» they remain «regular with organizations of defense of human rights» and the Embassy of Spain participates «in meetings organized periodically by the delegation of the EU in Guatemala with human rights activists”,  the Government added.