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Rios Montt, genocidal dictator, dead at 91
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(Credit: CPR.Urbana @puebloresiste)
Efrain Rios Montt, de facto president of Guatemala from March 1982 to August 1983, died on April 1st, 2018. His legacy as a genocidal dictator was cemented in May 2013 during the genocide trial, where he was convicted of genocide against the Maya Ixil people. Although this sentence was overturned ten days later on a procedural appeal, the case continues to stand as a significant moment in Guatemalan history, where a head of state was convicted of genocide.
On his death, Rios Montt was under house arrest, and in the midst of repeating the genocide trial, where witnesses had been testifying against him and his former head of military intelligence, Jose Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez since October.
Read more here.
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Case against Ministry of Energy and Mines for discrimination against the Xinca people
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On March 22nd, over 100 Xinka residents of San Rafael las Flores presented a document to Guatemala's Constitutional Court as proof of the existence of the Xinka people in the community. CALAS, a Guatemala environmental legal organization, along with local mayors and the Xinka Parliament filed a case against the Ministry of Energy and Mines for discrimination against the Xinka people, who stated there are no Indigenous people within the affected area of the Tahoe Resources Escobal Mine, and therefore had no need to consult under Free, Prior and Informed Consent agreements for Indigenous Peoples.
The Constitutional Court recently requested an anthropological study from Del Valle and San Carlos universities on the existence of Xinka in San Rafael las Flores. The date to hand in their report is set for April 5. Meanwhile, Tahoe's Escobal mine continues suspended. To learn more, read a press release by Mining Watch and Earthworks on the case here.
On April 9th, over 2000 Xinka people from Santa Rosa and Jalapa marched through Guatemala City calling for the definitive closure of Tahoe Resources' Escobal mine. You'll find pictures here.
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We are relaunching our presence on Instagram! Follow us @BTSmaritimesguatemala to get the latest updates from the network.
Also, as you may have heard, Facebook recently made changes to its algorithm, affecting the content you see. In order to keep seeing BTS updates in your Facebook newsfeed, you can edit your notification settings. Simply go to BTS' Facebook page, click on "Following" and select "See first."
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Saturdays (ongoing)
Halifax Forum Farmers' Market
Buy BTS coffee and mugs to support us in fundraising
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April 10, 2018 @ 6pm
Let Lucy Granados Stay!: Lights for Lucy
Fredericton City Hall, NB
Info here
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April 10, 2018 @ 6:15pm
Let Lucy Granados Stay!: Lights for Lucy
Tatamagouche Centre, NS
Info here
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April 17, 2018 @ 7pm (ATL)
Guatemala Staff Update
Teleconference.
To participate, email Lisa (btscoordinator@gmail.com)
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April 22-28, 2018
Mi'kmaki Water Walk 2018
Shubenacadie River, NS
Info here.
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April 27, 2018
Living and Thriving: Supporting Migrant Workers on PEI
Cooper Institute and PEI Action Team for Migrant Worker Rights
Charlottetown, PEI
Info here.
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May 18-20, 2018
Bluenose Marathon
Halifax, NS
Contact Marla (marlacarterleblanc@gmail.com) to register
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June 15-17, 2018
BTS Annual Gathering with Sandra Moran
Tatamagouche, NS
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June 21-23, 2018
ACIC Symposium
Charlottetown, PEI
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Four years after Topacio's assassination, her family is still under threat
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April 14th will mark four years since the murder of Topacio Reynoso Pacheco, a young activist and artist who spoke out against Tahoe’s Escobal Mine, located only 6km from her community of Mataquescuintla. Alex Reynoso, Topacio’s father and fellow environmental defender, was shot and gravely injured in the same attack that killed Topacio in 2014. One year later, he survived a second armed attack.
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Topacio's family continues to receive threats and acts of intimidation. BTS joined over 40 Guatemalan and international organizations in calling for the restoration of security measures to the Reynoso Pachecho family in a letter of concern sent to the Minister of the Interior on March 26, 2018. Read more here.
We remember Topacio and continue to call for justice in this case. Our thoughts and hearts go out to her family.
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#LetLucyStay: Solidarity with community organizer and single mother threatened with deportation
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Lucy Francineth Granados is an advocate for the rights of undocumented women and workers, as well as the single mother of three children. While she’s made Montreal her home for the past nine years, she is now threatened to be deported to Guatemala on April 13th, before her humanitarian application for permanent residence is decided. Lack of sleep, fear, confusion and the abusive conditions of her detention have already led to two emergency hospitalizations.
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Show solidarity with Lucy by writing, calling or tweeting to Ministers of Immigration and Public Safety, as well as your MP, urging them to let Lucy stay in Canada. For more info, including their contact info, visit this link. You can also sign and share the petition expressing solidarity with Lucy (here), post a message of solidarity with the hashtag #LetLucyStay or join a solidarity action near you (see events). To the left is a message of solidarity from the Antigonish Committee.
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Lets continue to show our support for criminalized Indigenous land defender Maria Choc
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In January, criminalized land defender Maria Chub Choc was released on bail. While an important step, the struggle isn't over. Her trial is set for August 2018. Until then, she must register with the court each month and cannot leave the department of Izabal. On the day of her arraignment hearing, Maria spoke about what happened. Read an interview with Maria, where she speaks out about being criminalized here.
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For the next few months, BTS will continue to gather photos, drawings and short statements to show our solidarity with Maria in these difficult months as her trial dates draw near. Please send to Stacey at btsmaritimescoordinator@gmail.com or by mail to the following address:
Stacey Gomez (BTS)
Tatamagouche Centre
259 Loop Route 6, RR#3
Tatamagouche, NS
B0K 1V0
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StFX Students Moved by Trip to Guatemala for Service Learning
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In February, seven students and their faculty advisor, from St. Francis Xavier University (Antigonish, NS), travelled to Guatemala to gain a deeper understanding of the political climate, history, its respective effects, and current reparation efforts within the country. Here are some of the reflections shared by students:
“Throughout the trip, I was able to witness the strong acts, not only of the Guatemalan people, but of those such as Lisa Rankin, a young woman from a small town making a large and meaningful difference on a global scale.” Chrystina Acker, Student
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“It’s shocking that in order for me to appreciate the power of education and community, I had to travel to a different continent. Guatemala taught me many life lessons that I brought back to my daily life here in Canada.” Riona O’Maonaigh, Student
Read more about their experiences here.
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Above: Participants on final day of delegation trip to Guatemala (San Lucas Toliman)
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#NosDuelen56: Solidarity from the Maritimes
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Thanks to everyone who sent a postcard, tweet or picture as part of our March action calling for justice for the 56 victims and survivors of the Hogar Seguro fire in Guatemala.
On the right is a picture from actions in Antigonish, where members of the BTS St. Fx Society and Antigonish committee participated in the International Women's Day march, highlighting the Hogar Seguro case. You'll find more pictures from actions in the network here.
Stay tuned for follow-up on this important case!
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Halifax Forum Farmers' Market BTS Coffee Project
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The Halifax Forum Farmers' Market BTS Coffee Project is in full swing with strawberries and spring just around the corner! Since November 2017, volunteers at the BTS table have been welcoming marketer goers into the Forum every Saturday morning with the aroma of CCDA brewed coffee, selling delicious coffee by the cup, as well as bags. This has brought in donations and funds to support BTS' work.
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To date, they have raised almost $2,000! Many folk have learned about our work and enjoyed BTS coffee. Thanks to all those who have taken a "shift at the market"! If you have some time to offer on Saturday mornings, they would love to add you to the volunteer list! Contact Susanne at s_litke@hotmail.com.
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BTS coffeehouse in Antigonish
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Kudos to the BTS StFX society for organizing a BTS coffeehouse at the Tall and Small Cafe in Antigonish on March 16th! The event included a line up of incredible performers and helped to raise funds for the New Hope Foundation school in Rabinal, Guatemala. Clem Anson (bottom right) spoke about the school and his experience on the carpentry delegations. Funds raised through the sale of coffee & chocolate bars, as well as handicrafts went to the BTS network. Emma Logan (top right) is pictured selling BTS crafts
In total, the event raised $277 for the school and network! Nicely done everyone!
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BTS Diversity & Inclusion: Report from December Workshop & Updates
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In December, members of BTS met in Tatamagouche, NS for a workshop on diversity and inclusion aimed at building a shared vision of how these issues will be considered in our work as a network. Since then, we as BTS have continued our work on diversity and inclusion, with the BTS Community Council voting in February to adopt the recommendations coming from the workshop. We are also starting to implement diversity and inclusion workshops to carry forward this work at the local level. Stay tuned for more announcements and updates on this ongoing work.
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You can read a brief overview of the workshop here, which includes an update on our ongoing diversity and inclusion work. You'll find the report from the workshop here.
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