These attacks followed statements by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales criticizing the work of human rights defenders. Civil society fears that the president’s remarks could be seen as a go-ahead to attack human rights defenders. While those who target human rights defenders typically escape justice, indigenous people are often treated as criminals simply for defending their lands. Last year, an NGO, Udefegua, documented 493 attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala, including 11 murders. It is an imperative that these killings, injustices and gross human rights violations against indigenous peoples, who are the majority in Guatemala, be seriously addressed by the government.

Source: Washington Post May 23, 2018 19:12 UTC