Guatemala Mourns Murder of Peasants’ Rights Defenders

Tensions between Guatemala’s right-wing Pacto de Corruptos (‘Covenant of the Corrupt’) and grassroots social movements demanding “the democratization of democracy” are becoming increasingly dangerous for those on the frontlines. Tragically, on June 5, armed paramilitaries assassinated José Alberto Domingo Montejo, human rights lawyer and legal counsel for our partner the Comité de Unidad Campesina/Peasant Unity Committee (CUC), and fatally wounded CUC activist Marcelo Yaxón Pablo, who died on June 10. They also severely wounded CUC activist Gustavo Yaxón.

The brutal attack on these peasant rights defenders took place on the very same day that members of Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC) — which acts at the behest of local judicial authorities and their private interests — forcibly displaced 35 families of the Indigenous Maya Q’eq’chi living in the community of San José el Tesoro in the Alta Verapaz department. Weeks prior, on May 22nd, the PNC also expelled dozens of Indigenous Mayas Q’eq’chies from traditional territories in the community of Buena Vista in the Izabal department.

This violence follows conflicts in late 2023 and early 2024 during which social movements mobilized against the ruling elite as it attempted to cling to power after being ousted from the presidency through democratic elections. The previous administration was part of a right-wing regime that had been governing the country through corruption, repression, and resource extraction to the benefit of the elite — an alliance popularly known as the “Pacto de Corruptos” or “the Covenant of the Corrupt.” While the current presidency represents a break from the Pacto de Corruptos, the right-wing regime continues to hold on to power in parts of the government, including the legislative and judicial branches, the latter of which can decide on PNC actions.

According to CUC, “the ‘Covenant of the Corrupt’ is doing everything in its power to force a rupture between the recently-elected Semilla Party and progressive forces nationwide.” Social movements, in the words of CUC, “will remain firmly committed to demands for truth and justice” as they struggle for a new and truly democratic and pluralistic Guatemala.

Together with CUC and others, Grassroots International mourns the loss of José Alberto Domingo Montejo and Marcelo Yaxón Pablo, and the wounding of Gustavo Yaxón. We add our voices to global calls to ensure a truthful, immediate, and exhaustive investigation that holds accountable the material and intellectual authors responsible for these horrendous acts. We also join CUC in denouncing the forced displacements of peasant and Indigenous communities, which, together with ongoing drought, are fueling the crisis in the Guatemalan countryside. We echo CUC’s demands for an immediate cessation of all forced displacements while a commission and other mechanisms are created to resolve disputes in accordance with fundamental human rights enshrined in international law. 

While the ‘Covenant of the Corrupt’ continues its violent attempts to foment discord between Guatemala’s social movements and national government, Grassroots International will continue to listen closely and carefully to our partners and support their struggles for peasant and Indigenous rights throughout the Guatemalan countryside.