Guatemalan Police Raids Human Rights Defenders' Places
Police forces, El Estor, Guatemala, Oct. 2021 | Photo: Twitter/ @HsilvAvalos
Published 26 October 2021
Since President Alejandro Giammattei declared "State of Siege" in El Estor on Sunday, the Guatemalan police have carried out 5 illegal raids against a radio station, a human rights organization, and a journalist's house.
Oct. 24 police officers raided the installations of the Radio Xyaab Tzuultaqa, under the pretense of searching for drugs or weapons. The station supports the Indigenous community which has been protesting against the mining company in the zone.
The Q'eqchi' Ombudsman's office was also a target of the raids. It had previously denounced the Giammatte administration's failure to respect a 2019 court order that suspended the Phoenix Mining Company's license.
On Tuesday, Police forces detained Juan Bautista Xol, a Community Press journalist who for Community Press who had covered the protests.
More:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Guatemalan-Police-Raids-Human-Rights-Defenders-Places-20211026-0012.html