FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Camp, Deputy Executive Director, 617-441-5400 x11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Camp, Deputy Executive Director, 617-441-5400 x11
On Wednesday, January 16, 2013 the community radio movement in Guatemala held a book release presenting a newly published Spanish language text. Titled “RADIO COMUNITARIA: Su Historia ante un Estado Racista en Guatemala y sus Fundamentos Jurídicos,” the book outlines the history of the community radio in Guatemala, the argument for its legalization, and the history of racism on behalf of the government of Guatemala that has kept Indigenous communities from controlling their own forms of media.
The town of Barillas welcomed home the final eight community leaders who were arrested for being outspoken against the hydroelectric dam project by Hydro Santa Cruz after being declared innocent on January 9th. A total of 12 men were held for up to 8 months in prison in Guatemala CIty under false charges.
After eight months in prison, local courts in Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango, Guatemala have declared innocent the final eight men that were arrested following protests on May 4th in the town of Santa Cruz Barillas against a proposed hydroelectric dam, along with three others already freed.
This is a major victory for the Q’anjob’al Mayan community who has suffered violence, threats, and criminalization due to their opposition to the Spanish company Hydro Santa Cruz.
Rumors of closed-door agreement signed between town government officials and Spanish hydroelectric company Hidro Santa Cruz sparked confusion and unrest among community members in Barillas, Huehuetenango, Guatemala.
By Febna Caven
Reconocimiento de tierra
Reconocemos que nuestra sede está en la tierra de Massachusetts, en Cambridge, MA, y agradecemos a los administradores Indígenas pasados, actuales y futuros de este territorio.
