- Thread starter
- Staff
- #1
Dadparvar
Staff member
- Nov 11, 2016
- 11,233
- 0
- 6
Amnesty International on Wednesday reported that Indigenous leaders Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán were released from Guatemalan prison and continue their criminal cases under house arrest, more than 15 months after they were detained over their role in protests that followed the country’s disputed 2023 election period.
Pacheco and Chaclán were arrested on April 23, 2025. Both had served as ancestral authorities of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapán, a Maya K’iche’ Indigenous organization that helped lead nationwide demonstrations in October 2023. Protesters opposed efforts by prosecutors to challenge the election results and interfere with the transfer of power to President Bernardo Arévalo.
Prosecutors later accused Pacheco and Chaclán of crimes carrying combined sentences of more than 30 years. Amnesty designated them prisoners of conscience in May 2026, saying they had been detained for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and expression and raising concerns about delays and irregularities in the proceedings.
Those rights are protected under Articles 33 and 35 of Guatemala’s Constitution, which cover peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Guatemala is also bound by the American Convention on Human Rights, where Articles 13 and 15 protect freedom of thought, expression, and peaceful assembly. Additionally, Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, respectively.
The case sits within a wider dispute over the prosecution of activists and Indigenous leaders in Guatemala. Human Rights Watch reported that Indigenous leader Esteban Toc was arrested on similar charges in August 2025 and later placed under house arrest. It also documented criminal proceedings against other activists and protesters.
Pacheco and Chaclán have not been cleared of the charges of terrorism, unlawful association and obstruction of criminal proceedings. The latest order changes the conditions under which they will await further proceedings, leaving the underlying criminal case unresolved. Each must pay 160,000 quetzales in bail, remain in Guatemala and avoid contact with witnesses.
The post Indigenous leaders leave Guatemala prison 15 months after being detained for 2023 protests appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.
Pacheco and Chaclán were arrested on April 23, 2025. Both had served as ancestral authorities of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapán, a Maya K’iche’ Indigenous organization that helped lead nationwide demonstrations in October 2023. Protesters opposed efforts by prosecutors to challenge the election results and interfere with the transfer of power to President Bernardo Arévalo.
Prosecutors later accused Pacheco and Chaclán of crimes carrying combined sentences of more than 30 years. Amnesty designated them prisoners of conscience in May 2026, saying they had been detained for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and expression and raising concerns about delays and irregularities in the proceedings.
Those rights are protected under Articles 33 and 35 of Guatemala’s Constitution, which cover peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Guatemala is also bound by the American Convention on Human Rights, where Articles 13 and 15 protect freedom of thought, expression, and peaceful assembly. Additionally, Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, respectively.
The case sits within a wider dispute over the prosecution of activists and Indigenous leaders in Guatemala. Human Rights Watch reported that Indigenous leader Esteban Toc was arrested on similar charges in August 2025 and later placed under house arrest. It also documented criminal proceedings against other activists and protesters.
Pacheco and Chaclán have not been cleared of the charges of terrorism, unlawful association and obstruction of criminal proceedings. The latest order changes the conditions under which they will await further proceedings, leaving the underlying criminal case unresolved. Each must pay 160,000 quetzales in bail, remain in Guatemala and avoid contact with witnesses.
The post Indigenous leaders leave Guatemala prison 15 months after being detained for 2023 protests appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.