Sunday 28 October 2012

Justice for Survivors of the Rio Negro Massacre

On our way back to Guatemala City we visited the communities of Rabinal and Pacux. We had the great privilege of attending a Mayan ceremony at 4 am this morning to remember the families murdered in the Rio Negro Massacre. More than 440 Maya Achi were killed in the village of Rio Negro between 1980 and 1982 during the construction of the Chixoy hydroelectric dam. For more than 20 years, Maya-Achi survivors have sought justice in the Inter-American court system. Last week their years of effort were finally recognized when the Inter-American Human Rights Court found Guatemala guilty of the violation of human rights against the communities of Rio Negro.