Urgent Action Update: Lawyer of Xinca People Still Under Threat (Guatemala: UA 63.19)
July 19, 2019Lawyer Quelvin Jimenez reported that on 23 June a group of people, carrying small arms and machetes, disrupted a meeting of the Xinca Indigenous People authorities in Jumaytepeque, Santa Rosa (Southwest Guatemala). They verbally threatened and beat some of the participants. Quelvin escaped but was stopped by a vehicle where three people got out accusing him of attacking them. Police took them all to a municipal police station in Barberena. Hours later, he was released free of charges. The Attorney’s office should investigate these attacks and guarantee Quelvin’s protection.