31 March 2010 | Interviews | Human rights | Climate Justice and Energy
Impunity without End
Guatemala: eight murders in three months due to fight against Union Fenosa
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Abuses perpetrated by Spanish transnational company Union Fenosa in Guatemala are exceeding any reasonable limit. In addition to poor electricity services, the European corporation is responsible of eight local leaders murdered during the last three months, according to Guatemalan organizations.
The latest violent event took place in Ocos municipality, San Marcos department. Carlos Noel Maldonado, Leandro Maldonado and Ana María Lorenzo Escobar were murdered in Limoncitos municipality.
They were the main leaders in the fight against the privatization of electricity and against the arbitrariness of Union Fenosa, and also the promoters of a campaign for the nationalization of this public service.
According to the Council of Western Peoples, another similar case occurred on March 22nd in San Pablo municipality, related to the confrontation of activists of the region against officers from DEOCSA (Western Distributor).
The eight murders against social activists committed during the last three months are still unpunished, and are presented to the public opinion as common crimes.
Feliciano Velasquez, from the Resistance Front in Defense of Natural Resources of Malacatan told Real World Radio that this impunity shows that the Guatemalan judicial system is “on the side of transnational corporations and that it protects their interests”.
