Guatemala: Peaceful Resistance in the Face of Violence

We have featured the struggles in the communities of San Pedro Ayampuc and San José del Golfo before here and the attempt on the life of community leader, Yolanda "Yoli" Oquelí, here. News that the communities had been awarded the Alice Zachmann Human Rights Defender Award also reached us and was featured here.

A recent article by Dawn Paley features on Zcommunications, and was originally on Upside Down World here.

"I want to tell the world that here in Guatemala there is a peaceful resistance that exists, and we are prepared to stay here as long as possible," said Oquelí, sitting upright on a plastic chair inside a permanent camp blocking the entrance to a proposed gold mine about 30km from Guatemala City. "We always hoped no blood would be spilled in this struggle, and personally mine did, but I think it has been a very important test and today I am back in action, and I know that they will not quiet me, while god gives me life I will continue."

You can read the full article here.