20 March 2012 | Interviews
Intimidatory Practices
Another Guatemalan environmental activist attacked
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“Robberies are common in Guatemala, but they always want your wallet or cell phone. In this case, they went straight to my briefcase with my laptop computer, were we have information of CEIBA and the organizations we work with”, said leader Oscar Galvez in an interview with Real World Radio.
He was making reference to what happened to him on March 15th, which is part of a series of intimidatory practices against environmentalist organizations in that Central American country.
Galvez was attacked in the street by two people on a motorcycle. One of them threatened him with a gun and only demanded him his briefcase.
It seems clear that there are people interested in accessing information managed by CEIBA, a member of environmentalist federation Friends of the Earth and other allied groups.
Another intimidatory event with similar features took place on February 25th in the office of CEIBA and the National Network in Defense of Food Sovereignty in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, when computers were stolen.
“This is part of a campaign by the government against social organizations, and some communication media are involved. Despite this we will continue our fight”, said Galvez.
