• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: Indigenous Leader Shot (Guatemala: UA 7.21)

January 26, 2021

On 16 January 2021, Xinca defender Julio David González Arango was shot by an armed man on a property he owns in Mataquescuintla, a town in the Jalapa department, south-east Guatemala. Julio González is now safe and recovering from injuries. He has been a public leader defending the rights of the Xinca people against the Pan American Silver’s Escobal mine and has been attacked in the past due to his work. We call on Guatemala’s Attorney General to conduct a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the attack against Julio González and any other previous aggression against the Xinca People.

TAKE ACTION:
  1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  2. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 7.21. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Consuelo Porras Attorney General Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MPguatemala
Ambassador Manuel Espina Embassy of Guatemala 2220 R St. NW, Washington DC 20008 Phone: 202 745 4953 I Fax: 202 745 1908 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @EmbaGuateUSA Salutation: Dear Ambassador
SAMPLE LETTER Dear Attorney General Porras, I am writing to express my concern about the recent attack against Xinca defender Julio David González Arango in Mataquescuintla, Jalapa department, Guatemala. On 16 January 2021, one armed man arrived at González’s property and shot him. He was seriously injured. Julio González and other members of the Xinca People have been previously attacked for their work defending the rights of the Xinca people. Investigations into these attacks are pending. I call on you to conduct a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the latest attack against Julio David González Arango and any previous aggression against the Xinca People, and to bring those responsible to justice. Yours sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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