Offices of Anti-CAFTA Groups Raided in Guatemala
May 14, 2005
This week four radis on offices of groups organizing against CAFTA were conducted in Guatemala. The Guatemalan government passed CAFTA back in March, despite widespread popular opposition to the agreement. The text of a communique from the "Anti-Imperialist Block" on the raid:
STATE TERRORISM INCREASES ANEW AGAINST SECTORS OPPOSING CAFTA
We are informing the national and international communities of the wave of repression unleashed against social sectors by the Guatemalan government. The social sectors suffering the wave of repression are those that have carried out an intense struggle for a some time, but now have presented great resistance, to the ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
The recent repressive actions against organized sectors began in a clearer and more brazen manner with the raiding of the National Coordinating Committee of Campesino Organizations (CNOC) on Saturday, May 7. In this raid information was taken, including more than fifteen computers and documents.
Likewise, yesterday, May 11, three raids were carried out on different organizations: the Penal Institute of Comparative Sciences; and two sectors of organized workers, the General Confederation of Workers of Guatemala (CGTG) and the Confederation of Labor Unity of Guatemala (CUSG). Also, the home of a member of the Coordinating Committee of NGOs and Cooperatives (CONGOOP) was raided, and clear signals of intimidation were left.
Second Raid of the Office of HIJOS Guatemala
In 2005 the offices of HIJOS Guatemala have been raided twice. The second raid occurred in the context of the current repression.
The first raid was carried out of January 8 (the same day the office was inaugurated), and the items taken included computers, personal agenda books, document from the files, a megaphone, paint, sound equipment, and other vital objects for the work of the organization.
The second raid was carried out early in the morning today, May 12. The back doors of the office were forced open and a vehicle was driven in. Printed photographs and photographs on disc were taken, along with a laptop (the only computer left after the first raid) and a computer. All the files were also reviewed with great care. A common robbery must be dismissed as the explanation, since several valuable objects were left behind, such as another laptop, microphones and cables, an overhead projector.
The organization had already received intimidating messages since the previous raid; constantly straws were left stuck in the doors. Today, on discovering that the offices had been raided, they also found these straws, which is a clear sign that the organization has been under surveillance for quite a while.
But they are not the only ones who have been intimidated. Today, as some of the members of HIJOS were meeting in the Lutheran Federation, which has helped them resume their work after the first raid, the Lutheran Federation’s car was stolen, a clear sign of intimidation toward those who contribute so that HIJOS and various organizations can continue working.
But there has not been intimidation only through raids. Last Friday, May 6, there was a robbery and an attempt to abduct Francisco Sánchez, a member of HIJOS. The act was carried out by two armed men travelling in a taxi. The men stole personal documents from Sanchez and also the keys to the car he was driving. They also tried to get the HIJOS member to enter the taxi, which did not occur because of his resistance, which led to a struggle. The assailants left the scene firing several shots, without taking the vehicle.
These various actions that have been carried out have not been isolated incidents. They represent intimidation and clear repression on the part of the state against various sectors that in March and April presented strong resistance to free trade and the imperialistic policies of the United States. From the planned and strategic manner in which the raids and intimidating acts have been carried out, we hold the current government of the GANA party, and sectors of military intelligence, and paramilitary groups responsible. Therefore we demand that the Public Ministry carry out an investigation and bring to criminal trial those responsible. We demand that the Human Rights Procurator’s Office make a pronouncement against the repressive actions of the current government representing the business-sector dictatorship.
These actions cannot end the resistance of all the Guatemalans. We will continue forward in spite of the fact that powerful sectors try to strike at us. We will continue fighting!