Mayan Q'eqchi' Council of El Estor (Consejo Maya Q’eqchi’ de El Estor)
Sources
On October 24, 2021, the Government of Guatemala declared through Decree 9-2021 a state of siege in El Estor, department of Izabal, opening the door to the militarization of the territory and undue restrictions on the right to peaceful protest of the Mayan population. Q'eqchi of this municipality. After the declaration, ratified three days later by Congress, the Guatemalan Army mobilized 500 soldiers, who with 350 members of the National Civil Police (PNC), moved to El Estor to ensure the end of the peaceful mobilization. of the communities of the municipality against the activities of the mining company Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel (CGN). Since October 4, 2021, four peaceful camps had been established in the municipality under the leadership of the Mayan Q'eqchi' Council of El Estor with the objective of preventing the entry of coal supplies to the “Fénix” mine. After 17 days of peaceful resistance, members of the National Civil Police (PNC) violently evicted the camps to facilitate the entry of the trucks.