Amnesty International declares indigenous leaders Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán 'prisoners of conscience'

Amnesty International has taken a strong stance, declaring indigenous leaders Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán "prisoners of conscience" and demanding their immediate release. Detained for a year, Pacheco and Chaclán, prominent figures from the 48 Cantones indigenous organization, led protests advocating for the integrity of Guatemala's 2023 presidential election results. They now face charges of terrorism and illicit association, accusations that Amnesty International vehemently condemns as arbitrary punishment and a manifestation of deep-seated structural racial discrimination. The human rights organization highlights the prolonged lack of a "natural judge" in their case, with constant recusals preventing the intermediate stage hearing from proceeding for 10 months. This legal quagmire, coupled with the charges themselves, is seen by AI as a severe setback for human rights in Guatemala. The organization points out that other indigenous authorities, such as Basilio Puac and Esteban Toc, are similarly implicated under the same terrorism charges. These charges stem from the 2023 mobilizations that called for the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras Argueta, who has been sanctioned by the U.S. and EU for alleged corruption and attempts to undermine democracy. The protests were a direct response to actions by the Public Ministry, which were perceived as attempts to obstruct the investiture of President Bernardo Arévalo. From Guatemala's perspective, this case is not merely a legal matter but a critical juncture in the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights and against systemic discrimination. The use of charges like "terrorism" against ancestral authorities is viewed as a continuation of racial discrimination, designed to deter social mobilization and punish distinct forms of indigenous organization. The wives of Pacheco and Chaclán describe their situation as a "social death," emphasizing that their husbands acted under the mandate of their communities to defend the will of millions of Guatemalans expressed at the ballot box. Amnesty International urges the new Attorney General to address this injustice and uphold the rights of indigenous peoples.

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“presos de conciencia”