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Palm oil finca invasion in Guatemala enters third week, eviction process advances
🇬🇹 Guatemala /Conflict & Security

Palm oil finca invasion in Guatemala enters third week, eviction process advances

From Prensa Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The occupation of Finca Yalcobé in Guatemala, dedicated to palm oil cultivation, has lasted over 20 days, halting operations and risking the harvest.
  • The Guatemalan agricultural sector is urging authorities to restore property rights amid fears the invasion could spread.
  • Legal processes are advancing towards a potential eviction, with authorities awaiting a judge's decision on preventive measures.

The occupation of Finca Yalcobé, a palm oil plantation in Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, has entered its 21st day, disrupting operations and raising concerns about the potential loss of the harvest. The invasion marks the first such incident on this finca, located in a semi-urban area, causing fear among local residents.

NaturAceites, the company operating the finca, reported that legal proceedings are underway, and an alert has been issued regarding the potential loss of palm oil crops. Personnel cannot access the affected areas to manage the harvest or prevent further issues due to the presence of the occupying group. Staff have been relocated to other areas while the situation is resolved.

The process continues in the corresponding legal instances. An alert has been issued regarding the possible loss of cultivated lots with palm oil, due to the presence of a group of people.

— Rodrigo DíazRodrigo Díaz, manager of Social Management at NaturAceites, explained the ongoing legal process and the risks to the harvest.

Rodrigo Díaz, NaturAceites' Social Management Manager, stated that the National Civil Police (PNC) are involved, and meetings have been held with the Departmental Governorate. The Public Ministry (MP) is processing the case, and it is expected to move to a competent court soon. The MP has requested security measures for the finca and its personnel, arrest warrants, and an eviction order. An eviction request is a preventive measure, not a final sentence, aimed at securing the property and removing the occupants.

The group occupying the finca reportedly rotates, with women present during the day and men at night. This situation has halted the harvesting of palm oil in identified lots, leading to a lost production cycle. There are also concerns about the lack of maintenance in the affected areas, increasing the risk of pests spreading to other lots. Workers assigned to the occupied areas are pressuring for their release, fearing the invasion could extend to other farms and create broader problems for agricultural communities.

An eviction request does not constitute a sentence, but a preventive measure to protect the finca and facilitate the removal of the occupants.

— Rodrigo DíazDíaz clarified the nature of the eviction request being pursued by authorities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Prensa Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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