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Guatemala: A step towards justice for Indigenous authorities after months of criminalization
Amnesty International welcomes the Guatemalan judiciary’s decision to close the criminal proceedings against four Indigenous authorities charged with unlawful association, terrorism, obstruction of justice, sedition and obstruction of criminal prosecution following their participation in peaceful protests during the national strike in October 2023.
The ruling concerns Luis Pacheco, Héctor Chaclán and Basilio Puac, from the 48 Cantones of Totonicapán, and Esteban Toc, from the Indigenous Mayor’s Office of Sololá, who faced unfounded criminal proceedings in retaliation for their work defending human rights and the rule of law.
“This unfounded prosecution and all the human rights violations it led to should never have happened. Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán should never have been imprisoned. This ruling is a first step towards ending the arbitrary actions against them,” said Astrid Valencia, Amnesty International’s Deputy Research Director for the Americas.
Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán should never have been imprisoned. This ruling is a first step towards ending the arbitrary actions against them.”Astrid Valencia, Amnesty International’s Deputy Research Director for the Americas.
In May 2026, Amnesty International named Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán prisoners of conscience. They spent more than 15 months in pretrial detention, unjustly separated from their families and communities. The organization also warned about the misuse of criminal offences to punish Indigenous Peoples’ forms of organization and deter them from exercising their rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, in violation of international human rights standards.
“The criminalization of Indigenous authorities for participating in peaceful demonstrations not only affects those accused, but also threatens Indigenous Peoples’ forms of community organization and systems of representation in Guatemala. We urge the Guatemalan authorities to ensure that no one is again subjected to arbitrary criminal proceedings for peacefully exercising their rights,” added Astrid Valencia.
“The criminalization of Indigenous authorities for participating in peaceful demonstrations not only affects those accused, but also threatens Indigenous Peoples’ forms of community organization and systems of representation in Guatemala.”Astrid Valencia, Amnesty International’s Deputy Research Director for the Americas.
Finally, we call on the authorities to ensure that Luis, Héctor, Basilio and Esteban receive full reparation for the harm caused to them, their families and communities. This must include ensuring that those suspected of responsibility for misusing the criminal justice system to harass them are investigated and prosecuted.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact press@amnesty.org.
(c) 2026, Amnesty International
I think this is an important development for Indigenous authorities in Guatemala. In my view, the decision shows how important it is to protect peaceful civic participation and ensure that legal proceedings are handled fairly. Space Waves
This is an important update on the legal challenges faced by Indigenous authorities in Guatemala. I appreciate reading informative articles on global issues like this, including those shared by GMRU’s informative articles.