PRESS RELEASE   The Centre for Legal-Environmental and Social Action of Guatemala (CALAS)
11 January 2005

Concerning the acts of violence that occurred today in the city of Los Encuentros, Sololá

The Centre for Legal-Environmental and Social Action of Guatemala (CALAS) regrets and condemns the acts of violence carried out against the population of the hamlet of Los Encuentros, Sololá province, Guatemala. The citizens were exercising their legitimate constitutional right to public protest and resistance in order to oppose the destruction of the pedestrian bridge situated here, which would be necessary for a mining company [unnamed in the press release] to move machinery destined for the mining exploitation in San Marcos.

It is lamentable that the Guatemalans are to suffer anew violence on the part of security forces, who were intended to safeguard the interest of the civil population, defending a private industry that counts on sufficient resources to invite tenders for its own security.

HENCE:
CALAS disapproves of the Interior Secretary [the individual named in a CNN.com article] having deployed a police and military contingent against the civilian population without having exhausted the channels of dialogue, the principal instrument in the search for development and democracy.
It demands of the Public Ministry an immediate and exhaustive investigation to name and punish those responsible for this violent act.

It asks that the Congress of the Republic investigate these deeds, and inform the ministers of the Interior and of National Defence about the actions of the public security forces and the Guatemalan army against the civilian population.

"Justice for Nature"[slogan of CALAS]
Guatemala, 11 January 2005.