Hoy se cumple un año desde el asesinato de Carlos Maaz, un pescador Q’eqchi’ de 27 años de edad. La policía lo mató el 27 de mayo del 2017 en medio del violento desalojo de una protesta en El Estor, Izabal. A pesar de la criminalización de líderes de la Gremial de Pescadores Artesanales y periodistas, siguen exigiendo justicia.

One year after police shot and killed indigenous Maya Q'eqchi' fisherman Carlos Maaz during the eviction of a protest against mining pollution in Guatemala, no one has been brought to justice, but indigenous fishers' union leaders and local journalists face ongoing criminalization and threats.

The clouds of tear gas began to dissipate, and the crisp sounds of gunshots punctuating the chaos halted. Someone was lying in the middle of the road.

La Gremial de Pescadores Artesanales de El Estor realizará una marcha pacífica el día 7 de julio en el pueblo de El Estor en Izabal. Invitan a la población a sumarse para elevar una vez más sus denuncias sobre la contaminación del Lago Izabal y las actividades mineras sin consulta, y para exigir justicia por el asesinato de Carlos Maaz Coc.

El 22 de junio en Guatemala, llegaron más que 200 agentes de la policía y fuerzas especiales a Casillas para reprimir a la manifestación pacífica contra la minería, relatan vecinos.

Almorzó en casa. Carlos Maaz Coc pasó la mañana del sábado en una reunión de los pescadores de El Estor, pero regresó a casa para almorzar antes de salir a la manifestación pacífica, dijo su esposa, Cristina Xol Pop. Unas dos horas después, su esposo, un pescador maya q’eqchi de 27 años de edad, estaba muerto.

Cientos de vecinos de El Estor acompañaron ayer al entierro de Carlos Maaz Coc, el pescador asesinado el sábado en medio de la represión policial. Ese mismo día, el gobierno declaró que "se determinó que no hay persona fallecida".

Empresarios, líderes comunitarios, y otros habitantes de Río Dulce se están uniendo para respaldar a los pescadores artesanales de El Estor, y para denunciar los impactos que sufren a causa de las actividades mineras.

La Gremial de Pescadores Artesanales del municipio de El Estor presentó una denuncia formal ante el Ministerio Público por la contaminación del Lago de Izabal. Directivos de la organización entregaron el martes 16 de mayo el escrito en el despacho de Fiscalía de Sección de Delitos contra el Medio Ambiente en Puerto Barrios.

Rodrigo Tot and his Maya Q’eqchi’ community have been working to secure title to their land and protect it from mining interests. Mongabay contributor Sandra Cuffe reports on his work from the disputed lands in Guatemala.

The Guatemalan government declared a 30-day, nationwide state of emergency Tuesday to facilitate efforts to combat and control forest fires.

The Maya Biosphere Reserve is on fire. Government officials issued a red alert yesterday for the Peten department due to forest fires inside national parks.

A Guatemalan judge acquitted the former head of security of a mining project of homicide and assault charges related to attacks against Mayan community residents.

Conservation of Mirador-Rio Azul National Park and the ruins of ancient cities scattered throughout the area has been mired in controversy for more than a decade.

One of the best ways to protect the rainforest, it turns out, is to hand its management over to communities whose livelihoods depend on it.

The Maya Biosphere Reserve, a grand experiment in forest management, has its share of success stories, but faces threats from oil development and illegal settlers, as well as drug traffickers, cattle ranchers, and other armed groups.

After visiting the Maya Biosphere Reserve late last year, musicians from the multiple Grammy Award winning pop group recently penned an open letter to Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales supporting the renewal of community forest concession contracts.

Walter Manfredo Méndez Barrios was shot on March 16. Officials and activists close to him believe he was killed because of his community leadership and environmental activism by illegal land and resource theft groups operating in the region.

A palm oil company remains at the heart of conflict in northern Guatemala, months after a mass fish die-off.

Two years have passed since this region was crawling with soldiers and police officers during a state of siege, but locals organizing against the Escobal mine and other potential mining projects continue to live with the impacts of the government crackdown.