Open Letter: APG DENOUNCES THE BREAK IN ON THE OFFICES OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF GUATEMALA AND REDCONPAZ
May 12, 2025 - For immediate release:
The Americas Policy Group (APG) expresses its heartfelt solidarity with the Ecumenical Council of Guatemala (CECG) and the Christian Continental Network for Peace (REDCONPAZ) in light of the violent break-in to their offices and stealing of information on the night of Saturday, 26, and early morning of Sunday, 27.
We join the Council and REDCONPAZ in expressing our repudiation and protest of this violent intrusion and seizure of information belonging to the Council and the Network.
At a press conference held at the Council’s offices on April 30th, Pastor Héctor Castenada, member of the General Secretariat of the Council, stated that “In Guatemala we will never again succumb to fear, we will never again remain silent“ noting that the break in occurred on the anniversary of the 27th anniversary of the assassination of Bishop [Juan José] Gerardi .
“We are in solidarity with the capture of Indigenous leaders Luis Pacheco and Hector Chaclán and we believe that everything is part of a national process that seeks to threaten organizations like ours that defend the common home, life and territory”, adds the coordinator of the Pastoral, Luis Lopez.”
"It is important to highlight that the Ecumenical Christian Council of Guatemala accompanies communities who defend territorial autonomy, the correct use of their natural resources and the protection of the common home," said Reverend Jenner Miranda Calderón, member of the Board.
This organization has been critical of the human rights situation in the country. This situation has caused annoyance in sectors that provoke actions that violate the rights of the population, so it has been the target of attacks on social networks, but never an act similar to the one reported today.
"The Ecumenical Council has always been subject to criminalization, there have always been some mishaps as a form of intimidation or threat, but not such a specific attack. We must clarify that we share this space with different organizations. The break-in was specifically into the headquarters of the Council", said Pastor Castañeda.
In responding to their call for organizations and faith communities that defend life to solidarity and unity at this time, the APG is calling on the pertinent authorities to immediately undertake an exhaustive investigation to determine the facts of the case, clarify the motives behind the break in and to do justice upholding the rule of law.