India, Sept. 14 -- A Guatemalan court has closed criminal proceedings against four Indigenous authorities who faced prosecution after taking part in peaceful protests during a national strike in October 2023, marking what Amnesty International described as a step towards justice.
Criminal Cases Closed
The decision benefits Luis Pacheco, Hector Chaclan and Basilio Puac of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapan, along with Esteban Toc of the Indigenous mayor's office in Solola. They had been accused of crimes including illicit association, terrorism, obstruction of justice, sedition and obstruction of criminal prosecution.
Amnesty said the proceedings were unfounded and linked to the authorities' actions defending human rights and the rule of law. ...