PBI-Guatemala accompanies UVOC at swearing in of Ancestral Q’eqchi‘ and Poqomchi’ councils

Published by Brent Patterson on September 27, 2024

PBI-Guatemala has posted:

“The day before yesterday [meaning on September 23], #PBIacompanies UVOC [Verapaz Union of Peasant Organizations] in the swearing in of the Ancestral Councils of the Maya Q’eqchi‘ and Poqomchi’ peoples of Purulhá, Baja Verapaz. The event took place in the Municipality of Purulhá.

The creation of these Councils is a very important step towards safeguarding and strengthening the values, worldview and ancestral culture of both peoples.”

PBI-Guatemala has previously explained: “UVOC has 367 affiliated communities (about 50,000 families); 98% of which are indigenous maya Q’eqchi‘, Poqomchi’ and Achi. Among other activities UVOC provides legal advice to numerous rural communities to legalize land, accompanies them in processes to defend their right to land, and participates in dialogue processes in the hope of finding solutions to agrarian conflicts.”

PBI has been accompanying UVOC since 2005 following threats and serious intimidation against some of its members.