The Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project has posted on social media:
“On Friday [January 30], PBI accompanied the Poqomam People’s Peaceful Resistance in #Chinautla at the eighth technical meeting to find a solution to the serious problem of water access faced by the communities. Various government authorities participated, including the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office (PDH), the Human Rights Commission (COPADEH), the Departmental Governor’s Office, and the Municipality of Chinautla. The community continues to reaffirm the need to move forward with concrete and sustainable solutions to guarantee this fundamental right.”
Significant court ruling
In July 2025, Mongabay reported: “[On June 5, 2025] the Mayan Poqomam population obtained a court ruling ordering the municipality to take measures against the inadequate management of solid waste and the generation of illegal dumps. …[The ruling] obliges the municipality of Chinautla to assume its responsibility in environmental management, in the face of the operation of illegal landfills. In addition to closing these illegal dumps, the court decision also ordered to address the affected ecosystems and design a technical and scientific response plan in the short, medium and long term.”
By November 2025, Plaza Publica further explained: “After more than three decades of community resistance, a court finally granted an injunction to this population, which obliges the municipality of Chinautla and other competent institutions to stop the pollution and restore the ecosystem. The court ruling represents a respite on paper, although daily life is still the same. …In compliance with the injunction, two meetings have been held, on August 28 and September 10, with the participation of the Ministry of the Environment, the Attorney General’s Office, the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, the National Civil Police, representatives of Alianza por el Motagua and Aida, among other entities. The meetings are led by the mayor and the purpose is to find joint solutions to a problem that has overflowed over the years. … As a result of the court ruling, the municipal mayor says that they are analyzing with ancestral authorities the best way to clean up the environment.”
Accompaniment
PBI-Guatemala has previously explained on their website: “Since 1989, the Peaceful Resistance of the Poqomán People in Chinautla have been defending their right to be consulted on the activities of various clay extraction companies operating in their territory (Arenera La Primavera, Arenera El Pino, Piedrinera San Luis and San Fernando Arenera). They are also defending their territory against the pollution caused by other businesses operating in the region. Another problem faced by Poqomam communities is the pollution of the Las Vacas river that passes through Chinautla which flows directly out of the landfill in zone 3 of the capital city.”
PBI received a request for accompaniment from the Peaceful Resistance of the Poqomán People in Chinautla, as they have been subject to attacks and criminalization. PBI began accompanying them in December 2018.
