Carasik, Lauren

English

Western New England University School of Law

Western New England University School of LawDigital Commons @ Western New England University School ofLawMedia Presence Faculty Publications10-1-2012The Chixoy Dam: A Time for JusticeLauren CarasikWestern New England University School of Law, Carasik@law.wne.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.wne.edu/mediaPart of the Human Rights Law CommonsThis Editorial is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Publications at Digital Commons @ Western New England University School ofLaw. It has been accepted for inclusion in Media Presence by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Western New England UniversitySchool of Law. For more information, please contact pnewcombe@law.wne.edu.Recommended CitationThe Chixoy Dam: A Time for Justice, PEACE AND FREEDOM MAGAZINE (Fall 2012).8 • Fall, 2012 Peace & FreedomThe year 1982 was a tragically bloody time in theremote village of Rio Negro, in the Guatemalanhighlands. In four separate massacres, over 400innocent people were savagely murdered by theGuatemalan military and paramilitary forces.These unspeakable atrocities occurred in the contextof widespread violence in Guatemala (from 1975-1985)including four regions in which the United Nations con-cluded that the Guatemalan government committedgenocide. The indigenous Maya Achi people of RioNegro were specifically targeted in order to clear thepath for an internationaldevelopment project thatprecipitated the violenceand wholly failed to meetone of its centrally statedgoals: alleviating poverty inthe local communities.The village of RioNegro, along with 32 othercommunities, was slated fordestruction for the construc-tion of the Chixoy Dam, adevelopment project fundedby the World Bank and theInter-American Develop-ment Bank. Some villagesup and down river from theproposed dam site reluctantly complied with orders tovacate, while others were less amenable to beingforcibly displaced from their ancestral homes.The inhabitants of Rio Negro were unwilling totrade their way of life for the poorly conceptualizedresettlement community ofPacux, a gritty neighbor-hood on the outskirts of atown called Rabinal. Pacuxwas located far from theirbeloved river and withoutconsistent access topotable water. It was also aday’s hike from their oncethriving and close-knitcommunity. Impatient withthe resistance of the vil-lage, the military silencedthe peaceful oppositionthrough the murder ofmen, women and chil-dren.On one particularlybrutal day, March 13,1982, some 177women and childrenwere bound together and marched up a steep hill to theclearing at Pacoxom, a beautiful setting with a panoram-ic view of the idyllic valley below. After separating outa few children to be enslaved by the paramilitary forcesthat would help kill their families, the remaining womenand children were slaugh-tered without mercy. On the30th anniversary of theMarch 13 massacre, Iattended a moving ceremo-ny to honor and rememberthe dead at the massacresite. The community’sanguish was palpable, co-existing with the hope andthe resistance of a peopledetermined to uncovertruth, preserve memory anddemand justice. With unparalleled tenac-ity and courage, survivorsof these massacres havelabored tirelessly to ensure that their loved ones are notforgotten and that their ancestral lands are restored.Despite unrelenting threats, intrepid leaders Carlos Chenand Carlos Tecu Osario have demanded accountabilityand reparations for the atrocities committed against theirpeople. Three decades havepassed, yet the massacre sur-vivors and those displacedfrom neighboring villageshave seen only empty promis-es – none have been madewhole for the harms inflictedon their communities, theirlands and their spirits.On June 19th and 20thof this year, the Inter Ameri-can Court of Human Rightsheld a hearing in the case ofRio Negro survivors againstthe state of Guatemala, whichCarlos Chen, left, whose pregnant wife and two children weremurdered, and Carlos Tecu Osario who witnessed the massacreand was subsequently enslaved, are two who lead the demandsfor accountability and justice.                                   — Author Photo“Do not forget” (No Olvidamos) says the poster at the com-memorative site, and painted messages such this one on theside of the building keep the memory of the destruction of thetown and its inhabitants alive.The Chixoy Dam: A Time for JusticeBy Lauren Carasikhas yet to releasemoney necessary toallow survivors torebuild their com-munities and healfrom the unspeak-able harms theyhave suffered.Advocates continueto wage a battleagainst the impuni-ty of the WorldBank and the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank.The fight is beingwaged through theInter-AmericanCommission onHuman Rights,despite theCommission’s sum-mary rejection of their petition. An appeal is currentlyunder review. The case against the World Bank and theInter-American Development Bank sets an importantprecedent for the accountability of international organi-zations, especially those whose stated mission is to alle-viate poverty. International human rights standardsshould be applicable to all international institutions. Weneed to send the message that no one is above the rule oflaw.The atrocities in Guatemala are not just aGuatemalan problem, and they demand an internationalsolution. The U.S. has had bloody hands in Guatemaladating back before the 1954 coup that ousted the democ-ratically elected president Jacobo Arbenz. Multilateraldevelopment institutions that funded the Chixoy Dam(despite widespread reports of egregious human rightsabuses in the region) also bear some responsibility forthe carnage that ensued. The member states of theseinstitutions should not escape accountability.Impunity cannot be allowed to prevail. The state ofGuatemala and international organizations must be heldto account for the violence perpetrated against the MayaAchi villagers. The courageous survivors deserve swiftand full justice: reparations must be paid to foster heal-ing and promote justice without further delay. For moreinformation, please see http://www.rightsaction.org.Lauren Carasik is a Clinical Professor of Law andDirector of the International Human Rights Clinic atWestern New England University School of Law. Shecan be reached at lcarasik@gmail.com.Peace & Freedom Fall, 2012 •  91. Contact your Senator and demand the immediate pas-sage of S. Bill 1301 the “Trafficking VictimsPrevention Reauthorization Act of 2011.” This is themost recent reauthorization of TVPA.2. Educate yourself, so that you can better educate others!see www.polarisproject.org or  www.sharedhoped.orgto learn more about this complex problem.3. Advocate for better resources and training for child wel-fare agencies. Tell your Congressperson to pass H.R.Bill 2730 the “Strengthening the Child WelfareResponse to Trafficking Act.”4. Write to your local, state, and federal-level representa-tives and ask them to argue both for better human traf-ficking trainings for police and other governmentemployees and for better services for victims.5. Buy slavery-free goods at www.madebysurvivors.com.These products are made by major anti-traffickingorganizations around the world.6. Ask your representative to vote yes for H.R. Bill 2795the “Business Transparency on Trafficking and SlaveryAct,” which requires large companies to report themeasures they take to address slavery within their busi-ness.7. Tell your Congressperson to support H.R. Bill 4567 the“U.S. Contractors Liability Act,” which gives the U.S.government authority over federal contractors andemployees who commit human trafficking offensesoutside of the U.S.8. Spread the word! Educate your community about humantrafficking, especially those who could encounterhuman trafficking victims and survivors. To find anti-trafficking  groups in your area go to MeetUp.com. Orstart one of your own.9.  Contact your Congressperson and advocate for H.R.Bill 2982 the “Human Trafficking Reporting Act,”which requires states receiving specific federal fundingto provide information about arrests and prosecutionsof the crimes of trafficking.10. As a foreign-language speaker, offer your languageskills as an interpreter or English teacher.11. Donate clean clothing in good condition to organiza-tions that help people find work in the professionalworld. Donate working electronic devices, like comput-ers or cell phones, to similar organizations.12. Donate your time and professional skills to anti-traf-ficking efforts or to survivors of human trafficking.For steps 10 - 12, call  the  National  HumanTrafficking Resource Center to connect with anti-traffick-ing services in your area. Find out how you can help bycalling 1-888-373-7888. Find your Congressperson atwww.house.gov/representatives/find. Find your Senatorat www.senate.gov.12 STEPS FOR TAKING ACTIONTO END HUMAN TRAFFICKINGThirty years later, an altar at the mas-sacre site is one way survivors keepalive the memory of the 400 peoplekilled at Rio Negro.           — Author photo  

The Chixoy Dam: A Time for Justice

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The Chixoy Dam: A Time for Justice

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