Defiant and unsilenced

Carlos Ernesto Choc Chub on the persecution of journalists in Guatemala

Carlos Ernesto Choc Chub, indigenous Maya Q'eqchi’ human rights defender and journalist, has been forced to relocate several times to protect his own safety. He faces criminalisation, threats, physical attacks and raids on his home. His ‘crime’? Investigating and reporting the truth. 

Samantha-Rose Parvin spoke to Carlos, who kindly agreed to answer questions on his work as a journalist and human rights defender in the context of a dangerous climate for those who speak out against corporations and the state. He speaks to PBI to mark the International Day to End Violence against Journalists. Carlos will visit the UK to carry out advocacy and raise awareness of the situation in Guatemala later this month.

Can you tell us about your motivations to become a journalist initially? Have your motivations changed since then? 

I was motivated by the importance of communication and interested in learning about communicating in my native indigenous language, and later in Spanish or ‘Castellano’. I began working at a community radio station in 2003, first as a show host and then as a journalistic correspondent.

My motivation hasn’t changed but I think I feel even more committed now due to  

the state’s oppression of me for being indigenous and investigating the attack on the environment and the violations of human rights that we - indigenous people - suffer.

Can you tell me about some of the repercussions you’ve faced for your work? 

I have had two arrest warrants against me and I have been under non-custodial measures since 2017 for false accusations for investigating the contamination of Lake Izabal and documenting the murder of a fisherman at the hands of the National Civil Police during a peaceful demonstration.

On October 25, 2021 my house was raided by the army, the PNC police, the Public Prosecutor's Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) and other public forces.

In January 2022 I had another arrest warrant issued against me for reporting on the plea of the Q'eqchi' Mayan Ancestral Council asking the central government to be included in a consultation about open-pit mining.

On September 13, I voluntarily presented myself before the judge with my lawyers, and all charges against me were dropped because there was no evidence that I committed a crime.

Did you ever expect to face so much persecution for your work? 

I never imagined that I’d experience this censorship for my journalistic work.

The attacks have made me stronger and more committed to my work of reporting responsibly and professionally.

Have the perpetrators of the attacks against you ever faced any consequences for their actions? 

The justice system in our country definitely favours the economically and professionally powerful and the governments that violate the rights of indigenous peoples. Because of this none of the actors have been investigated by the justice system for the actions against me.

You’ve been criminalised for your journalistic work, can you tell us about this? How did this happen and how was it allowed to happen?

Criminalisation is a tool used by the State and transnational corporations against defenders and journalists. In March 2017 I decided to document and investigate the contamination of Lake Izabal and violations against the community together with the media outlet Prensa Comunitaria.

I witnessed and documented the murder of Carlos Maaz, a fisherman who was part of a group asking for an investigation of the contamination of the lake. That is when the threats and criminal persecution against me began. 

I couldn’t believe it when I was first told that I had an arrest warrant against me in August 2017. I had to go into hiding because the judge suspended my hearing 14 times with the objective to send me to jail. Despite the criminalisation, I continued my investigative journalism. 

For 17 months I had to stay in hiding after being forcibly displaced from my territory, leaving my family, my community and my home. 

A second arrest warrant was put out against me in March 2022. I had to ask my lawyers and human rights organisations for accompaniment and the risk to my life meant I couldn’t work. In September 2022 it was proven that there was no evidence of the crime they were accusing me of, which was instigation to commit a crime. 

I am now awaiting a hearing on November 24, which will define the future of my work as a journalist, and that of my family. The charges against me could be dropped or I could be sent to jail.

This has happened because governments are complicit with transnational and national companies violating human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples, and they’re not interested in the damage to the environment, much less the lives of the people. 

Repression, and even criminalisation, are tools of control used by the State.

At the time of writing, the UK government is in the process of effectively criminalising protest here in the UK. As someone who has been criminalised for speaking out, what is your response to governments silencing people in this way?

There’s a reason people have to demonstrate. They are not being heard and there is a reason why they are not being listened to - there is an abuse of authority and people are marginalised.

There’s a story behind every community mobilisation and why it happens - people demonstrate to have their rights respected. People demonstrate to affirm that their rights exist.

On the international day to end impunity for crimes against journalists, what’s your message to journalists who aim to speak out against corruption?  

We cannot remain silent in the face of so much injustice, human rights violations, attacks on journalists, attacks on the environment and being complicit in all these abuses.

One day history will judge us. As journalists our contribution to society and the community is very important. To be a journalist is not to be a criminal, it is a fundamental part of a democracy.

Can you tell us about the capacity in which you’ve been working alongside PBI? 

PBI's work is very important. The ability to provide accompaniment and support to defenders and journalists as an international human rights organisation in defence of human rights reminds the State that it must respect human rights.

In your opinion, what needs to happen to end the crimes against human rights defenders and journalists and to bring perpetrators to justice? 

The government has not kept to the agreements signed 26 years ago at the agreement of peace. What we, the people, are experiencing is a regression to the civil war when multiple human rights violations and genocides were committed.

The state must protect people’s lives and fulfil its mission to strengthen democracy and not persecute journalists for doing their work. The actors who carry out criminal acts against human rights defenders must be investigated and prosecuted and the ILO Convention 169 on the rights of indigenous peoples must be respected.

There must be a system in place to defend the freedom of the press, as well as respect freedom of expression. It is not possible to speak of democracy if there is no freedom of expression.

Carlos is amongst hundreds of journalists who risk their lives and freedom every day for reporting the truth. PBI continues to support journalists and human rights defenders who speak out against injustice. You can read more about Carlos’s work here.

Follow PBI UK on Twitter to keep up to date with Carlos’s visit later in November @PBIUK