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<div id="reader-header" class="header" style="display: block;"> <font
size="-2"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Guatemalan-Indigenous-Government-Denounces-US-Military-Presence-20180116-0038.html">https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Guatemalan-Indigenous-Government-Denounces-US-Military-Presence-20180116-0038.html</a></font>
<h1 id="reader-title">Guatemalan Indigenous Government Denounces
US Military Presence<br>
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<div id="reader-estimated-time"> 16 January 2018</div>
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<p>The Plurinational Ancestral Government of the Akateko,
Chuj, Popti and Q'anjob'al Maya, C. A., has denounced
U.S. military presence in their territories, claiming
it's part of a government's militarization strategy to
suppress the population's opposition to corporate
activity.</p>
<p>According to a press release published Tuesday, on
January 9 and 10, three helicopters carrying U.S.
military personnel were seen flying over Q'anjob'al in
Huehuetenango, Guatemala before landing in Ixquisis
(also known as Yichkisis) – a ranch base to military and
police presence.</p>
<p>The helicopters flew over several communities in
northern Huehuetenango, raising concern among the local
population. It was later discovered that the aircraft
belong to the Southern Command of the U.S. Army.</p>
<p>They were identified as UH-60 Black Hawks from the
Joint Task Force-Bravo military base in Palmerola,
Honduras, according to a report by Prensa Comunitaria.</p>
<p>The Ixquisis territory, which is home to the
hydroelectric company PDHSA, has had national military
presence since 2014. Former President Otto Perez
Molina established the base, which was a request from
the hydroelectric company to calm relations with
residents, who oppose the plan to build three additional
plants.</p>
<p>Witnesses claim that 16 military officers, seven
civilians, company reps and members of Guatemala's army
were seen near the area that the helicopters landed.</p>
<p>PDHSA confirmed that members of the U.S. military are
present and have paired with Guatemalan troops to
explore the possible implementation of new medical
programs next month.</p>
<p>A representative for the Plurinational Ancestral
Government, Julio Gomez, declared that “the presence of
military aircraft are a serious provocation to the
people of the municipality. The reports and testimonies
against military presence within the company's territory
are plenty and the State still hasn't taken care of it.”</p>
<p>In the release, the Plurinational Ancestral Government
opposed the alleged implementation of any medical
program, saying it should be the responsibility of the
health ministry. The release reminded the government to
honor their international agreements to ban military
drills in their territory.</p>
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<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863.9977
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