Religious fanaticism kills: Mayan spiritual guide burned
We are deeply saddened by the tragic and violent murder of Domingo Choc Che, Mayan spiritual guide in San Luis, Petén, Guatemala. Pangea is committed to raising the voices of indigenous people in Guatemala and around the world. The following is a statement from our friends at EDUCA Oaxaca concerning the lynching and murder of Domingo Choc Che. You can read the original statement in Spanish here. Our thanks to Kelly Ventura for the translation.
Domingo Choc Che, member of the Association of Mayan Spiritual Guides, was lynched by a mob that accused him of practicing acts of witchcraft in the Chimay village, San Luis, Petén, Guatemala. The incident was documented in videos that were circulated by social networks and caused outrage. Several organizations have spoken out against the event and claim that Choc was a spiritual guide (Ajq’ijab’), who was part of the Association of Mayan Spiritual Guides. Dr. Mónica Berger, head of the Anthropology Unit of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, indicated that “grandfather Domingo” was working on the recovery of ancient Mayan natural medicine. The K’iche’s People’s Council affirms that “The assassination of the spiritual guide Domingo Choc makes it clear that political and spiritual intolerance remains, religious fanaticism has deeply damaged our communities.” This council demand to the Public Ministry to “clarify this reprehensible criminal act, it cannot go unpunished; identify the material and intellectually responsible, since several Ancestral Authorities such as Spiritual Guides who practice the Mayab’ worldview are at risk, people who are defenders of life and the territories.” For its part, the National Civil Police (PNC) reported today the capture of 4 people, two men and two women, accused of the crime of murder.
Statement from the K’iche’s Peoples Council: We repudiate the assassination of the Ancestral Authority Domingo Choc Ché. More information: What was the cause of the crime against Domingo Choc Che aj Ilonel?[1] Also read: Domingo Choc: burned by fanaticism, hatred and ignorance[2].
[1] https://www.prensacomunitaria.org/repudiamos-el-asesinato-de-la-autoridad-ancestral-domingo-choc-che/
[2] https://elperiodico.com.gt/opinion/2020/06/08/domingo-choc-calcinado-por-fanatismo-odio-e-ignorancia/