Guatemala: Information on the harassment of Jesuit teachers by the military, particularly in the Jocotan area of Chiquimula, 1991-95
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GTM22792.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guatemala: Information on the harassment of Jesuit teachers by the military, particularly in the Jocotan area of Chiquimula, 1991-95, 1 January 1996, GTM22792.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab8274.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The information that follows was provided during a 22 January telephone interview by a representative at the Jesuit Centre of Toronto, which maintains close links to Jesuit activities in Guatemala and Central America.
Many Jesuit priests have had to flee Guatemala over the last few years. At least one Jesuit priest was kidnapped by security forces in the 1970s, and his whereabouts are still unknown.
Among the foreign-born and Guatemalan Jesuit priests who had to leave Guatemala, there are still some for whom it's not safe to return. The source cited the case of one Jesuit priest who, because of his community work, was falsely accused a few years ago of being associated with the guerrillas. This accusation was known by Jesuits to be false, but it entailed a great risk to the individual, and could endanger today should he return to Guatemala.
The older Jesuit priests who live in the larger urban areas are not necessarily involved in human rights work, and therefore may not be at as great risk as those working in the provinces. Middle-aged and younger priests who work in smaller communities and the countryside do face greater risks.
At Jesuit missions throughout the country one can find Jesuit priests and lay persons who teach either regular schooling at schools linked to the missions or cathechism at a church or elsewhere. Jesuit teachers are often threatened because of their community and social work and teachings. Lay teachers who work with Jesuit institutions and lack the international links and importance of Jesuit priests must be at greater risk.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below a list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Jesuit Centre, Toronto. 22 January 1996. Telephone interview with representative.
Additional Sources Consulted
Central America NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. Bi-weekly.
Central America Report [Guatemala City]. Weekly.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). Latin America Daily Report.
Guatemala Human Rights Bulletin [Washington, DC]. Quarterly.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. Weekly.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. Weekly.
Latin American Regional Reports: Central America & the Caribbean [London]. Monthly.
Material from the Indexed Media Review (IMR) and country files containing articles and reports from diverse sources (primarily dailies and periodicals) from the Weekly Media Review.
Newspapers and periodicals pertaining to the appropriate region.
Note:
This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific books available in the Resource Centre are not included.