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2024-10-09T15:27:22Z

removed Category:Indigenous activists of the Americas; added Category:Indigenous activists of North America using HotCat

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{{short description|Guatemalan Mayan peasant leader|bot=PearBOT 5}}

'''Ramiro Choc''' is a [[Guatemala]]n [[Mayan peoples|Mayan]] ([[Q'eqchi' people|Q'eqchi']]) peasant leader. He was born in extreme poverty in a plantation within the municipality of [[El Estor]], [[Izabal Department]]. Died: 23 May 2022. His parents had been born [[Debt bondage|slaves]]. At age 17 he became a catechist for the Catholic Church where he taught a [[liberation theology]] in which people should not only have justice after death in heaven but also during life on earth. This brought him great support among the peasant population but not among all of the church hierarchy.

After nearly thirteen years as a catechist, the gap between Choc's liberation theology and the conservative doctrine of many of his superiors became too large. Choc was hired by the National Indigenous and Peasant Coordinating Committee (CONIC) as a "promoter", working primarily with indigenous communities involved in land struggles.

With CONIC, Choc earned a reputation for his firm defense of the rights of indigenous communities. After approximately seven years, he left CONIC and helped form a new organization, Encuentro Campesino (Peasant Encounter/Gathering).

Choc continued helping indigenous Q'eqchi' communities reclaim their rights, especially through Encuentro Campesino. Choc didn't only work with Q'eqchi' communities but also with [[Ladino people|Ladino]] (of Spanish or mixed descent) and [[Garifuna]] (of African descent) peasants.

On February 14, 2008, Choc was illegally abducted by the military and threatened with assassination. Due to local and international outcry and mobilization, his life was spared and he was instead charged with [[squatting|land invasion]], [[robbery]], and holding people against their will. He was convicted despite a complete lack of evidence against him. On 21 February, supporters of Choc took 19 policemen hostage, demanding his release. After more than 24 hours the hostages were released unharmed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Farmers release police hostages in Guatemala row |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN22609898 |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-02-22 |accessdate=2008-03-15}}</ref> On 14 March, the same group took four [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[tourism|tourists]] and their two Guatemalan guides hostage, again demanding Choc's release.<ref>{{cite news |title=Guatemala farmers take four Belgian tourists hostage |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN14430203 |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-03-14 |accessdate=2008-03-15}}</ref> The Belgians were released on 16 March.<ref>{{cite news |first=Juan Carlos |last=Llorca |title=Official: 4 Belgians Freed in Guatemala |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j5IF00IUQOc7gWEvVePdyWwhyBMQD8VECGG80 |publisher=The Associated Press |date=2008-03-16 |accessdate=2008-03-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20080318204839/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j5IF00IUQOc7gWEvVePdyWwhyBMQD8VECGG80 |archivedate=2008-03-18 }}</ref> Despite the fact that Choc was eligible for release in 2011, he continued to be held in prison until his release in October 2013.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cnoc.org.gt/conic.html Coordinadora Nacional Indígena y Campesina]
*[http://guatemalasolidarityproject.org/ramirochoccartaoct3.htm Letter from Prison - Ramiro Choc]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Choc, Ramiro}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Izabal Department]]
[[Category:Guatemalan activists]]
[[Category:Guatemalan Maya people]]
[[Category:Indigenous activists of North America]]

{{guatemala-bio-stub}}

Ramiro Choc - Revision history

imported>Bohemian Baltimore: removed Category:Indigenous activists of the Americas; added Category:Indigenous activists of North America using HotCat