Regional Overview: Latin America & the Caribbean | June 2023

Argentina and Brazil: Legislative moves triggered mass demonstrations by Indigenous groups over land rights amid persisting violence targeting Indigenous communities

Indigenous communities engaged in mass demonstrations in Argentina and Brazil in response to reforms restricting Indigenous land rights. In Argentina, demonstrations spiked in the northwestern Jujuy province against reforms to the province’s constitution that prohibit the setting of roadblocks as part of demonstrations, facilitate mining activities on Indigenous lands, and enable private property on disputed territories.¹ While demonstrations were mostly peaceful, civil society organizations have criticized the response by state forces, with over 170 demonstrators reportedly injured in clashes with police on 20 June.² In response to the demonstrations, the Jujuy provincial government withdrew some of the planned reforms limiting Indigenous land rights but maintained penalties criminalizing the setting roadblocks during demonstrations – a move allegedly aimed at securing the operations of mining companies.³Members of Indigenous communities have faced targeted violence in Argentina. Since 2018, ACLED has recorded almost 20 incidents of violence targeting Indigenous groups across the country, including attacks by state forces during evictions and by members of other local communities as part of land conflicts.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, members of Indigenous groups demonstrated across the country against the approval of Bill 490/07 by Brazil’s lower house. The legislation restricts Indigenous communities’ rights to obtain land titles for lands that they did not inhabit on 5 October 1988, when the Brazilian Constitution was enacted, thus, restricting them from reclaiming ancestral lands from which they had previously been displaced.⁴ Demonstrations were mostly peaceful and took place in at least 16 of Brazil’s 26 states, with greater mobilization in the Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo states. The draft bill was approved in May but its promulgation is pending the Supreme Court of Justice’s decision over a specific land demarcation dispute in Santa Catarina state.⁵ The legislative proposal continues the policies of former President Jair Bolsonaro to undermine Indigenous rights. Under his mandate, the government weakened agencies protecting Indigenous rights, such as the National Indigenous People Foundation (FUNAI), and actively promoted extractivism on Indigenous lands.⁶ These policies contributed to the increased targeting of members of Indigenous communities by organized crime groups, who seek to capture natural resources.⁷ Since 2018, ACLED records over 100 violent incidents targeting members of Indigenous communities and properties, including incidents against FUNAI offices.

Colombia: Armed groups continue to attack political candidates ahead of regional elections

Armed groups continued to target political candidates ahead of Colombia’s regional elections scheduled for 29 October. During the month of June, ACLED records five incidents in the departments of Antioquia, Cauca, Cesar, Norte de Santander, and Valle del Cauca. While the majority of attacks were perpetrated by unidentified actors, attacks were also attributed to the Gulf Clan and the National Liberation Army (ELN). On 12 June, the ELN set fire to the vehicle of a Colombian Liberal Party candidate for mayor in San Cayetano, Norte de Santander. The attack came despite the signing of a six-month ceasefire agreement between the ELN and the government on 9 June, which is due to come into effect on 3 August. Despite the ceasefire between the Colombian government and the ELN being significant, experts are concerned that the ceasefire may not effectively address violence in the country. 

Rebel, criminal, and insurgent groups use violence and intimidation to establish territorial control over certain areas, undermine democratic institutions, and weaken the legitimacy of the state.⁸ As of 16 June, more than 12 mayors have been forced to exercise their functions outside their municipalities due to increased threats from armed groups operating in these areas.⁹ Some of this violence, however, is also driven by competing candidates themselves, as observed during the 2019 regional and municipal elections (for more, see ACLED Special Project on Violence Targeting Local Officials).¹⁰

Guatemala: Heightened levels of violence targeting candidates and party supporters surrounding the first round of the general elections

Levels of political violence were at heightened levels ahead of Guatemala’s general election on 25 June. Among the violence, there were multiple attacks on candidates, including the killings of Victoria and National Unity of Hope (UNE) party candidates running for councils in the Sololá and Chiquimula departments, respectively, by unidentified gunmen. Between the beginning of the year and election day, ACLED records 14 violent incidents targeting political figures and infrastructure, including candidates, voters, party supporters, and headquarters. The perpetrators remain unknown in many cases amid enduring impunity, corruption, and a lack of independence of judicial powers.¹¹ The violence comes in spite of a non-aggression agreement signed by 27 of the 30 parties running in the general elections.¹² Violence also continued on the day of voting and its immediate aftermath, with rioters burning ballots, looting voting polls, and setting roadblocks to denounce irregularities and fraud in the election of municipal officials. ACLED records riots in at least 10 of the country’s 22 departments of the country, with heightened levels of violence in rural areas. 

The presidential election resulted in the unexpected qualification of the presidential candidates of the center-left party UNE and the left-wing party Semilla for the run-off scheduled for 20 August.¹³ The vote was also marked by 17% null ballots, which experts have interpreted as an expression of voters discontent, notably stemming from the Electoral Tribunal Court’s ruling against the participation of three opposition presidential candidates.¹⁴ Despite the recognition of the election results by local and international organizations,¹⁵ the Constitutional Court suspended the officialization of the results on 1 July, after nine political parties filed complaints of irregularities. These developments raise concerns of political interference in the electoral process.¹⁶

Honduras: Deadly gang violence triggers the militarization of prisons and the declaration of yet another state of exception

On 20 June, jailed members of the Barrio 18 gang (B-18) attacked another group of inmates inside a women’s prison in Támara, Francisco Morazán department. The attack left 46 women dead, including members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). According to some prisoners, MS-13 members had previously received threats from inmates affiliated with B-18, who control most of the units of the reclusion center.¹⁷ Despite measures to reinforce security inside prisons after deadly clashes between gang-affiliated prisoners in April, prison riots have continued, increasing in June compared to the month prior. In response to the incident, President Xiomara Castro appointed the Military Police of Public Order as the coordinator of jail security across the country as of 1 July,¹⁸ a move that further contributes to the militarization of law enforcement.

The attack in Támara comes amid a wider intensification of gang violence in the country. In the northern department of Cortés, gangs have carried out deadly attacks against civilians, contributing to a rise in the reported number of political violence-related fatalities in June compared to the month prior. Following these attacks, the government ordered a 15-day special curfew in Choloma and San Pedro Sula cities, in addition to a state of exception that has been in force in those municipalities since 6 December 2022.¹⁹

Jamaica: The government declares a state of emergency in Saint Catherine parish amid increasing gang-related violence

Targeted attacks against civilians by unidentified suspects drove an increase in violence in Saint Catherine parish. Although the perpetrators remain unknown in most attacks, Jamaican authorities have attributed the general increase in violence in this parish to gang actions, citing the presence of 12 active gangs.²⁰ On 17 June, it announced a 14-day state of emergency in the parish,²¹ setting provisions to enhance the power of police to fight gangs. The measure has been criticized for driving worsening police brutality and limiting civil liberties,²² as well as its limited efficiency. Since December 2022, the government enacted similar measures in more than a dozen parishes,²³ without any significant reduction in homicides in the country. In June, ACLED records at least 31 political violence events in Jamaica likely stemming from gang activity. During the first six months of 2023, ACLED records an 11% increase in political violence compared to the same period in 2022. In July, the ACLED Conflict Alert System (CAST) foresees similar levels of violence against civilians. 

Mexico: The targeting of environmental activists continues with the killing of two activists in Mexico state

Unidentified suspects killed two environmental activists in separate attacks in Tlalmanalco de Velazquez, Mexico state on 12 and 13 June. Both victims were academics from the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) and had advocated for the defense of water resources and sustainable agriculture.²⁴ While preliminary investigations suggest that both attacks were related to robberies, representatives of the UAM claim that criminal groups likely targeted the victims for their activism.²⁵ Organized crime groups have targeted environmental activists, sometimes with the support of private actors, for advocating against large infrastructure projects or extractive activities.²⁶ The attacks come amid a heat wave and drought that has led to water scarcity across the country,²⁷ triggering demonstrations over water access in at least 14 states. Activists have denounced the pollution and excessive use of water resources for farming activity, which has contributed to the current water supply crisis.²⁸ Thus far in 2023, ACLED records at least eight attacks against environmental activists in the country. These events contributed to an increase in the level of violence against civilians in Mexico state.