Amnesty International Australia is inviting you to the Flotilla for Rights! We’ll be paddling kayaks out to onto Lake Burley Griffin, to stand in solidarity with Bernardo Caal Xol, and other human rights defenders across the world.
Thanks to our partners at Y Canberra Paddle Hub, we will be providing the opportunity for activists to get in a kayak and join us for a floating protest! A limited number of kayaks (and lifejackets) will be available but you must register in advance. If you have your own kayak – please bring it along!
This is part of the Write for Rights campaign, where millions of people across the world write letters, and sign petitions calling for the release of political prisoners and human rights defenders. For more information about Write for Rights, including Bernardo’s case, please click here.
If you would prefer not to paddle, or missed out on a kayak – don’t worry! There will be plenty of land-based activities including a BBQ, petition-signing and a chance to meet with local activists.
To RSVP, please click here.
Who is Bernardo?
Bernardo Caal Xol is a Maya Q’eqchi’ man in north central Guatemala. He stands for his land and people against a plan to destroy the Maya Q’eqchi’s Cahabón river. The river is one of the longest in Guatemala, and is sacred to the Indigenous Maya Q’eqchi’ people. Construction of the power plants had already stripped their forests; now they were losing the precious water they needed to survive.
In 2018, a judge sentenced him to more than seven years in prison, convicting him without any evidence. We are calling on the Guatemalan Government to release him. Bernardo is one of 10 cases highlighted in the Write for Rights cases.
What is Write for Rights?
Millions of people across the world will write letters and sign petitions calling to free political prisoners as part of the annual Write for Rights campaign.
Bernardo is just one of the 10 cases highlighted.
