By Zoila Palma: The alcalde of Indian Creek in Southern Belize was reportedly kidnapped from his farm on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Marcus Canti, a traditional Q’eqchi’ leader was last seen sometime after 3:20 pm on Monday at his milpa farm.
Since then, he hasn’t been seen or heard from.
The Indigenous Peoples Rights International and Maya Leaders of Southern Belize have expressed concern and fear for the life of Canti.
“The community police later received an audio message from his phone. In it, he can be heard being beaten and tortured, pleading for help in his native language.
This is not an isolated act of violence. It is part of escalating land grabs against the Q’eqchi’ Maya Indigenous Peoples, where ancestral lands are being taken in the name of “conservation,” fueling conflict and division,” the organizations said.
The organizations noted that “attacks on traditional leaders are a deliberate strategy to intimidate and silence entire communities defending their territories.”
The post Indigenous Peoples Rights International and Maya Leaders of Southern Belize concerned following disappearance of Maya leader appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The alcalde of Indian Creek in Southern Belize was reportedly kidnapped from his farm on Monday, April 13, 2026. Marcus Canti, a traditional Q’eqchi’ leader was last seen sometime after 3:20 pm on Monday at his milpa farm. Since then, he hasn’t been seen or heard from. The Indigenous Peoples Rights International and
The post Indigenous Peoples Rights International and Maya Leaders of Southern Belize concerned following disappearance of Maya leader appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
