The case of children and adolescents rescued from extremist cult Lev Tahor (Pure heart in Spanish) In Guatemala it is involved in a new crisis after its transfer to a temporary home in a condominium called Jardines de Santiagolocated in Santiago Sacatepéquez, Sacatepéquez.
The Ministry of Social Welfare (SBS) confirmed that the space enabled in a residence It is not a center for deprivation of liberty for minors.
The idea, according to the entity, is to give refuge to children and adolescents after a process in which A judge reviewed each case and determined that they could not be reintegrated with their parents or their family nucleus.
However, the explanation that judicial protection seeks to ensure that minors receive the necessary attention and care is not a sufficient argument for neighbors. On the whole, residents oppose to the home work in the residential.
“They come to disturb our peace … It is not correct that they only want to impose it“explained a neighbor who omitted her name.
The main disagreement is due to the way in which the shelter installed. “We have not received any official notification from the authorities about the transfer of the 27 children”the neighbor continued to tell.
The residential neighbors association assured that it does not seek to aggravate the already complex situation of minors, who, according to statements by the Government of Guatemala and the investigations of the Public Ministry (MP)they could have been Victims of abuse and forced marriages among adolescents.
However, residents argue that their opposition is due to security reasons, based on incidents that occurred in the previous shelter from zone 3 of the capital, where various altercations were reported that involved minors and women.
“We have realized that where this sect has been, there have been riots and abuses. […] We know that, when these people enter, peace in our homes will be interrupted, “exclaimed the neighbor.
The Ministry of Social Welfare made a call Avoid dissemination of wrong or inaccurate information About the purpose of the home, in order to prevent the rejection and discrimination against minors, which, according to the entity, could prolong its “suffering and violation of rights.”
Also read: The Lev Tahor sect warns authorities if “dies” any of its children under state protection
However, the neighbors remain firm in their position. “We are going to fight as far as possible, because in no way we will allow those people to enter here”the neighbor emphasized, an opinion that shares the rest of the group.
Residents noticed an unusual movement in the condominium Friday, February 21, 2025when they observed the arrival of two trucks with beds and approximately 20 bunk beds for the bedrooms.
“No one had informed us,” the neighbors complained, who immediately called La Garita and subsequently confirmed that they were the children of Lev Tahor, under state shelter since December 2024, when they were rescued after a search in the complex of the sect located in Oratory, Santa Rosain the east region of the country.
The neighbors paid a truck and he placed sand in the entrance to the residential to avoid the passage of any foreign person.
The Municipality of Santiago Sacatepéquez He issued a statement in which he supported the position of the neighbors and informed that neither the commune nor the residents had been officially notified about the opening of the home in the condominium.
According to the document, the Municipal Council He communicated with the Community Development Councils (COCODES) and the Neighborhood Associationswho rejected the installation of protection homes in the municipality, arguing that their opinion was not taken into account.