11 August 2011 | Interviews | Resisting neoliberalism
An Old Demand
The Guatemalan government is “racist” and is stealing the territories in the name of the so-called development, says leader from Huehuetenango
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“Another Guatemala is possible, from the people”, said Francisco Rafael Mateo, leader of the Departmental Assembly for the Defense of the Natural Resources of Huehuetenango”. He spoke at the event organized for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, celebrated this week in Totonicapan department.
Organizations member of the National Coordination of the Mayan Waqib’ Kej People participated in the event, among them representatives from the indigenous peoples of Huehuetenango, one of the regions most affected by extractive industries.
The Western People’s Council (CPO) and the 48 cantons from Totonicapan were involved in the activity and received over 550 delegates from the entire country.
The delegates from Huehuetenango denounced threats against community leaders who oppose mining, phone, energy and forestry companies.
“Instead of celebrating, this day is to denounce and to discuss strategies by the Mayan, Ladino and Garifuna peoples. In name of the so-called development, the Guatemalan governments have been trying to steal our territories”, added Mateo.
Community consultations have taken place in 28 out of 32 municipalities of the department and in all of them, communities have firmly rejected mining investments. The Constitutional Court must recognize the results of these consultations, said Mateo. “We demand the decision of our peoples to prevail”, he concluded.
Photo: www.ceibaguate.org
