FTA - US Infringes Guatemalan Identity
Participants to the 1st Social Forum of the Guatemalan Peoples accused Saturday negative effects of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with United States for national culture and identity.

"Indigenous peoples will loose the little that has been left to them with the FTA," leader Juan Tiney told Prensa Latina.

The leader put as an example the construction of several sugar mills in the banks of Polochic River, one of the largest water sources in the country"s northern zone, which has a progressive deterioration due to the river pollution.

On the other hand, anthropologist and writer Carlos Rene Garcia said that the Guatemalans" culture and identity are on risk faced with a putting into effect of the FTA.

According to Garcia, the FTA will only benefit a small sector of the mixed race population, which has the economic and political power, and deepen the poor marginalization, including most of indigenous peoples.

The 1st Social Forum of Guatemalan Peoples also analyzed the FTA"s negative effects for culture, rights and living standard of peoples.

The event is attended by 200 representatives from grass-root, indigenous and union organizations, and was conceived as part of the World Social Forum that arose in 2001 in Porto Alegre and will continue Venezuela next week.