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Guatemalans Mobilize
The main highways of Guatemala
remain blocked Wednesday
following numerous protests
Tuesday in the grand national
march of indigenous and farmers
for land and against mining.
This morning Guatemala City
Central Park saw the arrival of
600 farm families, whose brutal
dislodgement from a farm in the
southwest 19 months ago resulted
in the death of 13 people,
including four minors, as well
as dozens of arrests.
The families intend to camp in
front of the National Culture
Palace, seat of government,
until President Oscar Berger
receives them and heeds their
demands.
Juan Tiney, CONIC leader
(National Indigenous and Farmer
Coordination) told Prensa Latina
that numerous social and union
organizations will participate
in Thursday´s march to insist on
meeting with the three State
powers. Until now, only the
Legislature has agreed to see
them.
He noted that agrarian
demonstrations are taking place
in the south, east and central
parts of the nation.
The United Farm Committee is
organizing a 81 mile march in
Solola Department and the
Pacific Highway to Mexico was
closed by the Agrarian Platform
opposed to mining and the free
trade treaty with the United
States.
Meanwhile, transportation is
interrupted in eastern
Guatemalan Chiquimula Department
by farmers condemning the
agricultural debt.).
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