Evo Morales Leaves Hope for Native Guatemala
In short but fruitful visit to Guatemala, Bolivian President Evo Morales sent a message of hope and in defense of the rights of indigenous peoples.

"After 500 years of oppression it is our turn to assume power without exclusions," said Morales in his call for unity and to organize a popular movement in favor of social, economic and cultural rights.

Morales defended natives right to the land and called despicable the privatization and auction of natural resources in America, which Bolivia is reverting via the nationalization of gas and oil.

"We must decolonize our right to nationalize justice", added Morales on addressing a crowd gathered at the Patio de La Paz of the National Plaza of Culture.

President Morales was invited to Guatemala by the National Assembly of the Latin American Indigenous Fund (FIL), which presented him with the "Quinto Sol" decoration.

Morales expressed thanks for the decoration and opportunity to meet after more than a decade since his first trip to Guatemala whose people have inspired his struggle.

Evo Morales has committed his life to peace, equality, dignity and full observance of the rights of the peoples and the world, said a FIL release.

Most of the visit was devoted to meeting Indigenous leaders and attending the FIL Forum, in addition to President Oscar Berger.

With counterparts from Honduras and Nicaragua he signed a request for support and solidarity from the governments of all the continents to condone a debt with the Inter-American Development Bank.