Guatemala Indigenous
Demand Justice
The Guatemalan National
Indigenous and Peasant
Coordinator (CONIC)
issued its demands of
the next government,
that include a solution
to agrarian problems,
insecurity and respect
for the mining
consultations.
Diego Esquina, member of
the organizations
reminded future
authorities of the
commitment to hold talks
with popular
organizations both for
the formation of the
cabinet as in the
application of public
policies.
The Indigenous leader
told Prensa Latina that
if the original peoples
represent 60 percent of
the Guatemalan
population, it is only
fair to count on their
participation in the
same proportion to
integrate State
institutions.
To date, however, there
is no information on the
identity of the new
ministers, vice
ministers, general
directors and other high
posts of the new
administration, Esquina
pointed out.
A document released in
the capital by CONIC
explains the necessity
of pardoning the
agricultural debt of the
communities and offering
technical assistance for
production and sales of
their crops to compete
with imported foodstuff.
According to the
organization a minimum
salary is needed that
would offer a decent
living for the families
in the rural areas
because the current one
only covers one third of
the basic foods.
Extreme poverty in the
countryside is a feeding
ground for the violence
and, for that reason,
new jobs should be
generated and production
increased as a means to
halt the rise of crime
and insecurity, the
document adds. |
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