Guatemalans Mobilize Against Mining

Guatemalans Mobilize against mining

Guatemala, Prensa Latina

http://www.plenglish.com/

29th March 2006

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.