Miguel Angel Sandoval
One of the topics that is relevant these days is the discussion by analysts, scribes, announcers, commentators, businessmen of whatever, about road blockades. And democracy and the assault that it currently suffers from MP officials are reduced, in an issue of traffic, transportation, magnifying the term, and systematically, deviously, lyingly hiding the reasons for the peaceful protest. of thousands and thousands of Guatemalans, who defend the vote of millions who intend to be stolen.
And of course, there is widespread condemnation from a few who shrug off the destruction of democracy. They do not spare any arguments, fallacies, or blatant lies. There is everything. But, in general, they have in common the complicit silence in the face of the violation of the electoral law and political parties, or in the face of the assault on the TSE, or when they refer to the CSJ that has usurped the positions for more than three years. All of this is ignored, without saying that they assume this violence of the state, institutional, historical, customary, as their own, as what it has always been, the natural order.
But with the road strikes, they give free rein to their condemnation of the indigenous peoples, the farmers, the people who protest. All because they see clearly that these are sectors that cannot be manipulated, that stopped keeping their heads down and that now demand the most basic of democratic rights: respect for the popular vote, for alternation, for public morality.
We are witnessing the blockade of democracy, the blockage of the popular vote, the blockage of democratic institutions, the blockage of the rights of indigenous peoples. And it is carried out with the science and patience of business chambers, of some media outlets, of analysts, of journalists, of columnists. Other government officials, political parties, deputies, mayors, etc. That is the reality, that is what must be changed by all means.
There is article 45 of the Constitution that is good to remember in its central contents to pass it over the faces of all those who become slimy in the face of violations of the rule of law that are commented on from power, from their institutions: “The resistance of the people is legitimate.” for the protection and defense of the rights and guarantees set forth in the constitution.”
And be careful, all of this, with a starting premise: Arévalo won the elections categorically, and for this reason, and as president-elect, he must be given all the prerogatives of the law. The condemnations of people who protest, peacefully, have my complete rejection. Well, protesting violations of the constitution is something that is part of our most basic civil and political rights.
