Jorge Santos
On June 25, the Guatemalan people once again gave us an important lesson of hope for the future and that no matter how much effort the mafias have made, there is plenty of dignity and desire to build a society without violence, without corruption, without impunity, without discrimination and without poverty. The vote that allows the Seed Movement to go to the second round is a clear and forceful call that this society no longer wants what is currently happening.
Several elements should call our attention to the behavior in the vote of the first electoral round of this June 25 and that without a doubt should be referential for August 20. The first of these is that the youth, mainly those who were born after the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, have come out to cast a vote that, far from stereotypes and prejudices, decides to choose between absolute rejection of the system with their vote null and change the direction that has been taking place in the country for the last 70 years. It is the generation that lived with joy the more than 5 months of citizen and popular mobilization during 2015 and saw with expectation that the cases promoted by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala -CICIG- and the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity -FECI- directed by Juan Francisco Sandoval, would allow us to get rid of those who from the State have plunged us into the worst of crises. That is to say, here is a clear example of a historical fact marked by the generational bonus.
Another element is the fact that the population has sent a forceful message to that Criminal Alliance that makes up the Corrupt Pact. Despite the absolute capture of public institutions, used to clear the way for mafia political options, despite all the buying of votes and wills, the hauling and misinformation, they could not defeat or deceive a People who demand the cessation of looting, injustice and poverty. This element that connects democracy with daily life is very powerful, because it means that there are more and more levels of awareness of the implications for day to day, who or who occupy the different positions of authority. If those who come to power are gangsters and corrupt, people’s lives deteriorate and this is increasingly better understood.
Lastly, the Peoples of Guatemala send a powerful message of light in the face of this darkness that this Regime of impunity, corruption and violence has imposed. This message questions us and invites us to sow today to build a dignified life, with social justice, equity and a guarantee of human rights. In such an account that the call is for us to take another step this August 20 in defeating the mafias and to give ourselves the possibility of thinking, feeling and living in democracy. It is time for us to come out of the deep darkness and for this we must vote for the Seed Movement.
Jorge Santos
Defender of human rights, lover of life, hopes and utopias, which has led me to work for another Guatemala, in student and peasant organizations, victims of the Internal Armed Conflict and the protection of human rights defenders. I faithfully believe, like Otto René Castillo, that those who build it beautiful find life beautiful.
Source The Time
