By Regina Pérez
Among displays of solidarity and despite the inclement weather, thousands of Guatemalans demonstrated this Tuesday in at least 15 points of the country with one main demand, demanding the resignation of the attorney general, Consuelo Porras, and Rafael Curruchiche, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity (FECI) and Judge Fredy Orellana.
The actions of Porras’ Public Ministry (MP) on October 29 and 30, when the FECI again raided the facilities of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), have generated a new wave of protests throughout the country.
“Our democracy is a right and we want it to be enforced”, “We ask Consuelo Porras to resign because she is attacking democracy”, “Consuelo Out”, “The coup plotters must resign” are some of the messages heard this Tuesday in the second day of the strike.
The city woke up with dozens of riot police guarding the La Aurora International Airport, in zone 13. The agents showed up at the headquarters from 5 in the morning to prevent the entry of protesters, under the gaze of national and international travelers despite that at that point no incident had been recorded.
At the MP’s main headquarters, in the Gerona neighborhood, zone 1, authorities from the Board of Directors of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapán and the Indigenous Mayor’s Office of Sololá remained and dozens of people settled in at night so as not to abandon the protest.
The president of the 48 Cantons, Luis Pacheco, indicated that the request is for Attorney General Porras to present her resignation and reiterated that the protests are for an indefinite period. “If today she presents her resignation, she resolves and accepts, and they appoint another prosecutor, we are going to retire and, if not, we will remain as long as necessary,” he stated.
The indigenous authorities went to Congress to express several of their demands, among them that the Monsanto law. However, upon leaving they reported that the president of the Legislature, Shirley Rivera, barely attended to them for 10 minutes.
Jorge Rosamil, community mayor of Sololá, stated that they did not want to serve them as the community authorities deserved. They are not respecting the rights of the people of Guatemala, we left at 2 in the morning to be here and now we are on the second day (of protest), without any response and the population is already getting angry, Rosamil added.
The community mayor emphasized that the demands have been presented peacefully and that they do not want violence, but if they do not have a response they will not be able to contain the population who are protesting in their communities, since they have lost days of work by going to manifest.
Several towns in the country have joined in this national strike, from the K’iche’, in Quiché, Totonicapán and Sololá; the Kaqchikel, in Chimaltenango; the Ch’orti’ in Quetzaltepeque, Chiquimula; the Xinka, in the departments of Jutiapa, Jalapa and Santa Rosa, who are holding a protest in El Boquerón, Santa Rosa; and the Q’eqchi’, in Alta Verapaz.
Solidarity stands out in the protests
Cuatro Caminos, Totonicapán, is one of the points where there was the greatest concentration of protesters. Since the morning, the communities began to organize to bring pure water and corn atol to the people who were in that place, under an intense sun.
The population of San Andrés Xecul sent seven pickaxes loaded with spare parts for the protesters. A mother with her baby on her back distributed the atol to the residents, supported by other women.
Around 2 in the afternoon, residents of zone 4, of the Xoljul Canton, came to donate lunches to the people who came to this demonstration point for the second consecutive day. Meanwhile, Municipal Firefighters of San Francisco El Alto arrived to distribute bags of pure water to the residents.
“Corruption is not forgiven, it is punished, but it becomes impunity. Do you know why they don’t want to remove Consuelo Porras, Rafael Curruchiche and Judge Orellana? Because they know that their time is going to come and they are all going to go to the boat,” said a protester from a platform placed at this point.
In the capital city, donations have been received at the MP headquarters in Gerona. Susy de Aldana, from the Arbencista Movement, mentioned that they received donations that cover the three meal times of about 700 people, but that they still need disposable plates and cups, gasoline for the electric plant that supplies them with electricity, ponchos and chairs.
In the municipality of Ixcán, Quiché, where residents are holding a protest at three concentration points, it was reported that the Municipal Rural Electricity Company (EMRE) will donate bags of water for the people who remain at the points.
Paralyzed points in the country
In the afternoon some of the points that were taken began to be cleared. Among these is that of San Miguel Morazán, in El Tejar, Chimaltenango, which was released around 4 in the afternoon. In this place, organizations indicated that they will hold a meeting to make decisions and analyze whether to continue with the strike or take stronger actions.
In El Boquerón, Santa Rosa, taken over by the Xinka people, the protest arose around 3:30 in the afternoon. After negotiations between the indigenous authorities and the National Civil Police (PNC), it was agreed to release that area for one hour and 30 minutes.
In Chiquimula, the Ch’orti’ Mayan population of Quetzaltepeque and Olopa closed the passage at kilometer 196 of Route CA-10, from six in the morning. The leaders reported that they will open the road at 6 p.m. and that ambulances have been allowed to pass through. They also maintained dialogue with PNC agents and expressed that their discontent is with the authorities who are violating the laws.
In the north of the country, Petén, Quiché and Alta Verapaz have joined the strike. At the La Casaca intersection, in La Libertad Petén, protesters reported that it will continue to be taken tonight and will continue tomorrow.
Residents of Ixcán, Quiché, on the border with Mexico, will also maintain the closure of the Chixoy bridge, which connects this municipality with the rest of the country. In this place, the communities coordinated to relieve the people who were at the protest point, following the example of the 48 Cantons and other indigenous authorities that will maintain the strike.
Despite the inclement weather, heat and rain, the population has remained firm and demanded a response from the authorities to their demands. The demonstrations have been completely peaceful despite what President Alejandro Giammattei said, who indicated that violence is being incited.
In some places the population enjoys marimba music, has communal meals or listens to musical groups with messages of protest. The strike, leaders have indicated, will continue for a third day on Wednesday, October 4.
Community Press Source
