Various rural and Indigenous groups blocked at least four major highways in Guatemala on February 6, demanding that the Congress approve a cohort of bills put forth by Indigenous groups, including Bill 4087, the community radio bill.
The participants, representatives of the National Coordinator for the Indigenous and Rural (CONIC) used rocks to block the passage of vehicles. The protests were carried out at kilometer 112 along the Pacific Highway in the town of Cocales, Suchitepéquez; kilometer 178 at the intersection known as El Zarco, in Retalhuleu; at kilometer 178 in Cuatro Caminos, kilometer 188 on the InterAmerican Highway; and at kilometer 136 on the highway to Salamá, Baja Verpaz.
Pedro Esquina, director of CONIC, agreed to end the blockade after two hours, after the government promised to negotiate. According to leaders, the blockade was held as a means to pressure Congress to act on various bills, among which are the community radio bill 4087, the comprehensive development bill, the repeal of the law of concessions (which would give communities the right to consent before mega-projects), a law protecting Indigenous People’s sacred sites, and a bill to reduce agrarian debt.
Manuel Barquín, first vice president of Congress, commented that the selected laws form part of a “prioritized” list in which also figures law reforms of the Public Ministry and the Municipal code, but there is no guarantee that they will be included in the immediate legislative agenda. The president’s press secretary, Ronaldo Robles, assured, “We also want Congress to approve the rural development bill, as well as to approve funds to reduce the agrarian debt.”
Source: Prensa Libre, February 6, 2011
