On June 14-15, 2014, over 20 community radio representatives gathered at Asociación Mujb’ab’l yol to participate in a two-day discussion series. The workshop focused on two main points: first, the role that community radio stations should play in communities and the analysis of whether they are achieving that mission. Second, to discuss the violations of the Peace Accords that limit the progress of Indigenous communities. The attendees ranged from people involved in the armed conflict to 14 year-old children who run radio programs.
The day looked promising as Rigoberto Juarez, the guest speaker, ex-guerrilla, community radio founder and Indigenous rights activist began by stating that the Mayan calendar marked the day as 11 Ajú, the symbol of human energy, strength and heat. White and yellow candles were lit in solidarity and the participants introduced themselves in their respective languages. Rigoberto proceeded to ask all those present what they believed the mission of community radio to be. The general conclusion was that “ community radios are the voice of the people…an instrument of justice and equality… a means not an end… a tool to the service of the community…”
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Participants at the conference attentively listening to Rigoberto and sharing a smile.
Rigoberto spoke of his experience in the armed conflict and his involvement in creating the first community radio during the war. “Radio La Voz Popular was created in 1987, during the peak of the war, to maintain the indigenous populations informed on the movement of the army.” He then related this reflection to the current state of community radio in Guatemala. Despite the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, Indigenous radio stations still face persecution by the government. Participants were attentive and spoke of the courage that it takes to mobilize a movement when the police and the government are against them.
The rest of the workshop was focused on team activities and discussion around how to improve community radios’ legal defense. Many of the radios present had been raided and have had to hire legal defense to fight for their rights. The small groups allowed for constructive discussion that led to concrete goals that each community radio wished to establish. Alma Temaj, a member of the Asociacion Mujb’ab’l yol, said “ we are not getting help from anyone, we must help one another. We have to be prepared emotionally and legally to face these raids so that our movement is not discouraged”.
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Participants of all ages converse and share ideas about the future of community radios.
The workshop closed with the production and recording of radio spots, which responded to the commercial radios campaign against community radios. The spots focused on the true purpose of community radio, and why they are forced to continue transmitting illegally until their right to freedom of expression is respected. In depth conversations were carried out over traditional food and the presence of the young and old made the conference an intergenerational success.
