Wednesday, October 12 marked the Dia de La Raza, or Colombus Day in Guatemala. Each year, Mayas, Garifunas, and Xincas, march through the capital city in remembrance of their ancestors and to demand of the government that the rights of Indigenous Peoples be respected. This year, the community radio movement joined forces with CONIC, the National Coordinator for Indigenous Peoples and Campesinos, as well as many other grassroots Indigenous groups to demand the approval of a series of bills that have been entered into Congress by Indigenous representatives. The bills have been marginalized over the past five years.
The long list includes the Radio Project’s Law of Community Media 4087 that would legalize community radio, as well as the Law of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Law to Protect Sacred Sites, and the Law of Consultation, and the Law Against Mining, all which have been ‘prioritized’ by congressional leaders but have yet to be scheduled on congressional agenda to be brought to a vote.
Despite heavy rains, thousands of protesters marched through Guatemala City, making stops at the Supreme Court, the Congress of the Republic, and the Presidential Palace. Community Radio stations covered the event live via cell-phone broadcast.
See more photos here.
