Members of Cultural Survival staff and the Community Radio Movement held discussions Monday at the Congress of the Republic in Guatemala City.
The event was facilitated by Dr. Eduardo Núñez, resident director of the National Democratic Institute of the United States, and included the participation of Congressman Rodolfo Castañón, president of the Committee on Indigenous Peoples; Congressman Marvin Orellano, sponsor of the Bill 4087; and Otto Fenson, Political Advisor to the Congress; as well as a new team of Indigenous lawyers who have volunteered their support to the movement.
According to Cultural Survival staffer Alberto Recinos, the meeting was successful in disseminating information about the content of the bill, and to discuss strategy for confronting the chamber of radio diffusion lead by major corporate interest groups fighting against the bill. The Congressional Committee on Indigenous Peoples agreed to present a document to the president of Congress with a recommendation to schedule discussions.
Although a vote will not be scheduled in this calendar year, the president of congress Roberto Alejos’ recent re-election should provide a fairly smooth transition despite changes in other party leaders. Recinos remains optimistic that a vote on the bill can be scheduled within the first half of 2011.
