Update from Guatemala, April 2011

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Many, many joyous greetings and blessings all the way from sunny and dusty Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala!

It is such a pleasure to communicate once again and send you a brief update about our ministry here in Guatemala. As many of you may have heard my ministry began here three and a half years ago and as my family and I continue our ministry here this year, we are yet to find out whether we will be staying another year or hopefully a longer term.

We hope to share more news about our family’s ministry as the months progress and as we hear from Global Ministries. In the meantime, my husband Santos, our children Nicolas Virgilio (2 yrs.) and our most recent member, our daughter Ixbalanke Gloria (5 months) continue to be present in Guatemala serving at Guatemalan Cultural Action, (ACG). As you may have heard before, Guatemalan Cultural Action is a Mayan organization that works on self-sustainable and ecologically sound projects with Mayan communities in three main departments or states. These are Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango and K’iche’/Ixcán. It is important to reiterate that these three departments were the most impacted during the war as well as the most socially marginalized and excluded by the Guatemalan government.

As far as the recent country profile and how this impacts many communities and in particular ACG’s communities, it is imperative to note that this year is an electorate year, which means a very pretentious and exaggerated propaganda year. There are currently 29 political parties enlisted which translates into a much disoriented population. More importantly, this also means that the already serious crime rate and violence also increases thus creating social and political uncertainty and instability. The main concerns and those that communities are speaking about are two political parties. First the talk about the National Unity for Hope (UNE) party prospects, which is the current government under President Alvaro Colom’s mandate. While two years ago the UNE acquired majority votes from the indigenous population, this year is yet to be determined. The last year and half of government have brought not only continued uncertainty to the population due to, for instance, incompetent and unequal social assistance programs within the nation, as well as the continued back and forth slander amongst parties. The UNE also received support from the majority of the population (indigenous) by concern of who was the UNE’s fiercest opponent two years ago. Back then the most talked about concern was the possibility that the Patriot Party, semi-finalist then, would win the majority votes and thus, with its political agenda and slogan of “Iron Fist” bring back the “violencia” or the war that lasted more than 40 years in Guatemala. Since the majority of the population who suffered the armed conflict was of indigenous identity, this majority thus ended up voting for the UNE almost two years ago. While there are 29 political parties still standing, my guess is that once again, the main protagonists of this electorate year will once again be the UNE and the Patriot Party. It is important to note that the Patriot Party, has been known to be notorious and of a militarized ideology with a touch of “democracy and modernity”. This however, does not exclude the current administrations militarized strategy in strategic geographic and political areas of the country. For example the continuing debate of the mining business in Guatemala and the social and cultural impact this type of business, land exploitation, and therefore environmental impacts it creates. Accordingly, the idea of militarizing the country in the fight against drugs and its cartels is also another way to justify the imposition and intimidation that many indigenous communities are facing under the current administration.

In the case of ACG communities for example, this means the return of the psychological terror that campaigns like the Patriot Party is creating. For example, some women groups who participate in ACG’s micro-credit projects are denouncing and speaking about their fears of being force to flee their homes if the army was to invade their communities again. Some women are talking about how a helicopter from the Patriot Party landed nearby their homes and the fear and anguish this created. For many, who lost many loved ones during the war, the idea of a helicopter landing near their homes brings back many painful memories. Women are also speaking about their fear for their children and the increased poverty that a new government will bring.

I hope to keep you up to date on this matter as the months continue. More importantly, I highlight this country situation as a way to also ask for your continued prayers and blessings for the many Guatemalan men and women who undergo this historical political grief. While our family has still not experienced any direct intimidations or has been directly affected, we are always indirectly affected by just living here and breathing and feeling the political and social unrest and concern. Thus, I humbly ask for your prayers for our family as well.

Respectfully,

Gloria Vicente

Gloria serves with Guatemalan Culture Action (ACG) as a youth and communication worker.