Resistance and Struggle: The Polochic Valley in Guatemala

Resistance and Struggle: The Polochic Valley in Guatemala

Guatemala and its neighbors

Guatemala: basic indicators Country size: 108,000 kms Population: 14 million aprox. Poverty: 53.51% below the poverty line Maya indigenous population: 60%, 8.4 million people aprox. 90% of indigenous population lives below the poverty line

Poverty over the last decade Data for 2000, 2006, 20011 Overall poverty has remained above 50% of the population and is growing rather than decreasing.

The Polochic Valley Ancestral homelands of the Maya Q eqchi Rich farmland Mega-projects around natural resources: dams, oil, new highways Farmland for export crops and bio-fuel, mainly sugar and palm plantations Narco cattle farms Nature reserves protected areas Water to generate power for mining and farming Nickel mining

Pressure on the land: peasant families occupy farmland and are forcibly evicted

We ve suffered four evictions, twice by the police and twice by the private security forces of the(sugar cane) Company and the farm. The first was in October 2008, the second was September 2, 200. We don t remember the date of the third time because they didn t hurt us, and the fourth was on December 14, 2009. (Woman from Bella Flor Community)

Homes are destroyed by fire and machines

I earn my money with the sweat of my brow

Precarious living conditions Families are living by the roadside, with relatives, or renting in neighboring villages. It s difficult for children to attend school and for families to access health care and other basic services. Townspeople and some in neighboring communities criticize them for insisting on access to land rather than accepting their fate.

What are these people up against? Powerful landowners with family and economic ties to political power; A legal system and security forces that uphold landowner rights over peasant and indigenous land rights; Local government allied to landowners Discriminatory, racist context and fear of repression = Don t rock the boat mentality

Organizing: Strategies o Organize peasant families into communities that occupy disputed farmland; o 12 communities come together to form the Community Resistance Council of the Polochic Valley Accompaniment: The Council developed ties to national-level NGOs and peasant movement, for o Political training and contacts o Building alliances with other movements nationwide Strengthen Mayan Identity and cultural practices

Mayan spirituality as a source of unity and strength

Strategies Solidarity: o Mutual support among communities o International solidarity o Human rights institutions Legal recourse: o Document claim to the land o Denounce violence Negotiations: o Discuss land-purchase options o Lifting of criminal charges against leaders

Housing project to create exemplary community

Nine day 219 km. march to Guatemala City, March 27, 2012

Indigenous peasants march in solidarity with the Polochic Valley communities

Q eqchi woman, The Proud one

Organizing and training women Women s Polochic Valley Council, elected representatives Meeting with other women who have organized Learning about economic projects to empower women and improve their lives

Women speak out

Indigenous women on the move If our lands continue to be occupied, our lives as women continue to be occupied. To speak of autonomy for indigenous peoples is to speak of autonomy for women. Liberation of our lands is the liberation of our bodies, our minds and our feelings of oppression. We have energy, we have courage, we have warmth, we have strength, we have LIFE.

Women in San Juan Atitán vote against mining concessions

Results, lessons The Polochic Valley struggle becomes the focus of indigenous peasant march, garners national attention, accomplishes compliance with some demands and negotiation process to follow up on others. Resistance and struggle against systemic forces land grabbing, natural resource exploitation on ancestral lands can succeed with broad unity and alliances.

Turning points, dilemmas, challenges Women are organizing and learning from other women Women are engaging in political training and participation Women are shielding their culture and their families while still empowering themselves

Women s access to resources Greater access to schooling, training, participation and leadership role Protagonism in the fight for access to land, including legal ownership for women Social roles beyond wife and mother: impact and change on their culture and society. Increasing access to the outside world while remaining rooted in their culture