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printer-friendlyRecent News
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Marches throughout Guatemala to Demand an End to Violence
Central American News #296
8/21/2004
On August 13, thousands of Guatemalans marched in at least 15 of the country’s main cities, including the capital, Guatemala City, to demand peace and to protest a growing wave of violence and murders. The protests were called by the Front Against Violence, made up of some 560 religious, union, popular, indigenous, campesino, humanitarian and academic organizations, as well as public employees and volunteer firepeople.
In Guatemala City, the march lasted about two hours, leaving from Spain Plaza and ending in Constitution Plaza, in front of the former headquarters of the Guatemalan government, now a cultural center. “We want peace, we want to work with dignity, we want security because it is unbearable to continue to live like this,” said one participant, Sergio Orozco. The march ended with a moment of silence for the more than 2,700 people who have been murdered in Guatemala so far in 2004.
The Guatemala City march was headed by Cardinal Rodolfo Quezada and the government human rights procurator, Sergio Morales.
Others who participated included Monsignor Mario Ríos Montt, Nery Rodenas of the Archbishop’s Human Rights Office (ODHA), Vitalino Similox, of the Protestant Church, Robert Ardón, of the High Commissioner for Private Enterprise (Cacif), Nineth Montenegro, a deputy for the left leaning New Nation Alliance (ANN), Mario Polanco, director of the Mutual Support Group (GAM), whose members are relatives of the detained and disappeared in Guatemala, Adela Torrebiarte, of Anguished Mothers, Frank LaRue, founder of the Center for Human Rights Legal Action (CALDH) and currently the head of the Presidential Human Rights Commission.
“This march is the call of society, which is demanding security, to the government. I think there should have been more people in the walk, but many preferred to show solidarity in their homes.
The government must be aware that violence also affects economic and social problems,” said Miguel Ángel Albizures, of the Alliance Against Impunity. Human rights defender Sergio Morales said, “We hope to continue with the work of the Front Against Violence, because this is just the beginning. At this moment we are working on proposals to give to the government. Our aim is that the Guatemalan people may live in a culture of peace.”
Cardinal Quezada Toruño said, “This march is a demonstration of the need we all have to live in peace, above all respecting life, which is the greatest of all human rights.” (Prensa Libre, Guatemala City, 8/14/04; Univisión from Reuters, Miami, 8/14/04)
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