Tuesday, October 24, 2023

In Guatemala, an unprecedented national strike led by Indigenous groups has been going on for over 20 days.

Protests and blockades continued over the weekend as Indigenous and other citizens mobilized in support of the President-elect Bernardo Arévalo.

Maria Martin reports.

As Guatemala’s national strike enters its third week, neither the government nor pro-democracy protesters are budging.

Those mobilizing want the government to drop its efforts to block the reformist President-elect Arévalo from taking office while the government wants the protests to stop, calling the blockades quote “crimes against humanity.”

In Guatemala City, doctors from the two largest public hospitals joined protests, one carried a sign referencing the lack of investment in public health saying, “we’re here from all those who’ve lost their lives due to corruption.”

Meanwhile, the Indigenous group 48 Cantones (48 Villages) say some of its blockades will be lifted, but that protests will continue in the capital.

The group’s significant role in leading the pro-democracy movement is now being celebrated in a song going viral on social media.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the official end of the electoral period at the end of the month.

The Justice Department can legally move to disqualify the president elect’s party.