Impunity, pollution and natural disasters in Guatemala http://www.radiomundoreal.fm/The-Cry-of-the-Earth?lang=es

Alvaro Colom’s administration in Guatemala refused to answer to the call for the suspension of mining activity issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ICHR), something which led to protests by the affected communities who demand a change in the government’s position.Last Friday, only a day after over 300 people demonstrated outside the National Palace with the aim to deliver President Colom a formal letter explaining why it was necessary to suspend all mining activity,

Real World Radio interviewed Leopoldo Mendez, who is part of the Maya Waqib Kej National Coordination and Convergence and of the Uk’úx Bé Mayan Association.

Mendez said they have not received an answer to the demand yet and linked the government’s position with the colonial heritage in Guatemala. “This administration’s impunity .which is expressed by saying that mining exploitation continues in our country, thus offending our peoples, offending mother earth- means that they follow the policies inherited, we could say that the President is the boss of the CEOs of transnational corporations and even national corporations”, he said.