OUR PURPOSE

Ever since the invasion (1523) until today, various uprisings took place in Guatemala: independence (September 15th 1821), wars between liberals and conservatives (1871), a revolution (1944), a war that lasted over 36 years and which ended with the Peace Agreement. However, many social problems still persist today, such as poverty, discrimination, racism, exclusion and exploitation, mostly in rural areas (especially in plantations), in businesses and assembly plants (although it is also the case in many other employments). On top of this, the price of food products of all qualities is high, as well as the price of electricity, “drinkable” water, shoes, transportation, clothing and access to medical care or medicine, one of many basic necessities and services that are lacking in poor communities.

The people living in the communities’ have had litel political participation, which is a direct consequence of poverty, illiteracy, distrust of traditional political parties, manipulation and lack of understanding. The lack of citizens’ participation in political issues continues to be the main obstacle towards the development of the communities, and ultimately of the country.

No political party in power has really been representative of the whole of the population. Recently, in the last elections (2003), there were over 20 political parties, with a total of 11 candidates, which illustrates the fact that the Guatemalan People are divided due to traditional political interests and powerful economic groups. Another example is that women practically do not participate in the political life: out of the 15 Mayan deputies, only one woman was able to occupy a seat in Congress, and out of the 118 Mayan mayors, there is just one woman. On top of this, these deputies and Mayors barely have any power of decision, since each political party they represent holds a partisan political doctrine, which is out of touch with the reality of the country. Also, the successive governments have perpetuated (without any exceptions) their discriminatory politics against the Indigenous Peoples, especially the Mayan people.

For all these reasons, ASCODIMAYA has identified the need to encourage organised work, political education and social work among inhabitants of the communities of Patzún, Sololá and K’iche.