The Protest

The National Strike went exceedingly well. It was festive, noisy, slightly rainy, at times tense, thoroughly enjoyable, and best of all... effective. A true example of unity in diversity, it brought together students, activists, labor unions, peasant farmes, market vendors, etc in an activity that made the country -- and especially the president -- take notice.

I'll write more about my experiences, but for now, an article from Reuters news service:

Guatemalan President Hit by First Major Protest
Tue Jun 8, 2004 06:05 PM ET

PALIN (Reuters) - Thousands of Guatemalans blocked highways and demonstrated outside public buildings on Tuesday in the first major street protest against President Oscar Berger's government.

University students burned tires in Guatemala City and peasants stopped traffic on main roads to the capital to protest farm evictions and planned income tax increases.

Food and produce markets were empty in Guatemala City as stall owners abandoned work to voice their dissatisfaction with the government, in office since January.

"Peasant farmers are desperate. We have no food and nowhere else to go," farmer Emilio Set said at a roadblock near the town of Palin, 30 miles south of the capital.

Since January, riot police have evicted up to 1,000 poor families from farms abandoned by their owners and occupied by unemployed workers following the collapse of coffee prices in 2000.

Police have used tear gas during many of the evictions and have frequently destroyed property and crops belonging to the squatters.

"They promised us there would be more work, but they are taking the food from our mouths," unemployed mother Juana Mejia, said at the roadblock, which halted traffic between the capital and Pacific coastal ports.

In an interview with Guatemalan radio, Berger, who says tax increases are essential to closing a $400 million budget deficit, downplayed the protests as complaints from a disgruntled minority. But he met protest leaders for talks.

Prices of many basic products have shot up since Berger's government came to office, adding to the discontent of poor Guatemalans.