MAYAN PEOPLE AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

Rigoberto Queme Chay.
Mayan-Kicke, Quetzaltenango's Major

QUETZALTENANGO, GUATEMALA - As a result of the Spanish invasion in 1524, the Mayan people lost their right to exercise political power.

Nearly 500 years have passed in the process of material and economic reconstruction. Social, cultural, and political developments have been tedious and slow. Nevertheless, reconstruction has plowed ahead in search of clear objetives and ends.

Political activism has seen a recent surge in participation by many Maya. Economic conditions have improved, and cultural and religious traditions have made a considerable comeback. However, these recent changes are not an accurate indicator of improvements for Guatemala's Mayan population. On the whole, the indigenous in Guatemala suffer from high levels of illiteracy, malnutrition and poverty. Especially in rural areas.

In Quetzaltenango, the second largest city in Guatemala, the local political movement is headed by the Maya Kicke group called XEL-JU, which has 25 years of struggle behind them. This group represents the avant-garde of political work for the indigenous people of Guatemala. The successful struggle for the local mayor's position has been the principle catalyst in consolidating political understanding of Mayan unity and identity in western Guatemala.

In 1996, the mayor's election was won by an indigenous person. This is the first time in recent history that the indigenous population has been able to exercise control in judicial, political, administrative and economic matters. Until recently, these processes were controlled by the non-indigenous population.

The Mayan mayor of Quetzaltenango, Rigoberto Queme Chay, symbolizes the hope for an alternative local government, one not characterized by inefficiency, corruption, nepotism and the influence of special interest groups.

According to Mayan traditions, consensus, respect for nature, plurality of thoughts and interests, responsible work within a community, and honesty, are important civic qualities. These traditions were an important element in convincing a large sector of the non-indigenous population to suport the civic committee, XEL-JU. XEL-JU's supporters generated new expectations within the majority of the town.

Sucess in public administration was the first challenge for the Mayan mayor. The second was to participate within the socio-political structure as a principal player, not as a subordinate person.

For more than one hundred years, Guatemala has been subject to violence and discrimination. There is hope that success on the part of the Mayan mayor will mean a recuperation of dignity for Mayan people. The work of the XEL-JU in Quetzaltenango will open opportunities for similar movements in other parts of the country. Hopefully a time of participatory democracy without racial prejudices has begun.

© Copyright 1996 by Juan Carlos Aguilar and Casa de Español Xelajú