The capture of Luis Pacheco, former president of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán and current Vice Minister of Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, which occurred on April 23, could have repercussions nationwide in the next few days, mainly by social and indigenous organizations. This is expected to AJPUB ‘García Ixmatá, academic researcher of the Department of Studies on Global and Territorial Dynamics of the Rafael Landívar University.
According to García Ixmatá, far from causing fear, this event will strengthen the determination of indigenous organizations, which will be in defense of their historical principles and struggles.
He also explains that the 48 cantons have evolved, because they were born as a community structure aimed at protecting their peoples, but over time they have become key actors within the political and social situation of the country.
Why are 48 cantons called?
Because it is a collective group that represents several small communities. Its members are popularly elected in the same communities, as community mayors.
A popular election is made within each community to designate those mayors, who take the direction or guideline of their respective locations and are part of the board of directors of the 48 cantons. They have been organization for more than 200 years.
What is your function?
It is a community organization that monitors and is alert in the care of community assets, mainly from the territory. It is also responsible for internal justice and seeks the balance between families and surrounding communities within the territory of the 48 cantons.
How are decisions made in the 48 cantons?
Through permanent assemblies. They are in communication with community mayors and the Board of Directors. They constantly communicate about what happens in the country, what are the needs of the community and, mainly, the needs that are not met by governments. The Board of Directors, as part of their work, presses in search of concrete solutions for the community and for all Totonicapán.
Did the 48 cantons extended their fight at the national level in recent years?
Well, now everything we know comes out. They not only fight for the Totonicapán part, but are agglutinated and in communication with other indigenous mayors nationwide to defend other situations.
The issue and dynamics of the policies that defend, not only in Totonicapán, but also nationally the indigenous communities have changed, because the offerings of the political parties have not been fulfilled. Then see the fulfillment of those offers.
Did the protests of 2023 take the Public Ministry to raise demands against the leaders or are there other background?
I could not tell him, but the 2023 movement was due to the breach of promises, because of the deceptions that come from many years. Actually, it is a constant struggle, it is a resistance of 500 years, and not only of the 48 cantons, but of different indigenous communities.
It is a linguistic, cultural, political, and even internal economic resistance of each community. Although there are international norms or agreements signed by Guatemala, those rights have not been fulfilled; The rights of indigenous peoples have been violated as stipulated by international agreements.
Following the capture of the former president of the 48 cantons, the fear of organizations to protest will arise?
No. There are already movements at this time. There are already alerts, there are already permanent sessions. The 48 cantons are in vigil at this time, if it can be said. Surely the movements by other groups will begin. The indigenous authorities are already attentive, they are already being manifested, they are already being organized to see what resolution they can have for this capture, because they are pointing them out of terrorists and that have broken the order of public order by the protests against the Public Ministry.
For example, right now a delegation from Santa Cruz del Quiché has arrived to protest in front of the Public Ministry. They manifest for the defense of spiritual and political morals, and so that the ex -candidates for the presidency of the 48 cantons could go free right now.
Why could indigenous leaders be captured?
Everyone knows it and we know that there are other views of other Guatemalans that are against indigenous peoples, and it is a racial discrimination, discrimination from the State, discrimination because they do not let indigenous peoples develop in their own culture, from their own knowledge, from their own internal political and economic organization, within their own territories. That is a threat to Guatemalan national policy.
What other entities remain aware of what happens in the country and that could support actions?
There is the vigilance of indigenous mayors of 82 communities in Sololá. They are neare with those issues.
Can this situation become a national problem?
The national problem is already, it is already at that point, because international organizations have already been pronounced, social movement organizations, the University of San Carlos, the Rafael Landívar University have already pronounced. That movement is already being seen within Guatemalan society, although some did not want the actions to be taken as in 2023. It could reach that point again.