Exploring Volunteering

So is quoted from the World Bank report (2003) ˜Poverty in Guatemala’ in a paper by Roman Krznaric, titled ˜The Limits on Pro-Poor Agricultural Trade in Guatemala: Land, Labour and Political Power’. The paper goes on to say that the only reference to the economic elite in Guatemala in over 200 pages of analysis is to say that ˜economic and political resources remain concentrated among the economic elite of predominantly European descent’. Krznaric asks why there is no follow-up examination of the extent of this concentration and its consequences for poverty reduction. Good question!

The current consensus, among neo-liberal economists and international institutions, according to Krznaric, is that countries with more open economies achieve higher growth rates than those with less open economies, and that growth is good for poverty reduction. This paper looks at two valuable export crops, sugar and mange-touts (snow peas) and shows that the poor have not benefited to the extent that the World Bank suggests. This was before the implementation of CAFTA in 2005, which Krznaric suggests will have a devastating effect on the Guatemalan subsistence economy, so very vital for a large section of the agricultural population.

The question now is, how devastating has it been?

The paper can be found in the March 2006 edition of the ˜Journal of Human Development: Alternative Economics in Action’ and the abstract states: ˜The persistence of rural poverty in Guatemala since the early 1990s challenges the purported association between agricultural export growth and poverty alleviation. Lack of access to education, health and credit, and the historical legacies of land inequality, labour exploitation and ethnic discrimination, are preventing growth from reaching the rural poor. Most analyses, including the World Bank's recent 'Poverty in Guatemala' report, fail to consider how the economic and political power of the country's economic elite perpetuate and exacerbate poverty. A focus on two of Guatemala's most dynamic agro-export sectors – sugar and snow peas (mange-tout), both reputed to have had a significant impact on poverty alleviation – reveals the limits on pro-poor growth. Policy recommendations to promote pro-poor growth that are derived from the analysis include full implementation of the labour code, a national land-titling programme, and cultural programmes to change elite attitudes towards poverty and development.’

The paper is very interesting and readable – maybe that’s what is meant by ˜alternative economics’!

There is an earlier version (2005) published, as an occasional paper, in the Human Development Report Office of the UNDP.

We just received the following press release

El Comité Campesino del Altiplano CCDA

Ante la opinión pública nacional e internacional, Denunciamos:

AGRESIÓN, INTIMIDACIÓN Y PERSECUCIÓN A DIRIGENTES CAMPESINOS.

El CCDA durante los últimos meses hemos sido victimas de intimidaciones a través de llamadas telefónicas, insultos verbales por desconocidos durante altas horas de la noche (entre 11:00 pm  1.00 am)  que se conducen en diferentes vehículos, insultando y llamando a que salga de su vivienda al compañero Leocadio Juracan.

Además  hacemos saber que el compañero AMILCAR CALEL joven dirigente campesino del Comité campesino del Altiplano -  CCDA, y Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones Campesinas -  CNOC, ha sido víctima de intimidación y agresión física, por segunda vez, causándole serias lesiones a su integridad física y psicológica. Simulando un robo o asalto.

El día jueves 19 de julio del 2007, viajó a la ciudad capital a una reunión ya que el compañero representa al CCDA en el Consejo Nacional del Programa de dinamizacion de las economías campesinas PECAS.   Previo a eso tuvo una reunión en la CNOC, al salir de las oficinas de la CNOC, fue interceptado por desconocidos que lo golpearon, sin mediar palabra, dejándolo gravemente herido, quitándole el Teléfono Celular para simular el Robo pero, en realidad nosotros creemos que es un ataque directo de intimidación por el trabajo de incidencia política y de búsqueda de justicia social en Guatemala.

Amilcar Calel es un joven campesino con mucho potencial y capacidad que coordina el programa fortalecimiento organizativo en el CCDA, y nos representa en distintos espacios, desde la acción política, donde el compañero ha sido para nosotros ejemplo de claridad y lucha permanente, permitiéndonos conocer y comprender la realidad desde la perspectiva de la juventud campesina e indígena, desde lo comunitario. Evidenciando de esta manera la necesidad de articular las luchas desde los pueblos indígenas, en la búsqueda de una sociedad más justa y sin discriminación de ningún tipo.  Recientemente nos represento en un intercambio de experiencia con productores hermanos de otros países como Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, Rep Dominicana.

Ante estos hechos violentos que sufrió el compañero Amilcar demuestra la persecución política que siguen ocurriendo en nuestro país, contra dirigentes campesinos, sin que hasta el momento, las autoridades responsables hagan algo por esclarezca estos casos.

Por lo anterior Demandamos:

A que cese la represión, intimidación y amenazas contra dirigentes campesinos, especialmente del CCDA.

A que se busque soluciones favorables a las demandas campesinas en lugar de implementar formas que genere temor, miedo y desesperación.

Exigimos al gobierno de la GANA que se investiguen y esclarezcan este y todos los demás casos y que se haga justicia en Guatemala.

Nuevamente exigimos el respeto a la libertad de organización campesina en Guatemala.
Nuestro Llamado a la solidaridad Internacional.

A que se pronuncie y demanda a las autoridades a que se investiguen estos casos.

A levantar la esperanza en Guatemala.
Comité Campesino del Altiplano -CCDA-
E mail: ccda_café_justicia [at] yahoo.com

Within indigenous Mayan communities, the Consulta is a traditional way in which to make decisions. The consensus process and the principles of unity are utilized to make decisions about projects which, as a result, will directly affect or benefit their communities.

Courtesy of IndyMedia Guatemala, here is a video (in two short parts) made by the Diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala, about community ˜consultas’ that took place in western Guatemala, in which the population voiced their opposition to mineral exploration and exploitation and the construction of mega-projects. From community to community, the answer is the same – no, no, no.

An item from our friends in NISGUA (Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala) regarding the recent rise in violence related to kidnapping, illegal adoptions, and the trafficking of human organs. Noting that Rights Action have put together a short collection of articles as well as some much-needed analysis on the context in which this violence is occurring.

July 20, 2007

News – English y Espanol – about child-trafficking; finding of mutilated bodies; removal of organs; ensuing community violence.

Of particular note:  If the CAFTA “free” trade agreement with the United States is ratified, human bones, organs and tissues will be considered merchandise. (see below)

These crimes against children are to be understood in the context of a country where the “Peace Accords” of the 1990s did not work; where the unjust economic, political and military structures of the past (dating backto the 1954 USA-orchestrated coup against the democratic government of Guatemala) are intact; where the wealthy and powerful are protected by impunity and a fundamental lack of democracy.  Guatemala is not a “failed state” … it is a crushed state, dominated and manipulated by the greedy and repressive interests of internal and international economic and political forces.

*******

Kidnapping of Children Increases in Guatemala

[Published by Prensa Latina, 7/19/07,

Guatemala, Jul 19 (Prensa Latina) Recovering a newborn baby kidnapped one month ago to his mother, gives new evidences of gangs involved in children traffic for irregular adoption. Jonathan Alejandro Martinez was found in a children's home owned by a non-governmental organization, allegedly devoted to protect vulnerable people and with a new identity granted by a municipality close to this capital.  The finding took place after one of the women who assaulted Cristina Sol, Jonathan's mother, on June 20 was identified, according to the authorities.

Four persons, among them a lawyer in charge of negotiating adoptions with foreign families, were arrested for the events however they were released on 700 and 3 thousand dollars bail.

Nidia Aguilar, Children's defender at the Human Rights Attorney's Office told Prensa Latina how those gangs operate to make the children situation become legal and give them to couples, mostly from US.  The babies, kidnapped or bought to their parents, are registered in a small municipality civil registry, inside the country and then presented to a minors' judge who declares them vulnerable and for that reason can be adopted.

Guatemala is a paradise of children's adoption because it is relatively easier to make the procedure, reduced to a simple notarial action.  This situation could change after The Hague Convention, regarding international adoption, enters into effect, which was recently ratified by the Congress of the Republic.

***

Guatemalan police rescue stolen baby

[Published by AP, 7/18/07 ,

By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA]

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemalan police rescued a two-month-old boy who had been stolen from his home and arrested four people who were allegedly preparing the baby for illegal adoption, an official said.  The rescue comes amid growing concerns about the Central American country's export of thousands of babies each year to adoptive parents abroad.

It was unclear where the baby was to have been sent, but police detained four people in the house where the baby was rescued and found a false birth certificate for the boy, said Jesus Esquivel, assistant chief of criminal investigations for the police force.  “Our investigations indicate that they were already at the stage of processing the adoption,” Esquivel said.
 
However, Guatemala's Attorney General's office, the institution that oversees adoptions, said that so far no application for the baby's adoption, either under his real or false name, had yet been found. The baby could have had another fake birth certificate or the suspects may have not yet filed the application.

The suspects include the owner of the orphanage where the child was found and three employees. The boy was reportedly stolen from his parents' home in June.  Officials provided no details the abduction of the child.
 
The U.S. State Department, citing rampant problems of fraud and extortion, said in March it no longer recommends that Americans adopt children from Guatemala. U.S. officials have said there were frequent cases of birth mothers pressured to sell their babies and adoptive U.S. parents targeted by extortionists.

Under Guatemalan laws, unregulated notaries act as baby brokers who recruit birth mothers, handle all paperwork and complete adoptions in less than half the time it takes in other countries.  Under that system, more than 4,000 Guatemalan babies were adopted by U.S. parents last year, making Guatemala the second highest source of U.S. adoptions after China.

In May, the Guatemalan Congress ratified Tuesday the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoptions, which could sharply reduce the number of Guatemalan babies adopted by U.S. citizens each year.
 
It would be unlikely this stolen baby would have been adopted by an American family due to mandatory DNA testing required by the U.S. embassy to grant the infant a visa.

*****

Kids and Human Trafficking

[Published by Prensa Latina, 6/25/07,

Guatemala, Jun 25 (Prensa Latina) The arrest of Guatemalans Sergio Ventura and Catalina Hernandez as they tried to smuggle two Salvadoran children across the US border confirms soaring human and child trafficking.  Both were acquitted two months ago due to lack of evidence, but were deported now from Florida, US, and are detained at La Aurora International Airport. Victoria de Leon, from the Attorney's General Office, confirmed that an increasing number of Salvadoran children reach the US via Guatemala.

A wave of abductions attests to soaring child trafficking, generally for illegal adoption and the organ and body parts trade.

Panic spread with the murder of Michelle Espana, 8, in Camotan, found with heart and lungs missing. There have been other cases of frustrated kidnappings or young babies snatched from their mothers' arms.  The authorities say remote areas are hotspots for the traffickers who target poor families that do not dare to press charges.

****

CAFTA to Make Human Organs Commodities

San Jose, Jul 13 (Prensa Latina) Human bones, organs and tissues will be considered merchandise if the free trade agreement with the United States is ratified, Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Ministry admitted in a message released on Friday.  The document, addressed to Costa Rican Dr. Rodrigo Cabezas, a thorax surgeon, is signed by Foreign Trade Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz and says these human organs would be marketed just like any other product in international trade.

In April 2007, the surgeon consulted the Foreign Trade Ministry over the meaning of item 30019010 of Appendix 3.3 of the CAFTA-DR (Central American Free Trade Agreement, plus Dominican Republic).  “For this given product,Costa Rica agreed to remove the import tariff under the free trade agreement,” Ruiz replied on May 15.

This recognition that CAFTA would include marketing of human organs has prompted even more controversy in this Central American country.  Former executive president of the Costa Rican Social Security Institute, Guido Miranda, criticized this inclusion.

“Imagine, if a rich US patient in a clinic needs an organ, where will they go find it first?” he wondered.

*************************************************

TLC con EE.UU promueve tráfico de órganos humanos

Isabel Soto Mayedo, Redacción Central, (PL) Huesos, órganos y tejidos humanos tampoco escapan de la lógica mercantil que atraviesa el acuerdo presentado bajo el eufemismo de Tratado de Libre Comercio entreCentroamérica, República Dominicana y Estados Unidos.

El convenio, cuyo texto será sometido a referendo el 7 de octubre en Costa Rica, prevé el tráfico y comercialización de estas partes del cuerpo humano como artículos de exportación y libres de impuestos en el ítem 30019010, delAnexo 3.3.

Marcos Vinicio, ministro de Comercio Exterior de ese país, admitió que de aprobarse el documento esas partes humanas serán negociadas como cualquier mercancía del comercio internacional.

En respuesta escrita al médico costarricense Rodrigo Cabezas, el funcionario confirmó además que “para este producto en particular, Costa Rica acordó eliminar el arancel de importación de esta mercancía a la entrada envigencia de este Tratado”.

El mensaje gubernamental DM-0592-7, fechado el 15 de mayo de 2007, despertó la indignación de varios galenos y se sumó a los argumentos manejados por quienes luchan contra la aplicación del TLC y recogidos por varios medios decomunicación.

Guido Miranda, ex presidente de la Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, criticó el reconocimiento por parte de esa entidad de que el libre comercio aplicaría sobre esas partes del cuerpo humano.

Para el doctor, la legitimación de la comercialización de partes del cuerpo humano como artículos de exportación y libres de impuestos alienta el tráfico de huesos, riñones y otros órganos.

Tal partida, incluida en el texto que profundizó la conflictividad social en la otrora Suiza de Centroamérica, fue calificada de vergonzosa por el galeno Arturo Robles.

El ex presidente del Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos consideró que ello atenta contra el principio de ética y moral del que hacer profesional: “metieron los huesos, órganos y tejidos humanos como si fueran latas desardinas o palos de escoba”, reaccionó.

Miranda cuestionó cómo se van a obtener esos órganos, aunque el semanario Informa-tico recordó que en Costa Rica operan instituciones promotoras de esas actividades, como es el caso de un banco de sangre del cordón umbilicalde los recién nacidos.

Ese centro cobra 100 dólares mensuales por resguardar las células madres de los niños para utilizarlas, en el futuro, para enfrentar enfermedades, reflejó la publicación.

Rodrigo Gutiérrez, decano de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad San Judas Tadeo, declaró que el tema del comercio de órganos es solamente un ejemplo dentro de un proceso económico que propició la transformación de la salud en una mercancía.

La donación de órganos históricamente constituyó un acto humanitario y de alto espíritu. Sin embargo, con lo establecido en el TLC con Estados Unidos esas partes del cuerpo serán exportados y el costo ascenderá a miles de dólares, alertó Robles.

===

WHAT TO DO?  “YES, ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE”

Despite this brutal news, another world is possible, and many people across the globe are working for it.

YES, ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE:  Rights Action, along with other organizers, are now working to prepare for the III Americas Social Forum (FSA-Guatemala)

to be held in Guatemala City, October 7-12, 2008.  This event is expected to attract approximately 30,000 people.  MORE INFORMATION – FSA-Guatemala:info@rightsaction.org.

NEXT STEPS

A range of Guatemalan and non-Guatemalan groups are working now, legally and politically, to try and remedy the children trafficking crimes.  Funds are needed.  We will continue to report on this.

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS (to Rights Action)

To support community-based human rights, development and environment organizations, make your tax-deductible donation payable to “Rights Action”

and mail to: UNITED STATES: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887; CANADA:509 St. Clair Ave W, box73527, Toronto ON, M6C-1C0.  CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS:

This article appeared in The Guardian (23-07-07) about the case of the murder of Guatemalan trade unionist Pedro Zamora.

Just catching up on articles on Guatemala in the UK press. This article was published at the beginning of the month (02-07-07) in The Guardian. It is a really interesting and moving look at the experience of adoption in the UK of a child of Guatemalan origin – “When Kate Hadley adopted her Guatemalan daughter, they both enjoyed becoming part of a new, mixed-race family – but there were unexpected hazards“:

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WANTED in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Indonesia and Nepal.

Peace Brigades International is a human rights organisation which was created in 1981. It's aim is to help create a breathing space in conflict zones so that the civilian population may organise to defend its rights without fear of reprisals and violence. PBI is an independent organisation not affiliated to any religious or political institutions.

It's recruiting International Observers to work in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Indonesia and Nepal to protect organisations and individuals who have requested our involvement. You must be fluent in Spanish for Latin America, for Indonesian and Nepal you will have time to learn before joining the team. You must be able to make a minimum time commitment of 12 months.

The next PBI orientation weekends in the UK for potential volunteers are:

Friday         28th – 30th September 2007      London
Friday         2-4th November 2007     Peak District

The Orientation Weekend is the first step in the preparation and training of potential volunteers and provides an opportunity for those interested to explore the possibility of joining a field team.

The orientation weekend is designed as an informative and enjoyable weekend for anyone wanting to learn more about the work of PBI, both in Britain and abroad. as a general introduction to PBI’s philosophy, aims and work & explore issues such as non-violence, consensus decision-making and conflict resolution through discussions, role-plays, team exercises, workshops and games.

The weekend runs from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon and has a cost of £65 waged, £55 low-waged and £45 un-waged.

Information pack, application & booking form is on the PBI website or you can email: Lani Parker: outreach [at] peacebrigades.org.uk

We've just received the following information for our friends in the USA- we know a lot of readers of this blog are based in the USA and just wanted to do our bit to make sure the word gets out- volunteer accompaniers are needed now. You can also volunteer as accompaniers if you're based in the UK- contact us for more information.

The Guatemala Accompaniment Project (G.A.P.) of the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) is always looking for qualified candidates to be human rights accompaniers.  

Next training:  October 14-21, 2007
Application deadline:  August 17, 2007
Training will take place in San Francisco, CA

¢ Accompaniers act as human rights observers, providing a constant international presence to Guatemalan witnesses involved in precedent-setting genocide cases.
 
¢ NISGUA trains volunteers and matches them with U.S. sponsoring communities that support (financially and personally) the accompanier’s stay.

¢ Accompaniers share in everyday rural life, observe and report on conditions, and monitor the human rights situation.

***

Training includes the following:
¢ Workshops focused on anti-oppression themes and accompaniment philosophy
¢ Role-plays that train participants to live and work as accompaniers in rural Guatemalan communities
¢ Background on Guatemala and updates on the current political situation.

***
A candidate for G.A.P. should have:

Benefits include: accommodation and food in community, a small stipend, health insurance, a re-entry stipend, and a contribution toward international travel.

For more information, contact:

202-265-8713; gap@nisgua.org; www.nisgua.org
NISGUA; 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Washington, DC 20009

Background

What is human rights accompaniment?

NISGUA is one of many organizations around the world that employs accompaniment as a vital tool in the global struggle for the respect of human rights.  In the Guatemalan context, accompaniment creates a non-violent response to the threats, harassment, and violence faced by survivors of Guatemala’s 36-year-long civil war and grassroots organizations working for justice and human rights.  To this end, NISGUA places long-term volunteers side-by-side with people in rural communities and with organizations in an effort to deter human rights violations.  The dissuasive physical presence of these volunteers, known as accompaniers, provides a measure of security and creates space for Guatemalan communities and groups to organize in defense of their rights.  Accompaniers also monitor and report on the human rights situation and alert the international community to abuses.  In the U.S., twelve G.A.P. Sponsoring Communities are committed to immediately responding to abuses and providing ongoing support to accompaniers.   

Why is accompaniment necessary?

In the early 1980s, the Guatemalan military swept through rural communities in a counter-insurgency campaign that uprooted more than a million people – many of whom fled to neighboring Mexico – and led to an estimated 200,000 dead and disappeared. According to the independent Historical Clarification Commission, these actions constituted acts of genocide against Guatemala’s indigenous population.

In 1993, organized groups of refugees began returning home and internally displaced groups started to come out of hiding.  Two years later, G.A.P. formed in response to requests from these returnees for trained international observers to accompany communities as they rebuilt after 36 years of violent civil war, which formally ended with the signing of peace accords in 1996.

As the returned communities grew stronger, their need for accompaniment diminished.  At the same time, more individuals and organizations began stepping forward to denounce the atrocities of the past.  In a deteriorating human rights climate, their actions, along with ongoing impunity in Guatemala, put them at a high level of risk for human rights violations.  Recognizing this, members of communities and organizations involved in such efforts requested accompaniment, and G.A.P. responded by gradually shifting our mandate to accompany them.  

Who does NISGUA accompany?

Association for Justice and Reconciliation: In 2000 and 2001, a courageous group of war survivors brought legal cases to a Guatemalan court against former military dictators Efraín Ríos Montt and Romeo Lucas García, as well as their military high commands, on charges of genocide against the indigenous population.  The witnesses in these cases formed the Association for Justice and Reconciliation and requested international accompaniment.  G.A.P. has responded to this request with accompaniers in the Ixcán, Ixil, and Rabinal regions.

Grassroots Organizations: Since the beginning of 2000, threats and direct attacks have increased against Guatemalan labor unions, indigenous groups, exhumation teams, and other organizations working for justice and human rights.  In response to this situation, NISGUA initiated its Organization Accompaniment Program.  A team based in Guatemala City responds to short-term requests for accompaniment for organizations and individuals. 

A recent article by Billy Briggs in ˜Scotland on Sunday’ features more poignant stories on femicide in Guatemala. He paints a depressing picture of femicide, whilst placing it within the context of Guatemala.

“Guatemala City is one of the most violent capitals in the world. Earlier this year, Philip Alston, the United Nations' special reporter on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, said the current levels of violence in Guatemala are worse than during the civil war. Murder is as common as street vendors selling tortillas. Soldiers patrol the streets, and nearly every shop or business has a security guard outside who nervously totes a pump-action shotgun held high across his chest. Shopkeepers serve from behind steel bars, and the down-at-heel, low-rise streets are mostly deserted at night. It is a city living in fear.

Much of the current violence in Guatemala is targeted at women. The Centre for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH) has a thick folder of newspaper cuttings reporting female murders from the previous three months. The tabloids, such as Al Día and Nuestro Diario, are full of such stories daily.”

Referring back to the violence of the past, he notes that the 'recent discovery of secret files belonging to the national police has brought fresh hope to thousands of Guatemalans that those responsible for war crimes may finally be held to account for their actions, something that will help Guatemalan society move on from its dark past.'

Billy Briggs is a freelance journalist from Scotland who specialises in human rights issues.