LOS CIMIENTOS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE IXIL FAMILIES.
(Time, distance and translating information from both K'iche and Spanish may affect the accuracy of this information. We also recognize that these reports are from the perspective of the Maya K'iche families and welcome any additional viewpoints to give a more complete picture.)
The Maya K'iche community of Los Cimientos recognizes that they share a bond of brotherhood with the people of the 50 Maya Ixil Families. In addition to being 2 branches of the Maya family tree, they share, in the words of Albert Schweitzer, the Brotherhood of Those Who Bear the Mark of Pain. They are survivors of the Guatemalan Army's genocidal actions in the Maya Highlands that destroyed hundreds of villages and killed thousands of Maya, Ixil and K'iche alike. With this in mind, when they discovered that the Guatemalan Army had brought Ixil families to live on the land that they, the Maya K'iche community of Los Cimientos, have legal title to, they responded with compassion even in the midst of their own suffering. The community, following the wisdom of their leaders, has shown the highest spiritual awareness and walked a true path of peace in seeking a resolution that is fair to all.
BEFORE THE RETURN: 1990-1993
From 1990 to 1993 the Elder Leader of Los Cimientos, who is the holder of the "Mother Title", offered to share Los Cimientos with the 50 Ixil families. Each of the 65 title holders in Los Cimientos offered to give part of their land to each of the 50 families. The amount offered to each family was the size of a city block. This offer was made 3 times, and rejected 3 times by the Ixil people. The 50 Ixil (Civil Patrol) Families laughed at the offer, saying the amount was too small and that the army was on their side. They captured and threatened the lives of unarmed, law-abiding members of the community. The Maya tradition is that after an offer is rejected three times, another solution must be sought. The offer was withdrawn following repeated threats against the lives of Los Cimientos people. The K'iches then asked the families to leave peacefully, for the safety of all concerned.
THE RETURN: 1994
The Los Cimientos community again considered allowing the armed Ixil Families to stay. More than once, members of the 50 Families surrounded members of Los Cimientos and government officials, threatening their lives with guns. Each time, due to the peace-making skills of Los Cimientos people, and once due to the presence of United Nations Mission observers, violence was averted. Again, the community decided that the 50 Ixil Families had to leave. Los Cimientos Elders offered to help the Families return to their legally owned home-sites near Chajul. They offered to carry their things and help them build their houses. Some families moved. Some found their land taken by other people the Army had settled in their place. Others refused to leave because they were leaders in the Civil Patrol and they were making large profits selling Los Cimientos produce on the market. The Mayor of Chajul, who was an Ixil Evangelical Christian and friend of the 50 Families, filed a lawsuit against a community Elder-Leader, placing him at risk for detention by Civil Patrollers. The suit, based on falsified evidence, was thrown out of court. Even with the ongoing threats to their lives and constant harassment Los Cimientos continued to seek peace.
CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS: 1995
Los Cimientos community supported the remaining members of the 50 Ixil Families in negotiations with the Guatemalan government. They insisted that the government fulfill its promise to purchase land for the Ixil families. They insisted that the Ixil be given legitimate land titles so they would not be at risk once again of being removed from a homesite. The Government, through the refugee agency CEAR, made this promise on August 7, 1994 and to date has not fulfilled its agreement. The community was strong in its commitment to stand beside the Ixil and insist on a just resolution.
MARCH - JULY MEETINGS :1996
In March of 1996 a "resolution" meeting was scheduled by the government. The 50 Ixil Families did not appear. Los Cimientos representatives were greeted by a newly elected Mayor of Chajul, who felt that agreements signed before his arrival as mayor were not binding on him. He stated "now we are going to divide up the land." The leaders of Los Cimientos showed their land titles and the government verification that the titles are legitimate and left the meeting. A meeting was scheduled for July 30th. Los Cimientos continued insisting that the government fulfill its agreement to provide land for the Ixil to move to with the hope they could begin to live a tranquil life again on their fertile mountain land.
JULY 30TH MEETING WITH THE 50 IXIL FAMILIES: 1996
Los Cimientos representatives traveled the long and painful journey in heavy storms to the long appointed meeting in Guatemala City. The bus ride required many hours waiting in the rain for the bus, then standing on the overcrowded bus for 6 or more hours. The Community Elder who is the original title holder to the land is 82 years old and must attend meetings as long as he is able. The round-trip bus ride for each individual to the meeting is $10. They must travel in a group for safety and for full community representation. These trips are dangerous. They are financially, physically and emotionally exhausting for the Los Cimientos people who are living in total poverty and malnutrition.
The 50 Ixil Families did not appear, therefore the meeting was canceled. The eighty-two year old Elder and his son, both community leaders and titleholders, were served an order to appear for a "Court hearing" at 11 am the following morning back in the area they had just come from. This necessitated catching the 4:30 am bus back to Quiche (once again in the pouring rain). At the hearing they were subjected to intimidation and subtle humiliation. They were also told that the person who was to see them was not there. When a U.S. citizen who was accompanying them made his presence known they were suddenly seen. Only the Elder and his son, who do not speak Spanish, were allowed in the room at first. They were then permitted a translator from the community to sit with them to facilitate from Spanish to K'iche. The 50 Ixil Families did not come to the hearing. The lawyer who spoke with them, representing the 50 Families, looked at their documents and stated that they were clearly legal and proved them to be the legitimate owners. He expressed puzzlement at the intentions of the 50 Families. At the suggestion of the U. S. citizen he gave the Los Cimientos representatives a letter affirming they had attended the appointed hearing.
Two days after this delegation returned to Los Cimientos they were once again served with papers to appear for another "court hearing". They have no funds for lawyers and little funds for travel expenses .There are no international witnesses present. Los Cimientos must continue to attend these meetings if they hope to maintain their right to their land.
LOS CIMIENTOS TODAY: AUGUST 25, 1996
The Los Cimientos community has decided that due to the constant harassment and threats to the lives and safety of their peaceful, unarmed community members, the remaining members of the 50 Ixil Families must leave immediately, whether or not the government purchases them new land. The Elders find these repeated non-attended meetings and "court hearings" to be unendurable harassment. They feel they will no longer be able to live alongside the Ixil and must insist that the Ixil Families leave Los Cimientos.
*Among the 50 Ixil families the Army "gave" the Los Cimientos land to are the children of men who tried to take Los Cimientos land by force in the early 1970s. These Ixil men, whose personally owned land sites were outside of Los Cimientos came three times to force their way into living on the fertile land belonging to the Maya K'iche community. They killed two Los Cimientos community members and began living on their land. The community leader went to court, and authorities removed the trespassers from Los Cimientos. When the court told Los Cimientos leaders that they should bring criminal charges against the Ixil that would send them to jail for 14 years, the K'iche refused because they believed it was wrong to leave the Ixil families without husbands and fathers. Today these K'iche leaders, now ancianos--Elders of great age--are waiting for a fair and just settlement that allows their community and their descendants to live in peace on their rightfully owned land.
LOS CIMIENTOS ASKS YOUR HELP IN ACHIEVING A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION. PLEASE, GIVE A DONATION TO THE LOS CIMIENTOS ALLIANCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. Los Cimientos Alliance [a 501(c)(3) tax deductible corporation]: P.O.Box 222304, Carmel Valley, California, 93922, USA.
WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA URGING THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE LOS CIMIENTOS COMMUNITY BE HONORED AND THEIR LIVES PROTECTED WHILE THE GOVERNMENT RAPIDLY PROVIDES THE IXIL FAMILIES WITH LAND.
- President Alvaro Arzu, Palacio Nacional, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- CC to: CEAR, Lic. Maria Antonieta Torres, 15 Avenida, 9-16, Zona 13, Guatemala City Guatemala
- CC to: MINUGUA, David Stephen, Avenida de las Americas, 18-36, Zona 13, Guatemala City, Guatemala
For The Right of A People To Live