THE MAYAN CONNECTION - LOS CIMIENTOSALLIANCE

Recent Events

RECENT EVENTS: 2002 - 2004

On December 8th, 2002 Los Cimientos families abandoned all hope of returning home to their fields in Los Cimientos and relocated to new land in San Vicente. Forced by hunger, inadequate housing in a freezing climate and the prospect of being forcibly driven again from their tenuous refugee site, community leaders accepted the new land exchange offered by the government of president Alfonzo Portillo. The community sacrificed Los Cimientos (6000 acres with 5 pure water rivers, producing 3 to 4 harvests a year of a wide variety of organically grown crops) in trade for San Vicente (about 2000 acres with one polluted river and 2 to 3 harvests a year possible with the use of agricultural chemicals).

The government of Guatemalan president Portillo proclaimed this land exchange to be a great victory for the government's resolution of the Los Cimientos case - citing it as second in importance to the peace accords. This governmental communications ministry announced around the clock on national T.V. that this was a reconciliation between the K'iche and the Ixil. In legally signed agreements, the Guatemalan government promised to give the community food support until their own food crops were established and on-site health care. The promises also included infrastructure and houses to replace those lost in the Ixil attack on Los Cimientos. All these promises remain unfulfilled - though government word games try to make legal channels believe they have fulfilled the agreements. Children have died from malnutrition and suffer from malnutrition-related illnesses. There are no medicines available.

On January 15th the newly elected government of Oscar Berger came into power. Now, the Berger government assumes responsibility for a Guatemala with an staggering legacy of problems on all levels, among them, the promises made by Portillo and his representatives to resolve the Los Cimientos land case justly and with dignity.

The Mayan Connection - Los Cimientos Alliance invites you to become part of creating a positive resolution that helps fulfill the vision of the Guatemalan Peace Accords of 1996. Join us as a volunteer or send a tax-deductible donations to the Los Cimientos Alliance.

More Information:

• For a full history refer to: "History"
• For events up to March 1st, 2002 refer to: "Timeline"
• For a better understanding of the relationships of the various organizations and people involved in this case please download and review the powermap: "powermap.doc" (23kb)