By Pilar Salazar

The social unrest that erupted on November 21st in Guatemala followed years of social discontent. This year, the situation was exacerbated by the government's mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic and Tropical Storms Eta and Iota—which have affected 275,000 people and caused 155 deaths, according to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED)—without a plan to assist the affected areas in the interior of the country. But the final straw was the approval of a state budget that reflects millions of quetzales in debt to finance public spending in 2021 and that reduced the budget for Public Health, the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office, and programs to combat chronic malnutrition in the country.

Feminist movements, university students, Indigenous communities, civil society organizations, and the LGBTIQ+ community have organized themselves through social media. The protests began on November 21, and the National Civil Police took violent action against the demonstrators and journalists covering the events. During the day of demonstrations, 35 people were arrested, and male police officers oppressed women, beating them and dragging them along the ground if they resisted arrest.

Feminists to the streets!

Feminist youth collectives, with at least 40 members, have been demonstrating since the protests began on November 21. On Saturday, December 5, they marched from the Ministry of the Interior to Plaza de las Niñas in front of the Government Palace, performing "A Rapist in Your Path" by the Las Tesis , with some modifications to the lyrics to reflect the context. This performance served as a form of repudiation of the current government and its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergency caused by Tropical Storms Eta and Iota, the repression of women by the Ministry of the Interior and the National Civil Police, and a budget that fails to address gender-based violence.

“We are here to demand the resignation of the president, vice president and minister of the Interior, and that an Anti-Patriarchal Constituent Assembly be held.”

One of the participants in the “Young Feminist” group—who preferred to remain anonymous—told Presentes that they have been organizing in Guatemala and supporting protests for several years: “We have come to demonstration after demonstration and occupied the plazas, not just now, but always. One of our demands is that we oppose these tricks they are using with the budget, cutting funding for education and health. Sexual and reproductive health care is not prioritized. We are outraged by the budget, but also because last Saturday at the demonstrations, the police brutality against women was evident. They dragged young women along the ground and beat them. Male police officers grabbed our female comrades and took them to the Palace of Justice, where they were released for lack of evidence. This proves that the State is a patriarchal violator of our rights, an oppressor. We are fighting for a budget, but also for all those women who have been murdered and whose bodies don't simply “appear dead,” as the media claims.”

Excerpt from “A Rapist in Your Path” (modified):

“…Theft from the people, police brutality, the silence in the media regarding the disappearance, the police, Gendri Reyes (Minister of the Interior), the deputies, the president.

Fight calmly, comrade, don't worry about riot police, shout loudly, break everything, we'll take care of each other.

You are the rapist!

They fooled us again!

María Dolores Marroquín of the feminist association La Cuerda said that it's not just the budget issue, but also widespread outrage at the brazenness, cynicism, and shamelessness of the authorities, who have once again confirmed that "they've taken us for fools." She added that the most exploited and oppressed population has been constantly denouncing the level of impoverishment and the economic and human crisis, which was even evident in the recent storms and only exacerbates existing inequalities.

Student movement: “The problem wasn’t just the budget, but the exclusionary, racist, patriarchal system to which we have been subjected for more than 500 years.”

Nahomi, from the University Movement, comprised of students from the public university (USAC) and private universities across the country, stated that the movement aims to demand the resignation of the presidential ticket and a Plurinational Popular Anti-Patriarchal Constituent Assembly. She believes it is essential to empower women within this framework, as they have historically been subjected to violence by this oppressive and deadly system. She also pointed out that Guatemala has the highest rate of malnutrition in Latin America.

“People of diverse sexual orientations are also pained by the lack of access to education, work and health, which is why we also have the right to demonstrate.”

 Congressman Aldo Dávila, who attended the demonstrations on Saturday, December 5th, told Presentes that it is important for the LGBTQ+ community to be represented at these events and to work closely with the public to bring about real and effective change. He stated that while there has been progress, it is a serious problem that LGBTQ+ communities are not included in any government social programs. He also explained that the HIV/AIDS budget was reduced to address the COVID-19 pandemic emergency and that he is currently working to ensure that the funds are returned to their rightful recipients.

Pablo Vidaurre, from the Prolapso collective and part of the “Travesti Discordia” movement, says it's important that, as members of the community, we make our voices heard, not only regarding these corrupt acts but in general. “Just as we demand our rights, we want everyone to have them. We want resignations, we want justice and peace. We want everything that is good for the community and for everyone.”

To found a new state

Carmen Reina, from the collective “Otra Guatemala Ya” and other groups such as “La Batucada del Pueblo” and “Gente Positiva,” told this publication that they are arguing that the issue is not only about overturning the illegitimate budget, but that this government has reached its limit and the people are demanding the resignation of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Reina spoke of founding a new state and convening a Constituent Assembly that is social, popular, plurinational, and inclusive, within the framework of the country's Constitution.

The fire at the Congress of the Republic

The protests of November 21st were concentrated in two groups: those demonstrating in Plaza de las Niñas in front of the Government Palace, accompanied by children and the elderly, while a few meters away, the Congress building began to burn due to the fire set by another group of protesters shouting slogans, whom some believe were infiltrators sent by the government. María Dolores of the La Cuerda collective said that it is not possible to confirm the presence of infiltrators, but that this does not delegitimize the actions of a people who are angry and tired of so much corruption.