Afro-Descendant & Indigenous: News & Updates

On January 14, 2024, Guatemala marks the beginning of its second Democratic Spring as a genuinely democratic government takes power, only the third time in the country's history. The first democratic government emerged in 1944, followed by a U.S. military coup in 1954 that ended it. Rights Action acknowledges the efforts of prosecutors, judges, lawyers, and Congress members resisting systemic corruption. The Semilla Party and newly inaugurated President Bernardo Arevalo and VP Karin Herrera receive thanks and respect. The Guatemalan people, particularly the Mayan indigenous population, endured 60 years of repression, corruption, exploitation, and violence. Sustained protests in the past six months played a crucial role in ensuring the lawful transition of power. Rights Action pledges continued support for indigenous and campesino communities in their struggles for land, rights, and environmental defense. The focus includes truth, memory, and justice work, as well as empowering indigenous Ancestral Councils as watchdogs in the new Democratic Spring.

Bernardo Arévalo, an anticorruption crusader, has been inaugurated as Guatemala's president amid resistance from opponents in the government. Despite delays and challenges, Arévalo, considered Guatemala's most progressive head of state since the 1980s, took office after international outcry and pressure from protesters. He faces a power struggle with conservative prosecutors, Congress members, and political figures who have weakened governing institutions. Arévalo's opponents aim to limit his budget for healthcare and education. The U.S. and other leaders support Arévalo, while tensions highlight Guatemala's history of political interference and exclusion of Indigenous groups.

The Xinka Parliament, a key Indigenous authority in Guatemala, sees the new government as a foundation for continuing their struggle for democracy. The Xinka people have been actively involved in resisting the Escobal silver mine and have faced challenges, including denial of their Indigenous status and the killing and criminalization of their leaders. They recently participated in a national strike for a peaceful transition of state power. Despite the uncertainties, they express hope in the potential for positive change with the new government, emphasizing the need for direct governance with the people. They acknowledge the challenges within Guatemala's political system but believe in laying a foundation for lasting change. The interview highlights the importance of international solidarity and emphasizes that Indigenous authorities work voluntarily for their communities. The Xinka Parliament calls for unity and invites others to join their struggle against corruption for the sake of future generations.

As Guatemala's new president, Bernardo Arévalo, prepares to take office amidst challenges to his legitimacy, Indigenous leaders reflect on the past indefinite national strike defending democracy. Despite the Constitutional Court's affirmation and Arévalo's upcoming inauguration, concerns linger over the inclusivity of the new government. The Indigenous-led #ParoNacionalIndefinido successfully mobilized communities nationwide, highlighting the power of Indigenous leadership. The struggle, rooted in historical Indigenous resistance, extends beyond electoral politics. Interviews with organizations involved in the national strike shed light on broader Indigenous struggles in Guatemala, emphasizing the need for structural change and justice beyond the political transition. The disappointment with Arévalo's cabinet appointments underscores the ongoing Indigenous-led resistance and the promise of the future.

This report explains how issuances of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are an effective tool to mitigate the effects of the multiple crises that Latin American and Caribbean countries currently face. SDRs are among the most important alternative financing mechanisms available within the international monetary system, as they can generate new resources without increasing debt levels. Untapped for decades, recent issuances in 2009 — to address the effects of the global recession — and in 2021 — to help countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic — reintroduced SDRs as a powerful instrument for addressing global emergencies. However, the scale of their impact could be much more significant.

The current context, marked by the climate crisis, economic stagnation, and rising external debt burdens, calls for a strong, coordinated, and global response by the international community. So far, however, the response has failed to meet these challenges sufficiently or adequately. Given these circumstances, a new SDR issuance becomes not only relevant but also necessary for ensuring that countries of the Global South receive the financial support required for climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to achieve further issuances of SDRs, a coordinated push by Latin American and Caribbean countries, together with other countries and organizations in the Global South, is essential.