On Tuesday, March 8 the Guatemalan government began the process of ratifying the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) despite large scale protests organized by indigenous, labor, farmer and human rights organizations. The Guatemalan popular movement presented over 25,000 signatures to Congress saying “no” to CAFTA. The government responded with brutal force. On Thursday, March 10 CAFTA was passed behind closed doors as police and military filled the streets.

Protests continued through March 15 as Guatemalan popular organizations demanded a national referendum on CAFTA. State security forces used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and live bullets break up protests which resulted in dozens of injuries and the death of at least one indigenous protestor. Organizations involved with the protests continue to be intimidated by security forces.

Guatemalan organizations strongly oppose CAFTA and see it as a new form of colonialism. Small farmers will be decimated; genetically modified food will wipe out local biodiversity; local medicinal knowledge will be patented and restricted by U.S. pharmaceutical companies; life saving generic medicines will be illegal for years. In Guatemala, Indigenous, labor, farmer and human rights organizations want a seat at the table to propose sustainable development strategies that benefit the majority of Guatemalans, and especially the most vulnerable, not just the elite.

In Guatemala CAFTA protests will continue this week as coordinated legal action is begun as well.

The U.S. Congress has scheduled hearings on CAFTA to start April 6. Let’s make sure that Congress hears your opposition to the agreement in these crucial weeks to come! Call your Congressperson TODAY and tell him/her to vote NO on CAFTA!

Why?

The massive opposition to CAFTA throughout Guatemala.
The violence and repression by Guatemalan state security forces against citizens peacefully protesting against CAFTA, including the extrajudicial execution of one protestor. The expected loss of the ability to protect people’s rights, health, the environment, and jobs in the United States, Guatemala, and throughout the CAFTA countries.

To find your Congressperson’s contact information, you can call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or use the link: http://www.congress.org

For more information on CAFTA’s history in the U.S. Congress, go to the Quest for Peace page on the Quixote Center’s website at www.quixote.org/quest/ or the Stop CAFTA website at www.stopcafta.org