AMERICA/GUATEMALA - Mgr. Vian Morales: "The exploitation of farmers and indigenous people must end"

Tuesday, 20 September 2016 indigenous politics poverty environment

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Guatemala City (Agenzia Fides) - "Do not continue with the exploitation of farmers and indigenous people and tell the truth at all times": These are the two prerequisites for a better country indicated by the Archbishop of Santiago de Guatemala, His Exc. Mgr. Oscar Julio Vian Morales S.D.B., at the end of his homily last Sunday, September 18.
"The Lord is against those who exploit the poor and increase the price of everything, which is what can be seen in Guatemala. This will never allow the development of the poor. We cannot steal money from the poor, who have already suffered a lot to have the little they have", said the Archbishop according to information sent to Fides.
Mgr. Vian Morales stressed that farmers have been abandoned by everyone: they do not receive education, they cannot make use of health services and sometimes even basic services.
He also encouraged everyone to tell the truth at all times, "because in this country we are used to saying only half true". "We must strive to purify politicians who do not love the country and exploit the needy". the Archbishop concluded.
Mgr. Vian Morales’ reflection were exposed in the comments, at a national and international level, who states that in the last 15 years, and 4 different governments, there have been no "significant changes" regarding the situation of farmers.
One of the conclusions of the forum Oxfam says: "In Guatemala, farmers have no access to their land. Guatemala is the country, along with Haiti and Brazil, where wealth is concentrated in the hands of very few. The eviction of farmers from their land often end in violent clashes with security forces". This is also Juana Sales’ opinion, spokesman of the Indigenous Women Tzununija Movement and activist for human rights of farmers: "Forest wealth, mining, hydroelectric and oil in Guatemala make our country a favorite destination for large multinational corporations, who are hungry for cheap labor and state permissiveness". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 20/09/2016)