Lain alkuperäiskansojen hallinta pyhien paikkojen Guatemalassa

Felipe Gomez is a Mayan healer and spiritual leader. He is currently the director of Oxlajuj Ajpop and has been involved with the organization since 1991. He is advisor and coordinator of the Commission to Define Sacred Sites, coordinator of the Law Initiative on Sacred Sites, and coordinator of COMPAS Central America.

    Useita pyhiä luontokohteiden ylängöllä Guatemalan ovat mukana tässä tapauksessa lain muodostuman pyhillä paikoilla tai "sitios sagrados" Guatemalassa. They are expropriated by the state and companies because they lie in areas marked for road construction, housing, tourism or conservation. Tikal, a protected area with World Heritage status is just one example.

    Huoltajat
    Oxlajuj Ajpop, the Council of Principals consists of 52 representatives, 24 from each of the linguistic communities of Maya, Garifuna and Xinca origin, ja 28 representatives appointed in proportion to the size of each linguistic community. As indigenous people, Oxlajuj Ajpop believes that the Maya calendar shows the way forward. They continuously consult the sacred fire, their ancestors, traditional leaders and community leaders.

    Visio
    The aim is to guarantee the historical, cultural and spiritual rights of the indigenous peoples by ensuring the recognition, kunnioittaminen, käyttää, conservation and administration of, as well as access to, sacred sites of indigenous peoples, located in the national territory of Guatemala. In the coming years, the Commission for the Definition of Sacred Sites will organise councils on sacred sites, based on linguistic territories and they will form multidisciplinary groups based on Maya scientific background and Western science to discuss the administration of sacred sites.

    Koalitio
    The COMPAS network and the IUCN are world-wide networks aiming to ensure endogenous development and conservation of natural resources. They support Oxlajuj Ajpop and the Guatemalan Commission of the Definition of Sacred Sites with information and organizational advise.

    Toiminta
    The Guatemalan Commission of the Definition of Sacred Sites initiated the process of forming laws that protect the rights of local inhabitants on sacred sites in Guatemala. They work together with Oxlajuj Ajpop in the formulation of law proposals for the Guatemalan government, and organize meetings with the Council to keep this topic under government attention.

    1997: The Commission for the Definition of Sacred Sites is formed.
    2003: First draft proposal for the law on sacred sites is proposed by Oxlajuj Ajpop to the Commission for the Definition of Sacred Sites.
    2006: Renewed governmental agreement to support sacred sites.
    2008: Based on dialogues with indigenous peoples, the Commission for the Definition of Sacred Sites revises and accepts the law proposal.
    18 Kesäkuu 2008: the Plenary of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala receives the law proposal and registers it for study and approval. It is then sent directly to the Commission for Indigenous Peoples, the Commission on Legislation and Constitution and the Peace Commission.
    19 Elokuu 2009: The law proposal is approved by the 11 deputies of the Peace Commission and 12 deputies of the Commission on Indigenous Peoples of the Congress.
    8 Huhtikuu 2010: The Commission for the Definition of Sacred Sites and Oxlajuj Ajpop give a petition to the Congress to approve the law.

    The Commission for the Definition of Sacred Sites has continuous meetings with deputies of the Congress, aiming to approve the law.

    Maya juhla Wajxaqib 'B'atz', the lunar calendar, at Santa Cruz del Quiché, Guatemala. © COMPAS

    Uhat
    The government is divided in parties that support the law proposal on sacred sites, and parties that oppose it. Certain parties do not recognise the historic, spiritual and cultural rights that the law links to private property. They see sacred sites as a cultural heritage part of the nation in contrast to part of local communities’ ownership. Big economic enterprises are trying to move these political parties towards getting the article that protects the individual rights on sacred natural sites out of the law.

    Tulokset
    The Commission for the Definition of Sacred Sites and Oxlajuj Ajpop have succeeded to put the protection of sacred sites on the political agenda of the Government. They have shown to be able to face the pressure of external economic forces, but no final decision has yet been made.
    Oxlajuj Ajpop is increasingly promoting its work amongst Mayan communities in Guatemala. Oxlajuj Ajpop is supported by international networks which enable them to bring their case to a global audience and reach decision makes such as the Convention of Biological Diversity.

    Resurssit
    • "The struggle for a law on Sacred Sites in Guatemala" - Lähtevä kehitys Magazine 6: Näytä artikla: [Englanti] [Espanol]
    • Felipe Gomez, Wim Hiemstra, Basso ja Verschuuren (2011), A Law on Sacred Sites in Guatemala. Policy Matters 17, Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy, IUCN, Gland pp. 116-120. Näytä PDF
    • Sacred luontokohteiden, A Law on Sacred Sites in Guatemala: View Policy Brief
    • Oxlajuj Ajpop: Käy Website
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