The Rosemberg Case: Guatemalans have reacted.

Guatemala: I will never abandon you.

I WILL NO LONGER BE AFRAID

OF GOING OUT ON TO THE STREETS

OF DEFENDING MY FREDOM

OF UPHOLDING THE LAW

OF DEMANDING JUSTICE

I WILL NO LONGER BE AFRAID

OF LIVING IN MY LAND

AND CHANGING MY FUTURE



This past Sunday 17th , 2009, in the "Plaza Italia". (Italian Pláza), in front of Guatemala City's Municipal Offices, some 40,000 Guatemalans got toguether to demand justice for the more than 7,000 violent deaths that have ocured in the last year and a half; Lawyer Rodrigo Rosemberg, murdered near his house while riding his bike, on may 10th, 2009, was the last straw.

What makes the Rosemberg Case the last straw, is his post mortum video, acusing Alvaro Colom (Guatemalan President) and other government authorities, including guatemalan presidential private secretary, Gregorio Valdéz, of his (Rosemberg´s) murder. Almost immidiatly after his video was posted on the YouTube network, this exeptionally complex and nation wide situation has has triggered shock and condemnation against authorities.

A cyber Protest

From e-mailing to online communities like Hi5, Facebook and Twitter, web networking tools have become esential in Guatemalan peoples current pronouncements against the Government, demanding transparency and justice for the Rosemberg Case. Yet, the tranparency and justice of the Rosemberg Case's process is not evident to the people. From the very moment that the Attorney General's Office, (The Current lead investigator) has closed-door meetings with the President (The person who is in fact being investigated).

This is why, on Monday evening, people ralied again, to protest in front of the the Presidential Palace and Constitution Park, where groups of youths supporting the family and friends of Mr. Rosenberg asked for clarification and justice.

The price of Solidarity.

UNE Government, has disacredited the veracity of Rosemberg's video. As a strategy, they have opted to protest in favor of President Colom and his wife.

That is why, on Tuesday, a good number of Mayors from other municipalities have traveled to Capital City, to express their support for Central Government. (It was said that some mayors had been invited but had not been briefed on the nature of their trip to Guatemala City).

On the following days, UNE supporters (Moslty beneficiaries of the Social Cohesion Programs) have countermanifested in defense of the president, but urging with equal energy, for the basic idea: Clarification and justice in the Rosemberg Case.

This past Sunday, 17th of May, an even larger group got together to manifest support for President Colóm.

What is curious and important to obcerve here, even if it is categoriacally denied by the government, is that people where given "Vales" (Reciets that prooved they had indeed particpated in the event), to people who wanted to keep recieving help from the "Coehsión Social" project. Basically conditioning them to support Colom in exchange for food.

How is this going to end?

Tomorrow, (Monday) people have organized themselves to protest in front of Congress. They are going to make public delivery of signatures demanding President Colóms retirement of office, in order to guarantee transparency of legal process, as well as asking for the law that will enable the postulation and election of magistrates be passed as soon as possible.

I dont know if UNE simpathisers are planing more countermanifestations for tomorrow, but I can say that Guatemala is once agian suffering corruption and insecurity even as we demand transparecy and clarity for this specific case.

How much logner can this be tolerated?


A word of advice

For groups seeking justice in the Rosenberg case, and better government administration, I suggest making strategies more inclusive and to add more and more people, voluntarily of course; Unfortunately, the government has holds power over the mayority of the population: the poor. Not because of ideological conviction, but because of "social coercion" through "Bags of Solidarity*" and cash payments. It is understandable, due to their poverty and urgency of their needs, that their support for Alvaro Colóm is significant and necessary.

This is why, all sectors have to work on long term strategies, tu guarantee the economic growth and sustainable development of everybody, to have a true and harmonios coexistence in Guatemala, not by fear or personal interests, but by the general interest of being free to do what each individual sees to be true and fit, without violation other peoples freedoms. Something that has yet to be lived and experienced in Guatemala.