Another day of struggle against CAFTA, a battle won.
cmi – 2:35am Jueves 10 Marzo 2005
http://chiapas.mediosindependientes.org/display.php3?article_id=112060Today March 9, 2005, the demonstrations in Guatemala City against the ratification of the Free Trade Treaty between Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States, with a march composed of various organizations and persons who arrived in the capital from different departments (states) of Guatemala.
The march left from the central park and approached the Congress from various sides, in order to demand that the members who make laws on behalf of the people and not ratify the treaty. But they could not pass beyond police blocks located at a distance of three blocks around the Congress. At approximately 11 AM the civil national police repelled the peaceful march with rubber bullets, teargas and blows. The police repression harmed not only marchers but also passersby and street sellers, and left 11 injured and 16 disappeared. Representatives of various organizations presented a document to the Constitutional Court denouncing the violation of the right of free expression and of circulation.
At 2 PM the contingent regrouped in the Central Park and marched completely around the Congress, ending at the National Palace. High school and college students announced that tomorrow they will join the mobilizations and it is expected that more persons will arrive from distant states. The Superior Council of the University of San Carlos and the Catholic Church today made public their decision to adhere to the national strike scheduled for next Monday March 14.
At the close of the day's demonstrations it appeared that, due to the pressure exerted by the mobilization, the Congress no succeeded in ratifying the agreement by the fast emergency route. Now the treaty is due for a review which will last three days. However, the Congress did accomplish the passage of an amendment to the law of generics – now medicine patents will be available which last as long as 25 years.
While the people dispersed in the afternoon after the march, it was given to know that the police were detaining persons identified by the dye from the water cannon used hours before against the population. At 6 PM the students took the buildings of the University of San Carlos and it is expected that the protests will escalate in tone in the face of the closed posture of the president and the congress.
Tomorrow morning more mobilizations are expected in the center of the city.
tlc 2005 | tlc | www.agp.org