Annual Report 2010 - Cultural Survival

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“I didn’t have the privilege of attending university, but my work with radio has given me an education.” — Angelica Cubul Sul (Kakchiquel), 23, of Sumpango, explaining her experience attending Cultural Survival workshops. “Never did we think an international organization would take an interest in us. But Cultural Survival helps us with getting the law approved, holding workshops with women and young people, and carrying out different activities. Cultural Survival has brought harmony to the community radios in Guatemala, by uniting them.” — Anselmo Xunic (Kakchiquel), of Radio Ixchel, Sumpango Sacatepequez. CULTURAL SURVIVAL
PROGRAMS: GUATEMALA RADIO PROJECT ANNUAL REPORT 2010 In a country where a majority of people live in rural areas, speak one of 24 different languages, have only a thirdgrade education, and do not have regular Internet access, getting news and information across the hilly countryside is a difficult task, and one that Cultural Survival is successfully taking on. The Community Radio Project partners with a network of 205 community radio stations across the country, to provide training and support to local volunteers who run each station. Small-scale radio is a technology that is inexpensive to operate, easy to run, and highly effective as a means for communication in the rural areas where these stations are located. This year, Pocomam Mayan staff member Cesar Gomez, along with our Content Production Team, produced 154 programs in 6 Mayan languages, Spanish, and, for the first time, in Garifuna, an Indigenous Caribbean language native to the eastern coast of Guatemala. These programs were broadcast across 205 stations, reaching 1.5 million listeners across rural Guatemala. Productions ranged from 30-second spots on HIV awareness to 4minute programs on fair-trade agriculture, from interviews on Indigenous women’s political participation to a radionovella series on conserving fresh water sources using traditional Mayan knowledge. Using a train-thetrainers system, we conducted multiple workshops that educated 365 community radio leaders on topics such as citizen journalism, technology, human rights, political participation, radio production, and others, which they brought back to their own communities to share. Despite all of community radio’s benefits, it is not fully legalized in Guatemala. The right to radio is guaranteed in the country’s Peace Accords and Constitution, but is not accounted for in the old telecommunications law, which covers licensing and bandwidth distribution. As a result, stations can be—and routinely are—shut down by the police. Part of Cultural Survival’s work in Guatemala is advocating for a reform to the current telecommunica- PROMOTING INDIGENOUS VOICES IN GUATEMALA tions law that would fully recognize and support community radio. In January the Community Radio Bill 4087 gained a favorable recommendation from the Congressional Committee on Indigenous Issues. This important step cleared the way for Congress to schedule the bill for debate. In February, Cultural Survival hosted a press conference in support of the bill where Indigenous activist and Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Frank La Rue, and three Guatemalan congressmen participated as panelists. Menchu explained, “I would like to give homage to the struggle of community radio stations, which, with the strength of their communities behind them, have struggled for many years for the right of Indigenous Peoples to have their own media . . . I would like to congratulate you on the Bill 4087; I believe there is a historic act taking place.” She encouraged legislators to continue their support for the bill until it can be made law. Despite promises from many, 2010 closed without a date scheduled for debate on the Congress floor. Radio volunteers now trained in political participation, along with seasoned Indigenous activists inside the country and out, continue building pressure for a vote on democratizing the media in Guatemala. UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Speech Stands Up for Community Radio in Guatemala After taking part in the February 11, 2010, press conference on community radio organized by Cultural Survival, UN Special Rapporteur Frank La Rue filed a case in Guatemala's Constitutional Court against the government, claiming that the existing telecommunications law is in violation of freedom of expression and speech guaranteed in the Guatemalan Constitution. He spoke of this matter at the press conference and has taken action recommending that passing the proposed bill that Cultural Survival and its partners have submitted to Congress will resolve the constitutional violation. 11
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Annual Report 2010 - Cultural Survival

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