Racism and Ethnic Discrimination in Guatemala - Institute of Latin ...

Roddy BrettRacism and the Guatemalan Statethe dignity of the individual and seeks to prevent or nullify the recognition,enjoyment or equal exercise of human rights. Interviewees also referred to theideological nature of racism. Consequently, functionaries demonstrated solidtheoretical foundations on the issues of racism and discrimination, issuesdirectly linked to the backbone of their work at the PDH. Such responses clearlyindicate knowledge of the definitions consecrated in national legislation andinternational law. Significantly, only one official identified the historical rootsof racism:In our countries, racism has a colonial heritage. European invadersbelieved the native peoples of these lands to be subhuman and thereforewere subjected to slavery. From this alleged inferiority, have emergedprejudices which remain in the twenty-first century and result incontinued violations of indigenous peoples’ rights.However, no other Ladino PDH interviewee presented an analysis of the natureof historical-structural racism, or its link with the state. In contrast, the staff ofthe DDPI located the experience of racism within a historical framework thatemphasized its colonial roots and noted how its discourse and ideology hadtransformed over time.The responses of PDH interviewees were interesting with regard tocontemporary problems of racism:Guatemala is one of the most racist countries of the Americas. Racism isperceived in a series of derogatory phrases, and even attitudes throughpublic policies which marginalize indigenous communities, cut off fromthe country and deny them access to the most basic services.In addition, only one of the interviewees made reference to the relationshipbetween rights and racism, focusing their analysis on issues of social structure(including in the national socio-economic structure), rather than exclusivelyupon issues of social perception: “those most affected (by racism) are membersof indigenous peoples, mainly through various forms of limitation on theirrights in service delivery, contracting and employment, wages, social exclusion,low levels of development”.Significantly, whilst all indigenous functionaries interviewed signaled that thegenocide had an intimate relationship with racism, no Ladino PDH functionarycommented upon the Guatemalan genocide when asked about contemporarymanifestations of racism or ethnic discrimination, a matter of serious concern.STOCKHOLM REVIEW OF LATIN AMERICAN STUDIESIssue No. 6, March 201053