Inter-ethnic/State Relations: Accord for a Firm and Lasting Peace
Implementations
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1997
The Agreement on the Implementation, Compliance and Verification Timetable for the Peace Agreements stipulated that proposed constitutional reforms should be presented to the Congress of the Republic for ratification by 15 April, the Follow-up Commission rescheduled the deadline for 15 May. The Guatemalan government presented the draft constitutional amendments to the Congress on 15 May, fulfilling the terms of the agreements.1
- “United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/51/936), June 30, 1997.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1998
All 50 constitutional amendments including legal changes related to increasing the representation of the indigenous population submitted by the Government were approved by the Congress in October 1998. The constitution mandated that they then be submitted to the people for a referendum, scheduled for May 1999.2
- “United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/54/526), November 11, 1999.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 1999
The referendum included numerous provisions and legal changes related to increasing the representation of the indigenous population. The referendum for the full package of constitutional amendments occurred on 16 May 1999. Voters denied the proposed amendments related to the redefinition of the nation and the formal recognition of indigenous peoples and their rights, along with all other proposed amendments.
As provisions for improved rights and protections for indigenous peoples were featured very prominently in the referendum, this outcome indicated that the country was far from reconciled after the formal end of the civil war.3 In the referendum, 366,591 voted against the reforms related to national and indigenous people and 327,854 voted in favor of the reform.4
- Ibid.
- “Guatemala: Referendum, 1999,” Georgetown University & Organization of American States – Political Database of the Americas (2001), accessed May 23, 2012, http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Elecdata/Guate/ref99.html.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2000
The Executive Branch enacts reform measures designed to foster local participation in the selection of leaders, although the gubernatorial candidates put forward by non-governmental members of development councils were largely sidelined. The network of local development councils were deemed ineffective at engendering broad social participation in municipal and community projects that were designed to improve inter-ethnic and state relations.5
- “United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/55/175), July 26, 2000.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2001
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2002
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2003
No developments observed this year.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2004
The Government made significant improvements in the decentralization of civil administration. With the passage of three new laws, previously excluded segments of the population were drawn into local decision-making structures and the decisions of Departmental Development Councils were respected by the Government.6
- “United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/59/307), August 30, 2004.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2005
No further developments observed.
Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2006
No further developments observed.