By Gabriel Torres
After 37 years of civil war, the Guatemalan people are feeling as optimistic as they did in 1944, during Guatemala's democratic revolution. The general command of the URNG (Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity), the army and the Guatemalan government signed a peace accord on December 29.
More than 20,000 people converged on the National Palace in Guatemala City to welcome the commanders of the four organisations that make up the URNG and to celebrate the end of the longest armed conflict in Central America.
Rural and urban workers, women's organisations, students and other sectors have supported the negotiation process over the last 10 years. The accords address the root cause of the armed conflict, covering key social, political and economic issues.
To understand the significance of the peace accords it is necessary to understand Guatemala's turbulent history. In 1944, General Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a popular national democratic revolution which ushered in a decade of democratisation. Reforms included the creation of a social security system, autonomy for the national university, agrarian reform, the end of forced labour for indigenous people, introduction of an eight-hour day, the right to strike and freedom of association in unions, organisations and political parties.
The revolution soon came into conflict with US capitalism, in particular when it nationalised large tracts of uncultivated land owned by the US-based United Fruit Company and gave it to poor peasants.
The main weakness of the revolution was that it didn't destroy the oligarchy's army and didn't arm the population to defend the revolution despite being petitioned by thousands. In 1954, US-backed forces entered Guatemala and met no armed resistance. President Arbenz fled the country.
Today, the Guatemalan people look to the democratic period of the 1940s as an example of how all sectors can better organise and fight for their demands. This has again become possible since the emergence of the URNG.
Despite the desire of the current government to disarm the guerilla movement without negotiation, the URNG was able to force negotiations based on its political weight in Guatemala and backed up by international pressure.
The accords address respect for human rights; dismantling of the death squads; resettlement of displaced people; establishment of a truth commission; the rights of indigenous people; socioeconomic and agrarian issues; the strengthening of civilian authority and the nature of the army; constitutional and electoral reform; incorporation of the URNG into civilian life; and the activation of all other agreements.
The outcome reflects the desires of the majority of the Guatemalan population. The accords were not intended to resolve every problem. However, they provide the basis for greater popular involvement in political life. The Guatemalan people now have an opportunity to struggle for change in a new political context.