Day Sixteen

The Politics of Peace

We arrived here in San Mateo Ixtatan yesterday, traveling over the impossibly steep and rocky terrain of the Cuchumatanes. This is the highest part of Guatemala and the isolated villages here are home to some of the poorest and most traditional Maya living today.

Harris Whitbeck (wearing khakis and standing) talks to Mateo Alonso (seated, wearing blue jeans). The other men at the meeting are representatives from San Mateo Ixtatan and its surrounding villages.

This is also the area where some of the worst fighting in Guatemala's war took place. In 1996 the war ended and today Guatemala is at peace. Or that is what we thought…

Three hours ago, gunshots rang out down the street. People of San Mateo clashed with those from Alonso's village. With the exception of David, who sprained his ankle, no one on the MayaQuest team was harmed.

The day started off nicely enough. Presidential Secretary Harris Whitbeck had come to hold a meeting to help settle a disagreement between Alonso's people and the people of San Mateo.

The meeting was to take place in the town hall but the people of San Mateo would not let Mateo Alonso go in. Someone punched him in the nose. Then everyone started fighting. The police broke up the chaos and ushered a bloody-nosed Alonso into the meeting.

	Wide-eyed townspeople look on as Harris Whitbeck's helicopter lands in the ancient plaza outside of San Mateo.

By 3 p.m. the meeting had ended. Whitbeck and his entourage boarded their helicopter and with a THUT-THUT-THUT disappeared over distant peaks. But inside the town hall, Alonso was stuck. The crowd outside wanted revenge.

Free speech, liberal exchange of ideas, and social justice offer the best hope for Guatemala's future. And if the people of San Mateo let Alonso live, it will be a good start.

Pedals Up!

- Dan Buettner

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