There has been significant political and social change in Guatemala over the past year, with renewed hopes that human rights will be upheld, reaching levels last seen during the 1996 peace accords. The unexpected election in 2023 of Bernardo Arévalo, an anti-corruption reformist president, marks a crucial breakthrough in the country’s history.
Leocadio Juracán Salomé is the agrarian reform coordinator and a driving force behind CUPE’s partner in Guatemala, the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA), a social justice movement active in over 70 communities. They have seen progress in negotiations on land issues with the new minority government, though its scope of action is limited as the judicial system remains controlled by corrupt officials.
Following Arévalo’s election, Guatemala saw mass mobilizations to defend the democratic process – the largest since the 1944 revolution. Juracán joined the crowds rallying against right-wing attempts to overturn Arévalo’s victory.
“It is the people who came out because they are tired of it all, tired of decades of corruption and oppression,” he says. Many protestors were workers and residents of marginalized urban communities whose struggles are intertwined with their Indigenous identities.
“The CCDA fights against repression and the intimidation tactics of companies and right-wing politicians. Our struggle is for the dignity and rights of farmers and Indigenous peoples,” Juracán explains. “But the cost of our fight is steep.” The CCDA has lost 12 leaders to assassinations, and many more face imprisonment or threats. More than 1,060 CCDA members have capture orders against them.
Juracán is Kaqchikel Maya with a long history of activism. Abducted by the Guatemalan military during the civil war in the 1990s, his journey is an inspiring example of resilience.
“We urge Canadians to scrutinize the information war waged by corrupt governments and the oligarchy. Diplomatic pressure is crucial to protect activists and defend democracy,” he emphasizes.
Juracán fondly recalls the humble beginnings of Café Justicia, a fair-trade coffee grown by farmers on co-ops and processed by the CCDA. “In 1982, with the support of a church, we acquired our first coffee farm. What started with Canadian students from Vancouver helping us distribute coffee, has grown into a powerful movement funding our fight for self-sufficiency and social justice. The CCDA is more than a co-op, it’s a political force. Our organic coffee is not just a product, it funds legal battles, labour rights advocacy, and land recuperation for Indigenous peoples.”
In 2015, Juracán became the first Mayan farmer elected to Guatemala’s National Congress, breaking barriers for Indigenous peoples. He has toured Canada and the United States assessing trade agreements and pushing governments and communities to fight for human rights in Guatemala. He also visited with roasters like Moccasin Joe, a family-owned business in the Kanienʼkehá:ka (Mohawk) territory of Kanesatake that has roasted Café Justicia beans for over a decade.
After meeting CUPE members at the 2023 National Convention, Juracán’s message is clear: “Union activists must care about our story.” He encourages everyone to buy union and co-op products to help defend the rights of workers worldwide. “It’s essential to help our people live from their work,” Juracán says. “When corporate powers go unchecked, workers and farmers suffer. Our work with CUPE highlights the political crisis in Guatemala, a struggle that reflects the broader fight for social justice.”
