The first National Assembly of Representatives of the Maya People began on Mar. 29 in Guatemala and aims to establish ties between the Indians, the state and the international community. The 88 delegates to the assembly were democratically elected from among the 300 leaders of 22 indigenous communities, Juana Batzibal, leader of the Maya Consultative Commission, told Tierramérica.

“The assembly is a space for calling for unity of the peoples as a means to fight discrimination and racism and the exclusion from the Guatemalan state,” she said.

This new body, which will meet at least once every two months, will not be issuing binding resolutions.

According to the 2002 census, Indians make up 41 percent of the Guatemalan population of 11.2 million.