Nobel Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu running for president in Guatemala

[muriel_volestrangler]

Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu on Wednesday announced that she will run for the presidency of Guatemala in the country's September elections, a move likely fuel talk about an Indian resurgence in Latin American politics.

Menchu said she reached an agreement with the smaller Encounter For Guatemala Party, which still must formally ratify her nomination at a March 22 assembly.
...
Winaq is a Mayan word signifying "the wholeness of the human being." Menchu, a Guatemalan Quiche Indian, would be the first woman and the first Indian ever to serve as president in this overwhelmingly Indian country.

Bolivian President Evo Morales sparked talk of an Indian resurgence in Latin America after he become the first Indian to win the presidency of his country in 2005.

Menchu won the Peace Prize in 1992 as a lifetime award "in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/22/america/LA-GEN-Guatemala-Menchu-Presidency.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. I hope many people will wish her protection now and forever. She has suffered far too much.

Biography

Rigoberta Menchú was born on January 9, 1959 to a poor Indian peasant family and raised in the Quiche branch of the Mayan culture. In her early years she helped with the family farm work, either in the northern highlands where her family lived, or on the Pacific coast, where both adults and children went to pick coffee on the big plantations.

Rigoberta Menchú soon became involved in social reform activities through the Catholic Church, and became prominent in the women's rights movement when still only a teenager. Such reform work aroused considerable opposition in influential circles, especially after a guerilla organization established itself in the area. The Menchú family was accused of taking part in guerrilla activities and Rigoberta's father, Vicente, was imprisoned and tortured for allegedly having participated in the execution of a local plantation owner. After his release, he joined the recently founded Committee of the Peasant Union (CUC).

In 1979, Rigoberta, too, joined the CUC. That year her brother was arrested, tortured and killed by the army. The following year, her father was killed when security forces in the capital stormed the Spanish Embassy where he and some other peasants were staying. Shortly afterwards, her mother also died after having been arrested, tortured and raped. Rigoberta became increasingly active in the CUC, and taught herself Spanish as well as other Mayan languages than her native Quiche. In 1980, she figured prominently in a strike the CUC organized for better conditions for farm workers on the Pacific coast, and on May 1, 1981, she was active in large demonstrations in the capital. She joined the radical 31st of January Popular Front, in which her contribution chiefly consisted of educating the Indian peasant population in resistance to massive military oppression.

In 1981, Rigoberta Menchú had to go into hiding in Guatemala, and then flee to Mexico. That marked the beginning of a new phase in her life: as the organizer abroad of resistance to oppression in Guatemala and the struggle for Indian peasant peoples' rights. In 1982, she took part in the founding of the joint opposition body, The United Representation of the Guatemalan Opposition (RUOG). In 1983, she told her life story to Elisabeth Burgos Debray. The resulting book, called in English, I, Rigoberta Menchú, is a gripping human document which attracted considerable international attention. In 1986, Rigoberta Menchú became a member of the National Coordinating Committee of the CUC, and the following year she performed as the narrator in a powerful film called When the Mountains Tremble, about the struggles and sufferings of the Maya people. On at least three occasions, Rigoberta Menchú has returned to Guatemala to plead the cause of the Indian peasants, but death threats have forced her to return into exile.
(snip/...)http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1992/tum-bio.html

[Peace Patriot]

10. Many thanks for the photos, Judi Lynn! You are a brick, as they used to say.

My instant thought: My God, she looks just like "Marilyn" in "Northern Exposure." And is that Dr. Fleischman behind her in the suit?

(Note: The character of "Marilyn Whirlwind" (played by Elaine Miles)--the Inuit assistant to Jewish Dr. Fleischman in the tiny town of Cicely in northern Alaska--is one of the finest acting creations you will ever see on TV. "Marilyn" is very nearly indescribable. She have to watch the series to understand why. The nearest analogy might be Commander Data in Star Trek--a performance of such amazing subtlety and humor that the actor just blows everybody else off the screen by DOING NOTHING. And it's not as if the actors creating "Marilyn" and "Data" don't have strong on-screen competition. The first five seasons of both shows are some of the best TV ever created. (Well, seasons 2-5 for Star Trek TNG; "Northern Exposure" is brilliant from episode #1.) "Marilyn" creates that crossover world between the indigenous and the white European invaders in a way that I have never seen done in drama before--that profound clash of cultures that we are still feeling vibrations from. She is "otherworldly" and yet deeply rooted in reality in ways that Joel Fleischman can never grasp--and it is hilariously funny as he tries to do so.)

Anyway, I don't know what all this has to do with Rigoberta Menchu and her awesome life and courageous activism on behalf the poor, but maybe it's that gleam of humor and irony that you can see in her face--that essential kindness, but with an edge "you mess with me at your peril, Mr. Yackety Yak!". (And she really does look like "Marilyn.")

[carla]

16. Much love and strength

to Rigoberta! She is a true leader and she has suffered very much...and still keeps hope alive and keeps smiling. I love this woman and wish her all the support in the world to achieve some kind of justice for Guatemala.

[Vidar]

2. Great news. Thanks you.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Another race to watch which must FAIL: Born-again killer Rios Montt plans run for Guatemalan Congres

Born-again killer Rios Montt plans run for Guatemalan Congress
Written by Dan Bacher
Tuesday, 20 February 2007

Former Guatemalan dictator General Jose Efrain Rios Montt, who prosecuted a Reagan administration-supported war of genocide against the Mayan population, on January 17, 2007 announced that he plans to run for Congress in September.
This would provide him with immunity from prosecution on the charges of genocide and other violations of human rights during the country's 36-year civil war, according to SOA (School of Americas) Watch.

Members of the country's Congress enjoy immunity from prosecution unless they are suspended from office by a court. "I am certain and sure" of getting a seat in Congress, Rios Montt, told a news conference. Rios Montt, who continues to be an influential and powerful politician in Guatemala, ran for the presidency in 2004 and finished third (Associated Press, January 17).

The Spanish National Court has charged the former dictator, who attended a "special course" in the 1950 at the SOA (now called WHINSEC - the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation), with the crimes of genocide, torture, terrorism and illegal detention. In July 2006, Spanish Judge Santiago Pedraz issued warrants for the arrest of General Ríos Montt and several other former senior officials.

“The Guatemalan authorities subsequently took some of the accused into custody in order to ensure that they would not flee the country,” according to Amnesty International. “However, General Ríos Montt remains free. Strong international pressure is needed to ensure that all either face trial in Guatemala or are extradited to Spain.”
(snip/...)

http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/635/1/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If this monster is allowed to pervert the law by running for office, and getting his corrupt party to somehow get him "elected," although a mass murderer like him would never legitimately be elected, he will completely side-step the law designed for honest, law-abiding people. (In politics? Am I insane?)

He MUST be tried for genocide, for crimes against humanity. I really pray he can't manipulate his circumstances to prevent it.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Thanks for the heads up

That man should be hanged.

[Peace Patriot]

4. TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND MAYAN INDIANS were slaughtered in Guatemala

with Reagan's direct complicity, during the period of Rigoberta Menchu's early womanhood and rise as a political organizer. Can you just imagine the courage that this woman must have!

This is why Bush is going to visit Guatemala, to schmooze with the fascists who did it--and to take them large checks of US taxpayers' future money to fund a return of the death squads.

His other stops: Mexico, to schmooze with Calderon on oil, stolen elections and how to destroy the huge democracy movement in southern Mexico and Mexico city. Colombia, biggest check of all for funding death squads ($4 billion). Uruguay (largely European population, leftist government), no doubt to try to stir up race hatred. Brazil, to try to "divide and conquer" South America, and split Lulu (former steelworker, leader of the big third world revolt at the WTO in Cancun several years ago), from the Andean democracies (Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela), and stop the movement toward a South American "Common Market" and common currency (to get off the US dollar). Brazil is a great risk to Bush, as to public protest of his visit. He can't show his face in most South American countries. (He can't even go to Paraguay, where the hugely popular Catholic bishop has given up his priestly office to run for president as an advocate of the poor.) And Lulu has made a point of his friendship and cooperation with Chavez. But the stakes are big for the Corporate Reich--and for Bush, who is despised in his own country, and throughout the world. What lengths would he not go to, and how much of our future money would he not spend, to rip open South American countries to more global corporate predation?

That's his itinerary. That's his agenda. We'll see how far he gets. Meanwhile, Iraq descends into chaos, as our sons and daughters try to hold those oil fields for the Bush Cartel.

The beauty and righteousness of Rigoberta Menchu becoming president of Guatemala cannot be overstated. It's right up there with socialist Michele Batchelet being elected president of Chile--after she and her family were tortured by the US-backed dictator Pinochet, and some of her family were killed. It will be sublime justice.

--------------------------

"The time of the people has come." --Evo Morales

[burrowowl]

15. And may the U$A keep its

DAMN NOSE OUT OF GUATEMALA!

GD Raygun and his present day ILK!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

My Father structured and taught air traffic control at the time for ICAO. It was the time of liberation theology, his students would say to him: "Senor, the Jesuits taught us differtly, what do we do about our parents?". Said elders also wanted my Father to say that a Maryknoller Priest whose plane was shot down while trying to deliver medicine to the Mayans was engine failure. My Father said: "Engine failure due to 50 calibre bullets. Hell NO! I won't say it was an accident!".

[carla]

18. Hi, Peacepatriot...

I hope you won't take this wrong, but the president of Brazil is Lula da Silva, not Lulu...it just seems so distracting from all the truth you write..that, and me being a nominalist.:-)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Good luck to her

!!

[Peace Patriot]

7. War profiteering corporate news monopoly note:

I've noticed, over the last six years, that the International Herald Tribute is a cut above the crap rags we have here. You can actually find good journalism there, objective news and in-depth coverage of important subjects. Anybody else noticed this?

Maybe it's because they have to sell their papers to an international readership (including Europeans who are used to accurate news reporting, and Americans who live outside of the "Iron Curtain" of our corporate news propaganda machine), and they know that that readership will not accept the bull crap that passes for news/opinion here.

I'm not sure of ownership details (on the IHT). Haven't looked into it. Anybody know?

I also noticed AP in that URL. I wonder what the relationship is. (AP is the worst of the worst, especially on Latin American leftists.)

[Judi Lynn]

8. AP is grotesque. They appear to have abolutely no scruples whatsoever.

They've published some pieces so twisted they leave you stunned. Reuters has done some odd things, as well, but nothing like AP, knock on wood.

There is such a dominant tone at AP, a person really would love to know just who the hell is running things there, and if the reporters are knowingly in on it, or if its actually done largely in rewriting on up the line. Even their headlines are designed to convey the hard spin.

Hope someone knows more about IHT. I've noticed, too, they appear to have a broader scope, a lighter touch, seem more generally knowledgeable.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. The IHT is owned by the New York Times

See http://www.ihtinfo.com/pages/ab_about.html

Until 2003 it was co-owned by the Washington Post and NYT.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Never would have guessed. Thanks a lot. n/t

[carla]

17. Owned by the NYT.

Haven't noticed the qualities you mention...

[arikara]

9. Guatemala could do no better

than to elect this compassionate, intelligent, courageous, beautiful woman. The way the Latin American countries are moving, this is totally within the realm of the possible!

Viva Rigoberta!

[roody]

12. k

[otherlander]

14. Good for her.

One could not ask for more of a truthspeaker to lead.

Would she be the first female president of Guatemala?

[Judi Lynn]

19. Menchu seeking to lead Guatemala

Menchu seeking to lead Guatemala
Hector Tobar, Los Angeles Times

Friday, February 23, 2007

Rigoberta Menchu, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and Mayan who has long been a symbol of indigenous pride and defiance, will be a candidate in Guatemala's presidential election.

Menchu, 48, made the announcement to enter the race after meeting late Wednesday with Nineth Montenegro, a respected human rights activist and leader of the Encounter for Guatemala political party.

She will be the new party's candidate in the September vote.

Menchu said she will run as a candidate of reconciliation and unity in a country where political and ethnic divisions have often played out violently. "I am a woman of peace," she said. "We should understand that extremism kills hope."
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/02/23/MNG3FO9MMN1.DTL&type=politics

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rigoberta Menchú's Guatemalan Dream
February 13, 2007



Credit: R. Villalobos

A Nobel Peace Prize laureate prepares to fight for Guatemala’s presidency.

Gabriela Perdomo - After an important electoral year in Latin America, Guatemala emerges as the new battleground for the so-called "shift to the left". Several candidates, including the famous indigenous-rights activist Rigoberta Menchú, will contest the ballot scheduled for the second week of September and draw the line for the Central American country’s future.

The 47-year-old Menchú announced last week she is "determined to seek Guatemala’s presidency" and is finalizing a deal with a newly-formed left-wing political party, Encounter for Guatemala (EPG), which will support her bid. Menchú is a high-profile candidate despite the low numbers granted by voting intention polls conducted before her announcement, and she might have a real chance to win the presidency.

Menchú is a Quiché Mayan with a story to tell. She lived in exile for years due to her involvement in human rights organizations working in favour of the country’s indigenous majority, especially women. Her family was directly victimized by Guatemala’s long civil war and she has worked incessantly to bring several army generals who participated in the massacre of indigenous peoples to justice. The candidate was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. She resides in Guatemala now, where she works with the current government of Óscar Berger and is a United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) goodwill ambassador.

Menchú combines the characteristics of many current outstanding political figures in Latin America. She is a direct descendant of aboriginal peoples in her country, like Bolivia’s new president, Evo Morales; she is a Nobel peace prize laureate, like Costa Rica’s recently-elected president, Oscar Arias; she is also a Latin American woman aspiring to the presidency, just like Chile’s Michelle Bachelet was before winning the election last year. The charismatic candidate, however, has yet to tell how she would deal with Guatemala’s most pressing issues.
(snip/...)

http://www.angus-reid.com/analysis/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/14729