And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: from carol, please distribute WIDELY
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 18:25:04 -0600
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IN MEMORY OF OUR MARTYRS WHO DIED IN GUATEMALA'S ARMED CONFLICT
WE, THE INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLES AFFECTED BY THE WAR,
MAKE KNOWN TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION:
1. This 25th day of February is a day of commemoration, pain and hope for
Indigenous Peoples. We observe this day -- "El Cargador Ajaw Oxlajuj 'E' "
in the Mayan Sacred Calendar -- with much joy and hope because it
symbolizes one more year of life and work. This date has profound meaning
because it coincides with the delivery of the Report of the Truth
Commission. The Mayan ceremonies taking place throughout Guatemala give us
strength as we look forward to the beginning of a new century of hopes and
perspectives for our Peoples.
2. The presentation of the report, "Guatemala: Memory of Silence/TZ'NIL
NA'TAB'AL," symbolizes pain for our Peoples because it recalls one of the
darkest periods of our recent history. But it also symbolizes hope because
we are sure that the Commission's recommendations could be part of a
historic reparation process with our communities. We hope that the report
reflects all of our pain and suffering, as well as our aspirations and
recommendations as the Mayan People, so that justice and balance can be
made real in our country.
3. We understand "compensation" to be the obligation of the state of
Guatemala to repair the damage inflicted on our communities during the
Armed Internal Conflict. It is a right of the victims to receive -- and an
irrefutable obligation of the Government to deliver -- compensation, which
means the recuperation and reconstruction of harmony in the communities and
the cultivation of trust and self-esteem among women, men, elders and
children.
4. Compensation for the events of recent history must benefit the lives of
our children and grandchildren, in such a way that a true conciliation can
be built, based on the identity, cultures, cosmovisions and comprehensive
systems of the Maya, Garifuna and Xinca Peoples. This implies that the
state of Guatemala should allow the Maya People to define their policies
with regard to their organization and participation in the process of
compensation.
5. As organizations and representatives of the Maya People we have proposed
the formation of a Follow-up Commission to the Historic Reparation to the
Victims of the Armed Conflict, to be composed of representatives of civil
society and of the Maya People. The said Commission shall be mandated to
design and execute special policies and programs for the communities
affected by the war. It is essential that the current Government, as well
as the one resulting from the forthcoming elections, allocate the resources
necessary for, and recognize, the political autonomy of the said
Commission.
6. We demand that the Government fully comply with the recommendations of
the Truth Commission and define a clear policy according to the needs and
priorities of the communities in the guaranteeing of national peace and
reconciliation.
7. We ask the international community to support the implementation of the
compensation by guaranteeing that resources for this objective be received
directly by those affected by the Armed Internal Conflict.
8. We call upon all organizations of civil society and the Indigenous
communities affected by the Armed Internal Conflict to organize themselves
and work for the completion of the recommendations of the Truth Commission
so that the heinous acts committed during the war are never repeated.
9. We thank all the people, communities, institutions, organizations and
all the individuals who gave their testimony, because we know that to
recall pain is to undergo a form of psychological torture. We deeply value
the commitment of those who testified to revindicate our loved ones. We
also thank all the members of the Truth Commission for the work done and
for preparing the Report, surely a difficult and complicated task in terms
of identifying and classifying the acts committed during the war.
Finally, we reiterate our commitment to work for and remain vigilant over
the human rights of all Guatemalans, especially those of the Maya People,
and we clarify that, in the next few days, after we have received and
reviewed the Report, "Guatemala: Memory of Silence/TZ' INIL NA' TAB' AL,"
we will make known our opinions with respect to the Report.
They burned up our leaves,
They chopped off our branches,
They cut down our fruits,
But they will never cut off our roots.
Defensoria Maya
Coordinadora Nacional Indigena y Campesina
Asociacion Indigena por el Desarrollo Comunitario AQ' AB' AAL (ASIDECO)
Comunidades de Poblacion en Resistencia-Sierra (CPR)
Colectivo de Jovenes Mayas (COJOM)
Juventud Indigena por la Objeccion de Conciencia
Coordinadora Nacional de Viudas de Guatemala (CONAVIGUA)
IIxim Uleu,
February 24,1999
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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