Nobel laureate creates hope from anguish

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Rigoberta Menchu Tum Nobel laureate

Menchu - now a Nobel Peace-Prize winner, activist, author and mother - spoke yesterday before more than 1,000 UA students, faculty and community members crammed into the University of Arizona's 600-seat Gallagher Theatre.

Clothed colorfully in traditional Mayan attire, Menchu spoke about issues central but not limited to Latin America, such as conflicts between American Indians and the ruling class.

"We have to break the silence - have allies and dialogues," she said.

Menchu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 for her work in Guatemala as a political activist for human rights and equality for women and indigenous people.

Shortly after winning the peace prize, Menchu set up the Rigoberta Menchu Tum Foundation, with offices in Guatemala City, New York City and Mexico City.

The foundation strives to promote global peace and ethnic, political and cultural diversity.

"Interculture is the destiny of humanity in the future to have respect for the cultures of the planet," Menchu said.

In May 1993, she headed the First International Indigenous Summit in Guatemala, which hosted 25 international leaders. The government responded by shutting down the Guatemalan Congress to impede committee activities, Menchu said.

That same year she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations.

Internationally, Menchu advocates diplomacy in dealing with the 53 civil wars raging worldwide.

As a Guatemalan Indian and woman, Menchu often has been subject to prejudice and criticism.

"I have two labels over my head anywhere I go," she said.

Menchu lived in the shadow of class divisions as a Mayan in Guatemala's 37-year civil war, which ended with peace agreements in December 1996.

The conflict lasted longer than any other Latin American conflict, killing 150,000 - not including 50,000 more who are still unaccounted for and 75,000 refugees to Mexico.

"People do not think about peace until there is war," Menchu said.

Guatemala still suffers more human rights violations than any other country in the Western Hemisphere, she said.

Although peace agreements end wars, they don't address fundamental human conflicts that incite and perpetuate internal strife, Menchu said.

Therefore, she dedicates her life to helping oppressed peoples attain basic liberties and rights.

"Indians live poor and are kept in the ghettos because they do not have the resources and opportunity," Menchu said.

At the age of 19, Rigoberta joined her brothers in the Committee of Peasant Unity in 1978, under the leadership of her father.

"For Indians to get together it takes a big effort," she said.

In 1979, her 16-year-old brother was kidnapped, tortured and burned along with other social reform advocates.

Menchu's father was killed in 1980 while lobbying in Guatemala.

One year later, her mother was kidnapped by government soldiers who raped and beat her, leaving her to die on a hillside.

Menchu fled for her life to Mexico immediately.

"I have met so many people who have died for their ideals," she said. "Remembrance of the conflict has taught us to live in diversity."

While in exile, Menchu worked to increase awareness about indigenous people's oppression at the hands of landowning elites and totalitarian government.

Meanwhile, the discovery of oil in 1981 further fanned the flames between Indians protecting their natural environment and the government.

The destruction of homes because of drilling led to an increase of Indian soldiers in the guerrilla movement.

Still, Menchu recognizes positive changes evolving slowly.

Development, educational reform, allowing Mayan ceremonies once considered illegal and some Indian representation in government are signs of progress, she said.

The remaining challenge is reconstruction, she said, and the Menchu foundation is working to relocate people displaced in the civil strife, rebuild houses and initiate education and other reforms.

"The most important thing now is that we exist in the political debate, talk and create ethnic ties," she said. "If we are integrated in our hearts, there will be no place for intolerance -humanity will have fewer struggles."

UA President Peter Likins, who attended the speech, said the university was fortunate to host Menchu.

"Rigoberta burst upon the world scene with the recognition of her Nobel Prize, and few have had the chance to hear her speak," Likins said.

Because of Hurricane Mitch's devastating activity in Central America, UA officials worried Menchu would not be able to make the flight to Arizona, said Diana Liverman, director of Latin American studies.

"We worked so hard to get her to come speak," said Latin American studies administrative assistant Rosita Peralta. "When she walked into the reception room I was speechless."

Geography and biology senior Matt Iles said Menchu's message is universal.

"I thought Menchu expressed her view in a common global language," he said. "It was really inspiring."

Genevieve D. Cruise can be reached via e-mail at Genevieve.D.Cruise@wildcat.arizona.edu.