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Title: GUATEMALA: MENCHU CALLS FOR JUST, DEMOCRATIC, MULTIETHNIC NATION
guatemala, dec 21 (ips) -- rigoberta menchu, the 1992 nobel
peace prize winner, has called on guatemalans to build a just,
democratic and sovereign nation which recognizes its multi-ethnic
and pluricultural character.
she made the call sunday at a ceremony in the ''kaminal juyu''
archeological centre, at which she urged her nine million
compatriots to build a country ''in which there are opportunities
for everyone and where justice and peace are not an unattainable
aspiration.''
the nobel laureate has been living in exile in mexico since
1981.
she arrived here on saturday to spend christmas with her
family and to share with her compatriots the international
recognition awarded to the efforts to achieve peace in the
central american country, in which she has played a decisive
role.
at a press conference saturday, she said she would not bring
the nobel medal and parchment, which she deposited at a museum in
mexico on friday, to guatemala until there are full guarantees
for the respect of human rights in her native land.
she also said that ''amerindians and ladinos (whites) must
learn to live together in guatemala,'' in 1993, the international
year of the rights of indigenous peoples.
the guatemalan government and the leaders of the national
guatemalan revolutionary unit (urng) in april began peace talks
aimed at resolving three decades of armed internal conflict which
has claimed over 100,000 lives, mainly those of amerindians.
menchu said sunday that the civilian society ''must also
ensure that its voice is heard'' in the negotiations.
addressing hundreds of representatives of humanitarian and
grassroots organizations, she also declared the ''kaminal juyu''
archaeological park a ''patrimony of peace.''
menchu said that, in a country where over half the population
is of mayan origin, amerindian culture should be respected so
that ''we do not become silent witnesses of the destruction of
the heritage of our forefathers.''
she also highlighted the need to come up with solutions for
the landlessness which affects guatemala's indigenous peoples.
''it is necessary for ownership of land to stop being a luxury
enjoyed by a few and be a necessary good for the progress and
happiness of all guatemalans,'' she stressed. (more)
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guatemala's amerindians, who have traditionally been peasants,
own a mere three percent of the land in their country.
the nobel laureate was received by representatives of
grassroots and humanitarian organizations, as well as diplomats
from a number of countries, on her arrival here saturday.
she was also welcomed by presidential secretary for political
affairs, daniel aleman, and sara tercero of the official human
rights commission, representing the government.
but people close to menchu described her reception by the
guatemalan government as ''cold,'' when compared to the honours
with which she was received by mexican president carlos salinas.
and no guatemalan government official attended the dec. 10
presentation ceremony in oslo, norway, at which she received the
nobel award.
while in guatemala, where she will remain until dec. 26,
menchu will meet with government officials as well as
representatives of humanitarian bodies and participate in a forum
on the peace negotiations. (end/ips/trd/so/ff-in/kb/92)
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