From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: GUATEMALAN INDIGENOUS WOMAN RECEIVES NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1992 00:12:38 GMT

/** reg.guatemala: 104.0 **/
** Topic: Cerigua Radio - Menchu Wins **
** Written  2:26 pm  Oct 16, 1992 by cerigua in cdp:reg.guatemala **
 
 
CERIGUA Radio Bulletin, Friday, October 16, 1992
 
    GUATEMALAN INDIGENOUS WOMAN RECEIVES NOBEL PEACE PRIZE!
 
 
********** Following is a transcript of a radio news bulletin from the
Guatemalan news agency CERIGUA.  If you use the information in your news
programming, please cite CERIGUA as the source.  If you would like a live
feed by phone or would like more information about CERIGUA's radio
bulletins, please contact us by e-mail or call our Mexico City office at
510-2320 or 510-9061 and ask for Allison Martin.  You may also inquire by
fax (24 hours a day) at 510-9061. **********
 
The winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize is a 33-year-old indigenous
woman from Guatemala.  Her name is Rigoberta Menchu.  Rigoberta is in her
homeland today, celebrating with thousands of her fellow Guatemalans.
But she has spent most of the past decade living in exile.  The winner of
the Nobel Peace Prize is known internationally for her work in defense of
human rights -- especially the rights of indigenous peoples.
 
Rigoberta Menchu was born in a small village in the Guatemalan highlands.
Her native language is Quiche -- one of more than 20 Mayan languages
spoken in Guatemala.  She grew up working in coffee and sugar cane
fields.  As a teenager, she began to work in grassroots community
organizing.
 
Rigoberta fled Guatemala in 1981, after both her parents and two brothers
were murdered.  Rigoberta's father was killed when he and other
indigenous peasants peacefully occupied the Spanish embassy in
Guatemala's capital city.   The peasants were seeking to attract
international attention to massacres committed by the Guatemalan army.
They were burned alive when soldiers set fire to the embassy.  Three
months later Rigobert's mother was tortured and murdered by government
security forces.
 
Although most Guatemalans have enthusiastically supported her candidacy
for the Peace Prize, the international delegation accompanying Rigoberta
in Guatemala this week are concerned for her safety there.  The
Guatemalan army says she doesn't deserve the award, and even last night
the government denied she had a chance of winning.
 
Yesterday Rigoberta led a peace march in the town of Retalhuleu --
thousands of people joined the march and others cheered as Rigoberta
passed by -- but local authorities had prohibited the march and the
electricity was turned off in the building where post-march activities
were scheduled.  An army helicopter flew over the crowd -- a reminder
that the 30-year-old civil war continues in Guatemala.
 
When she received news of the award early this morning, Rigoberta Menchu
said that it's not enough to speak out against war --  the causes of war
must be eliminated.  Rigoberta dedicated the Nobel Peace Prize to
indigenous peoples, to women, and to her parents and brothers who were
murdered.  She says the honor she's received recognizes the struggle of
many who have dared to speak the truth.
 
For ______ News, Allison Martin in Mexico City for the Guatemalan news
agency CERIGUA.

** End of text from cdp:reg.guatemala **

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