Activist for Peace and Human Rights
Nobel Peace Prize 1992
On Rigoberta Menchu \u200b\u200bTum
descendant of the ancient Maya-Quiche culture, this woman was born in Chimel, Guatemala, in 1959. As a child he worked in the fields, and later was a maid in the city, where he met injustice, discrimination and poverty that afflicts the natives of their country.
never received formal education, but was always a special ability to lead with intelligence to their Indian brothers, which earned him the persecution of the repressive forces in Guatemala and Mexico from exile in 1980. Before leaving, many members of his own family, including her mother were tortured, raped and murdered.
From exile he devoted his life to defending and promoting the rights and values \u200b\u200bof indigenous peoples of America. In his book "I, Rigoberta Menchu" recounted his struggle, and in 1992 was the Nobel Peace Prize for his continuous efforts of his brothers submitted. Rigoberta Menchu \u200b\u200bis the first indigenous woman to receive this laurel.
The United Nations was named Goodwill Ambassador for the International Year of Indigenous Peoples (1993), and adviser to the Director General of UNESCO and President of the Indigenous Initiative for Peace.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Charter Rigoberta Menchu \u200b\u200bTum of the President of the United States
September 30 2001
To Mr. George W.
Bush President of the United States of America
Washington, DC - U.S.
Excellency Mr. President:
wish, first, to reiterate to you solidarity and condolence expressed to all his people on Tuesday, 11 last, after learning the painful events in their country and share my outrage and condemnation of the threats posed by these acts of terrorism.
In recent days I've been watching the developments, pledging my best trades in which the response to these events is the reflection, not obsecación, the wisdom, not anger, the seek justice, not revenge. He raised the consciousness of the peoples of the world, the media, to the eminent personalities with whom I share an ethical commitment to peace, to heads of state and leaders of international organizations, to enlighten our sanity acts. However, Mr President, listening Last night the message to the U.S. Congress, I could not suppress a feeling of fear about what can be deduced from his words. You called his people to prepare for "a long campaign and we have not ever seen any other", and its military to save his pride, marching to a war that seeks to become part of all peoples of the world.
name of progress, pluralism, tolerance and freedom, you do not leave any option for those who do not have the joy of sharing the feeling of freedom and the fruits of civilization that you want . defend his people, and who never had sympathy with terrorism and who were his victims. Who we are proud expressions of other civilizations, who live day to day with the hope of making discrimination and dispossession in recognition and respect, who we have in the soul the pain of the genocide perpetrated against our people, who, finally, we tired of putting the dead in foreign wars, we can not share the arrogance of his infallibility and unambiguous way that you want to push when he says that "all nations in all regions should now take a decision: Either you are with us or with terrorists. "
At the beginning of this year, I invited men and women on the planet to share a Code of Ethics for claiming Millennium Peace: No Peace No Justice No Justice if there is no equity. There will be no Development Equity if no development if there will be no democracy if democracy there is no respect for the Identity and Dignity of Peoples and Cultures.
In today's world, these are all very small values \u200b\u200band practices, however, the uneven way they are distributed only serves to feed the helplessness, hopelessness and hatred. The role of your country in the current world order is far from neutral. Last night we were expecting a Message wise, thoughtful and self but what I heard was an unacceptable threat. I agree with you that "the course of this conflict is not known, but when ruling that" the result is true, "the only certainty that comes over me is a new and gigantic useless sacrifice, that of a new colossal lie.
Before you give the command "fire", I would like to invite you to think in a different world leadership, which does not need to win but to convince, in which the human species can show that in the last thousand years we have overcome the sense of "eye for an eye" justice was for the barbarians who plunged the humanity in the Dark Ages, where you do not need new crusades to learn to respect those who have a different idea of \u200b\u200bGod and the work of his creation, in which jointly share the fruits of progress, better care for the remaining resources on the planet and no child lacks a bread and a school.
With hope in a thread, compliments
Tum
Nobel Peace Prize
Goodwill Ambassador for the Culture of Peace
Source: http://globalresearch.ca/articles/MEN109B.html
H 96 - March 29, 2002
is time to take responsible and conscious actions that will lead us to truly multi-ethnic nation-building, multicultural and multilingual intercultural relations which are based on tolerance and full respect for the cultural rights of indigenous and non indigenous nations where there is justice and development options for all , freedom and real democracy for all, respect for the culture of each and full exercise of human rights.
Tum message to mark the International Day of Indigenous Peoples
On 9 August International Day of Indigenous Peoples declared by the Organization of the United Nations in its resolution A/49 of December 12, 1994. The International Day has a deeper meaning, it is the product of protracted struggles of indigenous peoples to regain their historical memory, breaking the silence, to improve their living conditions and assert their economic, political, social and cultural rights.
On the eve of the third millennium, when uncertainty is rife everywhere, indigenous peoples are flourishing of life and hope. In many countries have become key players become new processes that are sowing the seeds of a future multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual, which is the guarantee of a peaceful and harmonious coexistence of these plural society. Through a multiplicity of initiatives and innovative proposals, has been gestating and consolidating a full and dignified participation of indigenous peoples in various aspects of the internal life of their countries. Particular deserves mention that they are achieving increasing prominence in the political arena, on the basis of an action based on the rescue of ethical and civic dignity, with alternatives and proposals that seek to address both local and national issues. These achievements are still possible because native peoples are striving to seek unity with common goals and objectives. Although we persist in the idea of \u200b\u200bdivide and foster confrontation between indigenous people, with each passing day we get to beat the disunity and strengthen our unity. It is true that a long way to go, but we are progressing steadily.
The International Day is an occasion to strongly condemn the gross and systematic violations of the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples, even affecting the right to life. In some countries, indigenous peoples are threatened with extinction, while others suffer from starvation, and in general have not been able to eliminate the conditions of marginalization, segregation, oppression and racism of which they are victims.
This situation can not continue. Today is International Day of Indigenous Peoples, I call upon public opinion condemn and punish international all types of abuse against indigenous peoples, all human rights violation, any attack on their dignity. We must not allow the silence surrounding the attacks continue to remain under.
also call on all governments and I demand to move from declarations of intentions into action to give full effect to its commitments to the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples, which was proclaimed by the United Nations in December 1994 for the purpose of finding viable solutions to old problems of indigenous peoples. In this sense, governments have an urgent responsibility to promote projects that strengthen and promote actions and initiatives of indigenous peoples and institutions to resolve the problems they face. It is also urgent for States to ratify and comply with various international instruments on the rights of indigenous peoples.
is time to take responsible and conscious actions that will lead us to the construction of nations truly multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual intercultural relations which are based on tolerance and full respect for cultural rights indigenous and non indigenous nations where there is justice and options development for all, freedom and real democracial for all, respect for culture and full enjoyment of all human rights.
take the International Day to salute the efforts and initiatives of indigenous peoples to solve their local problems and their contributions to the solution of national problems, and continue on Urging path of unity and determination to pass on to future generations a world in which peace is not just a dream.
Tum
Nobel Peace Prize
Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO.
Quito, Ecuador, August 9, 1996.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Letter
Rigoberta Menchú
Who listens to the Indians?
In the last twenty years I have covered all countries with indigenous peoples. And everywhere I found the same reality: no one wants to give voice. Among the Indians there are technical, officials, scientists and all are marginalized in their countries.
There is a scattered people in the world has no say in anything. However, there are many who want to speak for us are, perhaps, anthropologists and therefore think they know everything about indigenous peoples. But there just is not true what they say, but this is a form of racism. For twenty years is discussed at the UN in a joint declaration of indigenous peoples: not yet came to nothing. And many times, as was discussed in New York, in these countries, as in my Guatemala, was consummated the genocide, deportation and destruction of the village. Europe also has its indigenous and they have no voice. I know the Sami, the Inuit know: fighting for their identity but who listens? Herri Maga is a Sami living in Norway, is to defend the identity of the Sami people: anyone ever heard him?
Respect. What we ask is above all respect. Respect for and leaders of indigenous movements, people who managed to overcome the difficulties they encountered, who survived the genocide and exodus. I was recently in Canada: the Cree, indigenous to these lands, were stripped of everything by multinational companies who are cutting down forests. Currently there are eight of these firms at work. There we could see what he is doing nothing more than one of these companies: in one year by a cleared forest area of \u200b\u200bover one million two hundred thousand square meters, so that it will take two or three hundred years for the land to regain its natural rhythm.
why our request includes respect for nature, as for indigenous peoples is a sacred place: all nature is sacred to us and to our identity. Encourage respect for human rights. Because globalization never deal with them.
I come from a deeply rich continent, but where the majority of the population never receive anything from the use of raw materials that occur therein. And where there is poverty, the risk is always strong dictatorships. We therefore call spaces of democracy and dialogue. Because they must think about the danger of not giving voice to the problems of those living on the land.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Heiress millenarian village
Rigoberta Menchú
I think there is a profound difference between what are indigenous peoples, minorities as such and the vulnerable. When we talk about ethnic minorities, we are talking about a very broad concept. Beginning with the religious and cultural diversity that can exist in Asian countries, African countries and also in the countries of Eastern Europe. It is people that actually have different origin and other characteristics of indigenous peoples. Naturally, we must listen to and meet these people to meet their demands. But many governments believe that argue or distort the discussion on indigenous issues and mix with the issue of ethnic minorities is a way to delay legislative progress on the rights of indigenous peoples, United Nations or regional governmental bodies, as the European Union or in the same Organization of American States. In this way, they avoid the spread of recognition and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and minority rights.
In America, indigenous peoples have understood by those who Christopher Columbus mistook for the people of India for over five hundred years. Indigenous peoples are also those which stressed the colonization of a precise or those where colonization has not ended. For example, the brothers still live Pacific colonization, so we could regard them as indigenous peoples or indigenous peoples. Here in this great continent of ours, does not take much study to know who is indigenous and how indigenous people.
I think the right of minorities goes far beyond a cyclical demand, economic or political. Looks like a religious claim. Has characteristics that have been creating some aspects of its identity. But to address the issue of minorities must take into account a set of ratings for concrete realities. You need to have the ability to recognize that it is a broad topic, serious, deep and complex. This is not a mere academic definition. In recent years, minorities are growing because we live in capitalist society is a society fragmented national unity. The society is increasingly marginalized. Then comes a time when it is not only religious but ethnic content of resistance and survival against an inclusive society. I mean that in many parts of the world increases the proliferation of new religious movements, ideological and political divide to treat large populations in small sects and small breeds. People make a weapon of diversity facing the natural process of harmonious relations between diversity and national unity. It is a reality that we know very well in America, where new religious currents are experienced imposing the specific purpose of fragmenting society, to divide among themselves. Minorities in order to implement a series of institutionalized repression mechanisms to achieve dominance over the majority.
When it comes to minorities in Guatemala would have to locate exactly who are the minority sectors. We can speak not only for a minority that already commonplace, ie the vulnerable: street children, disabled, blind and deaf, the war disabled, widows, victims, the poorest the poor, religious sects, those affected by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and others. These minorities are those of ethnic groups. Minorities could be related to a majority population affected by war, by the profound economic, political, cultural and social.
When we talk about indigenous peoples are not talking about the fragmentation of society. We are talking about the ancient cultures that were created as part of the great civilizations that gave birth to our humanity, and today, ending the century, are integral to the essence of Guatemala. Ethnic and cultural diversity is the nature of Guatemala. The most vulnerable part of many struggles minorities have in common with people Indians. Are misunderstood. are marginalized, are underestimated, are repressed. They have a much more valid than any other sector, because the discrimination suffered by indigenous peoples also live who are vulnerable and minorities, because the contempt that indigenous peoples live so live every marginalized in society, and desire to get a new legal order is also a demand from the discrimination. I think the struggles are common. Women, indigenous people and minorities in the world should be quite close in the fight for common interests. We should be actors who embrace these struggles because we are the same consequences of racism, discrimination, exploitation and misrepresentation of our own reality.
I refuse to discuss the issue of indigenous peoples within the framework of ethnic minorities. There is a difference between a minority and an indigenous or ancient that has an ancient culture, which has a worldview, which has a philosophy of life that is rooted in history. A religious minority can have a philosophy of belief but does not necessarily have the root of a millennium village and an ancient culture. Particularly when minorities are largely a product of the deep problems through humanity. The Maya are part of the great ancient civilizations of the world. We are part of the first nations. We are not an ethnic or religious minority. To a large extent the capitalist system who produces minorities. More and more minorities come on earth, but many of them have no historical roots. Often it is a common way to resist, defend themselves, to survive together, to struggle together for a common ideal. The problems have gone away and humans need to set goals to achieve our ideals. It would be unfair not to speak of the immigrants, for example, that a minority with specific rights. Aboriginal peoples have other laws and other standards that enable their existence. Aware that they are not the same thing, indigenous peoples and minorities should fight together, especially in this century marked by an economic crisis that promotes the recovery of attitudes and racist and neo-fascist organizations.
One of the peculiarities that distinguish the indigenous peoples of ethnic minorities is the development of a thought to the earth. An ethnic minority may be concentrated in urban areas or anywhere without necessarily being a member of a collective or community as such, while an ancient people built their thinking in relation to the universe: earth, sea, sky, the cosmos. Takes a community to its existence and is the community that ensures the continuity of the transmission of his thought to the generations. Mother Earth is not merely a symbolic expansion. A source. Is the root. Is the origin of our culture and our existence. The human being needs of the Earth and the Earth needs of human beings. Balanced coexistence on Earth is what has been undermined. According to the testimony of our elders, ancient civilizations, the first nations to possess these values. In all aspects of life there must always be a balance and one of the most important sources of balance is the community.
is precisely what has been Period today. The people on Earth no longer remember that Earth is his mother. Most humans and only think about your body and not think of your soul. I no longer remember that due to the community. No longer agree that the Earth is the source of so much energy and so much wealth. Then there has been an estrangement. We are human beings that we do not need arrogant Earth. It does not feel it needs the other and only their talents. Or just plain forget that the Earth exists and we do not agree that the Earth is a collective heritage. The community does not necessarily have to be a village or a big village, for community comes from a group of people you need each other to live. So I think this can generate a very important debate. If there is imbalance, it is natural that produce serious consequences such as the existence of individualism, war, cruelty, intolerance, racism, ignorance. All wars have a cause: imbalances and mismatches living our humanity. Currently, the Earth has a purely material sense. In our America, in Guatemala in particular, the Earth has a lucrative way for those who have monopolized it. Have stripped it to its people. The eviction and intimidation caused the earth to stay in a few hands and the earth then just exploded business sense. In Guatemala there are two types of relationship with the earth: those who monopolize it for purely material and those who see her as our mother, the origin of life and the source of our thinking.
Our grandparents were very wise to find too many years ago that the Earth was a serious risk to chemical experiments. What they were doing was to produce an alteration of the natural order, somehow, would have to be painful for future generations. Arrangements are needed that transcend beyond the governors beyond the powers. Agreements and solutions are needed applicable and feasible urgently to save the Earth from destruction. A concrete commitment to the Earth being saved from the greed of man and woman. That, then, be at the service of the natural rhythm of our humanity. Not only the Indians were born on Earth. All humanity originated on Earth. It was born. As mankind is subject to their own progress, also undermines the integrity of the knowledge of the Earth. Also completely forgets the safety of their generations. Most Indian scientists know the extent of problems and risks faced by the Earth, but they say it with energy so people do not care and not struggle to regain balance.
Source: http://www.cord.edu/faculty/gargurev/menchu.htm
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Tum Letter to the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Dear Madam Mary Robinson:
A few days ago, I received from you a cordial invitation to join a group of eminent persons under the patronage of HE. Mr Nelson Mandela, to promote and raise awareness of the importance of achieving real progress in the fight against racism in Durban and to develop an action program that includes practical measures to promote tolerance and respect for diversity. Reasons beyond my control prevent me from accompanying you and this select group of personalities in the planned activities under the 3 rd PrepCom that starts today in Geneva. However, I do wish to express my personal views about the difficulties facing the Conference and the issues that motivate, thanking you want to share these reflections with colleagues who have the opportunity to attend this event.
As I expressed in our conversation a year ago today, I saw in the 3rd World Conference against Racism an opportunity to return to the scene of the United Nations, seeking to revive the hope for so many years I led them to look at various mechanisms receptive ears, recognition and respect for indigenous peoples and our rights.
I'm not oblivious to the advances that the struggle of our peoples and the continued presence of a select group of leaders and representatives Indians have been able to realize in various fields of international affairs. However, these developments seem to lose significance at the continued refusal of some states and other international actors to recognize Indigenous Peoples as they have been for millennia and are today, people with full ability to determine freely, with a cultural background and value they bring to humanity ever more confused about their common destiny, becoming less supportive and aware of its responsibility in preserving the natural balance, and increasingly impotent against a minority that believes it can impose its designs at the expense of welfare and General dignity.
In today's world our presence defies the unfulfilled promise of the United Nations system to end the colonial regimes that subjugated peoples and created our shameful institutions of slavery and servitude. It has established a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its construction are now more fears and doubts than certainties and hopes. At this point it seems clear that there will be Indigenous Peoples Forum which had demanded the opening of the International Decade proclaimed in our name, as subjects of rights we are denied in all other areas and as a platform from which we can build on the peer group of construction a world of intercultural respect and dignity. The UN system has not been able even to organize a consultation process appropriate and transparent to allow us to rely on pluralism, representativeness and independence of the Forum. If there are no resources or to arrange a consultation, what can we expect to operate this space on so many expectations that weigh?
More recently, it has created a Special Rapporteur on violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of our peoples, but is still boasting the intrinsic inability of Indians to practice such responsibility as if we were not able even to recognize and defend our rights.
And now it is about recognizing our significance in the contemporary agenda of racism, discrimination and intolerance. On the one hand, it continues to mean the recognition of the responsibilities of the colonial process and the persistence of a legacy that continues to perpetuate the forms of exclusion and contempt that we were subjected to extermination minorization and exploitation that have shaped our current invisibility, denial of our existence and, thus, still suffer discrimination. Furthermore, we continue to victimize and considered as a vulnerable, disabled actor, without the tutelage of the neocolonial state thought us doomed to extinction. In discussing the latter documents Preparatory Committee did not set out the essence of the demands that have reiterated our peoples in all preparatory meetings and can be summarized in respect to our existence as peoples, recognition of our historical contribution to the development of humanity and our right to sustainable development, good and fair, with full access and control of our territories and resources.
recognize that, while Humanity is now in a position to confront their real problems and their socio-historical traumas like never before in the past, there are many causes that demand urgent attention and threaten global peace. However, we face the threat that the wealth of this Conference lies in the diversity of its agenda to be subordinated to the need for a political agreement on the burning issues of the moment.
Indigenous peoples are not willing to make our historical claims are, once again, warped and auctioned. We will pay to provide coverage to an agreement that would facilitate the Conference at the expense of our dignity and our rights. We do not recognize anyone's right to crop or condition our requirements and, with them, social movements and millions of men and women who suffer discrimination on multiple grounds and that they expect from this conference a clear and strong word against immobility and impunity.
Indigenous peoples can not be indifferent to recent manifestations of environmental racism and the refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol by the main pollutant of the world power, while humanity requires a paradigm production and consumption absolutely untenable, and indigenous peoples that we convert our territories waste sinks a way of life that we are not responsible and would never share.
In other business, being the first Conference of the post-apartheid, not only incomprehensible reluctance to recognize the historical events of the past but which now become new forms of slavery and devastation of human dignity. As an example, I mention the unjust international order imposed more than four fifths of the population that is causing a cross-border mobility never seen before in the history of civilizations. Ignorance of the cultural dimension This phenomenon, which is already the second largest in the international transfers of foreign currency after oil, is simply unacceptable. Migrants, documented or not, are human beings with rights, and these are still unknown, and overwhelmed daily by both institutional policies of receiving states as for transnational mafias are becoming caused despair in the absence of opportunities for millions of people on all continents and in many cases, their own lives in a multimillion dollar business as dirty and inhuman as any of the ignominious regimes of old, with the aggravating circumstance in this case are the victims of this traffic who pay for their slavery.
Mrs. Robinson, you urged us to promote a strong statement and a program of practical action and measurable, including a mechanism for assessing compliance with the targets by governments. From what I can see from the documents which were negotiated in the last preparatory event, we face the risk of another failure if the responsibility for providing leadership in this conference a commitment to the humanization of the future are not even able to call a spade a his name.
With best wishes, I greet you warmly.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Nobel Peace Prize 1992
On Rigoberta Menchu \u200b\u200bTum
descendant of the ancient Maya-Quiche culture, this woman was born in Chimel, Guatemala, in 1959. As a child he worked in the fields, and later was a maid in the city, where he met injustice, discrimination and poverty that afflicts the natives of their country.
never received formal education, but was always a special ability to lead with intelligence to their Indian brothers, which earned him the persecution of the repressive forces in Guatemala and Mexico from exile in 1980. Before leaving, many members of his own family, including her mother were tortured, raped and murdered.
From exile he devoted his life to defending and promoting the rights and values \u200b\u200bof indigenous peoples of America. In his book "I, Rigoberta Menchu" recounted his struggle, and in 1992 was the Nobel Peace Prize for his continuous efforts of his brothers submitted. Rigoberta Menchu \u200b\u200bis the first indigenous woman to receive this laurel.
The United Nations was named Goodwill Ambassador for the International Year of Indigenous Peoples (1993), and adviser to the Director General of UNESCO and President of the Indigenous Initiative for Peace.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Charter Rigoberta Menchu \u200b\u200bTum of the President of the United States
September 30 2001
To Mr. George W.
Bush President of the United States of America
Washington, DC - U.S.
Excellency Mr. President:
wish, first, to reiterate to you solidarity and condolence expressed to all his people on Tuesday, 11 last, after learning the painful events in their country and share my outrage and condemnation of the threats posed by these acts of terrorism.
In recent days I've been watching the developments, pledging my best trades in which the response to these events is the reflection, not obsecación, the wisdom, not anger, the seek justice, not revenge. He raised the consciousness of the peoples of the world, the media, to the eminent personalities with whom I share an ethical commitment to peace, to heads of state and leaders of international organizations, to enlighten our sanity acts. However, Mr President, listening Last night the message to the U.S. Congress, I could not suppress a feeling of fear about what can be deduced from his words. You called his people to prepare for "a long campaign and we have not ever seen any other", and its military to save his pride, marching to a war that seeks to become part of all peoples of the world.
name of progress, pluralism, tolerance and freedom, you do not leave any option for those who do not have the joy of sharing the feeling of freedom and the fruits of civilization that you want . defend his people, and who never had sympathy with terrorism and who were his victims. Who we are proud expressions of other civilizations, who live day to day with the hope of making discrimination and dispossession in recognition and respect, who we have in the soul the pain of the genocide perpetrated against our people, who, finally, we tired of putting the dead in foreign wars, we can not share the arrogance of his infallibility and unambiguous way that you want to push when he says that "all nations in all regions should now take a decision: Either you are with us or with terrorists. "
At the beginning of this year, I invited men and women on the planet to share a Code of Ethics for claiming Millennium Peace: No Peace No Justice No Justice if there is no equity. There will be no Development Equity if no development if there will be no democracy if democracy there is no respect for the Identity and Dignity of Peoples and Cultures.
In today's world, these are all very small values \u200b\u200band practices, however, the uneven way they are distributed only serves to feed the helplessness, hopelessness and hatred. The role of your country in the current world order is far from neutral. Last night we were expecting a Message wise, thoughtful and self but what I heard was an unacceptable threat. I agree with you that "the course of this conflict is not known, but when ruling that" the result is true, "the only certainty that comes over me is a new and gigantic useless sacrifice, that of a new colossal lie.
Before you give the command "fire", I would like to invite you to think in a different world leadership, which does not need to win but to convince, in which the human species can show that in the last thousand years we have overcome the sense of "eye for an eye" justice was for the barbarians who plunged the humanity in the Dark Ages, where you do not need new crusades to learn to respect those who have a different idea of \u200b\u200bGod and the work of his creation, in which jointly share the fruits of progress, better care for the remaining resources on the planet and no child lacks a bread and a school.
With hope in a thread, compliments
Tum
Nobel Peace Prize
Goodwill Ambassador for the Culture of Peace
Source: http://globalresearch.ca/articles/MEN109B.html
H 96 - March 29, 2002
is time to take responsible and conscious actions that will lead us to truly multi-ethnic nation-building, multicultural and multilingual intercultural relations which are based on tolerance and full respect for the cultural rights of indigenous and non indigenous nations where there is justice and development options for all , freedom and real democracy for all, respect for the culture of each and full exercise of human rights.
Tum message to mark the International Day of Indigenous Peoples
On 9 August International Day of Indigenous Peoples declared by the Organization of the United Nations in its resolution A/49 of December 12, 1994. The International Day has a deeper meaning, it is the product of protracted struggles of indigenous peoples to regain their historical memory, breaking the silence, to improve their living conditions and assert their economic, political, social and cultural rights.
On the eve of the third millennium, when uncertainty is rife everywhere, indigenous peoples are flourishing of life and hope. In many countries have become key players become new processes that are sowing the seeds of a future multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual, which is the guarantee of a peaceful and harmonious coexistence of these plural society. Through a multiplicity of initiatives and innovative proposals, has been gestating and consolidating a full and dignified participation of indigenous peoples in various aspects of the internal life of their countries. Particular deserves mention that they are achieving increasing prominence in the political arena, on the basis of an action based on the rescue of ethical and civic dignity, with alternatives and proposals that seek to address both local and national issues. These achievements are still possible because native peoples are striving to seek unity with common goals and objectives. Although we persist in the idea of \u200b\u200bdivide and foster confrontation between indigenous people, with each passing day we get to beat the disunity and strengthen our unity. It is true that a long way to go, but we are progressing steadily.
The International Day is an occasion to strongly condemn the gross and systematic violations of the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples, even affecting the right to life. In some countries, indigenous peoples are threatened with extinction, while others suffer from starvation, and in general have not been able to eliminate the conditions of marginalization, segregation, oppression and racism of which they are victims.
This situation can not continue. Today is International Day of Indigenous Peoples, I call upon public opinion condemn and punish international all types of abuse against indigenous peoples, all human rights violation, any attack on their dignity. We must not allow the silence surrounding the attacks continue to remain under.
also call on all governments and I demand to move from declarations of intentions into action to give full effect to its commitments to the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples, which was proclaimed by the United Nations in December 1994 for the purpose of finding viable solutions to old problems of indigenous peoples. In this sense, governments have an urgent responsibility to promote projects that strengthen and promote actions and initiatives of indigenous peoples and institutions to resolve the problems they face. It is also urgent for States to ratify and comply with various international instruments on the rights of indigenous peoples.
is time to take responsible and conscious actions that will lead us to the construction of nations truly multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual intercultural relations which are based on tolerance and full respect for cultural rights indigenous and non indigenous nations where there is justice and options development for all, freedom and real democracial for all, respect for culture and full enjoyment of all human rights.
take the International Day to salute the efforts and initiatives of indigenous peoples to solve their local problems and their contributions to the solution of national problems, and continue on Urging path of unity and determination to pass on to future generations a world in which peace is not just a dream.
Tum
Nobel Peace Prize
Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO.
Quito, Ecuador, August 9, 1996.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Letter
Rigoberta Menchú
Who listens to the Indians?
In the last twenty years I have covered all countries with indigenous peoples. And everywhere I found the same reality: no one wants to give voice. Among the Indians there are technical, officials, scientists and all are marginalized in their countries.
There is a scattered people in the world has no say in anything. However, there are many who want to speak for us are, perhaps, anthropologists and therefore think they know everything about indigenous peoples. But there just is not true what they say, but this is a form of racism. For twenty years is discussed at the UN in a joint declaration of indigenous peoples: not yet came to nothing. And many times, as was discussed in New York, in these countries, as in my Guatemala, was consummated the genocide, deportation and destruction of the village. Europe also has its indigenous and they have no voice. I know the Sami, the Inuit know: fighting for their identity but who listens? Herri Maga is a Sami living in Norway, is to defend the identity of the Sami people: anyone ever heard him?
Respect. What we ask is above all respect. Respect for and leaders of indigenous movements, people who managed to overcome the difficulties they encountered, who survived the genocide and exodus. I was recently in Canada: the Cree, indigenous to these lands, were stripped of everything by multinational companies who are cutting down forests. Currently there are eight of these firms at work. There we could see what he is doing nothing more than one of these companies: in one year by a cleared forest area of \u200b\u200bover one million two hundred thousand square meters, so that it will take two or three hundred years for the land to regain its natural rhythm.
why our request includes respect for nature, as for indigenous peoples is a sacred place: all nature is sacred to us and to our identity. Encourage respect for human rights. Because globalization never deal with them.
I come from a deeply rich continent, but where the majority of the population never receive anything from the use of raw materials that occur therein. And where there is poverty, the risk is always strong dictatorships. We therefore call spaces of democracy and dialogue. Because they must think about the danger of not giving voice to the problems of those living on the land.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Heiress millenarian village
Rigoberta Menchú
I think there is a profound difference between what are indigenous peoples, minorities as such and the vulnerable. When we talk about ethnic minorities, we are talking about a very broad concept. Beginning with the religious and cultural diversity that can exist in Asian countries, African countries and also in the countries of Eastern Europe. It is people that actually have different origin and other characteristics of indigenous peoples. Naturally, we must listen to and meet these people to meet their demands. But many governments believe that argue or distort the discussion on indigenous issues and mix with the issue of ethnic minorities is a way to delay legislative progress on the rights of indigenous peoples, United Nations or regional governmental bodies, as the European Union or in the same Organization of American States. In this way, they avoid the spread of recognition and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and minority rights.
In America, indigenous peoples have understood by those who Christopher Columbus mistook for the people of India for over five hundred years. Indigenous peoples are also those which stressed the colonization of a precise or those where colonization has not ended. For example, the brothers still live Pacific colonization, so we could regard them as indigenous peoples or indigenous peoples. Here in this great continent of ours, does not take much study to know who is indigenous and how indigenous people.
I think the right of minorities goes far beyond a cyclical demand, economic or political. Looks like a religious claim. Has characteristics that have been creating some aspects of its identity. But to address the issue of minorities must take into account a set of ratings for concrete realities. You need to have the ability to recognize that it is a broad topic, serious, deep and complex. This is not a mere academic definition. In recent years, minorities are growing because we live in capitalist society is a society fragmented national unity. The society is increasingly marginalized. Then comes a time when it is not only religious but ethnic content of resistance and survival against an inclusive society. I mean that in many parts of the world increases the proliferation of new religious movements, ideological and political divide to treat large populations in small sects and small breeds. People make a weapon of diversity facing the natural process of harmonious relations between diversity and national unity. It is a reality that we know very well in America, where new religious currents are experienced imposing the specific purpose of fragmenting society, to divide among themselves. Minorities in order to implement a series of institutionalized repression mechanisms to achieve dominance over the majority.
When it comes to minorities in Guatemala would have to locate exactly who are the minority sectors. We can speak not only for a minority that already commonplace, ie the vulnerable: street children, disabled, blind and deaf, the war disabled, widows, victims, the poorest the poor, religious sects, those affected by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and others. These minorities are those of ethnic groups. Minorities could be related to a majority population affected by war, by the profound economic, political, cultural and social.
When we talk about indigenous peoples are not talking about the fragmentation of society. We are talking about the ancient cultures that were created as part of the great civilizations that gave birth to our humanity, and today, ending the century, are integral to the essence of Guatemala. Ethnic and cultural diversity is the nature of Guatemala. The most vulnerable part of many struggles minorities have in common with people Indians. Are misunderstood. are marginalized, are underestimated, are repressed. They have a much more valid than any other sector, because the discrimination suffered by indigenous peoples also live who are vulnerable and minorities, because the contempt that indigenous peoples live so live every marginalized in society, and desire to get a new legal order is also a demand from the discrimination. I think the struggles are common. Women, indigenous people and minorities in the world should be quite close in the fight for common interests. We should be actors who embrace these struggles because we are the same consequences of racism, discrimination, exploitation and misrepresentation of our own reality.
I refuse to discuss the issue of indigenous peoples within the framework of ethnic minorities. There is a difference between a minority and an indigenous or ancient that has an ancient culture, which has a worldview, which has a philosophy of life that is rooted in history. A religious minority can have a philosophy of belief but does not necessarily have the root of a millennium village and an ancient culture. Particularly when minorities are largely a product of the deep problems through humanity. The Maya are part of the great ancient civilizations of the world. We are part of the first nations. We are not an ethnic or religious minority. To a large extent the capitalist system who produces minorities. More and more minorities come on earth, but many of them have no historical roots. Often it is a common way to resist, defend themselves, to survive together, to struggle together for a common ideal. The problems have gone away and humans need to set goals to achieve our ideals. It would be unfair not to speak of the immigrants, for example, that a minority with specific rights. Aboriginal peoples have other laws and other standards that enable their existence. Aware that they are not the same thing, indigenous peoples and minorities should fight together, especially in this century marked by an economic crisis that promotes the recovery of attitudes and racist and neo-fascist organizations.
One of the peculiarities that distinguish the indigenous peoples of ethnic minorities is the development of a thought to the earth. An ethnic minority may be concentrated in urban areas or anywhere without necessarily being a member of a collective or community as such, while an ancient people built their thinking in relation to the universe: earth, sea, sky, the cosmos. Takes a community to its existence and is the community that ensures the continuity of the transmission of his thought to the generations. Mother Earth is not merely a symbolic expansion. A source. Is the root. Is the origin of our culture and our existence. The human being needs of the Earth and the Earth needs of human beings. Balanced coexistence on Earth is what has been undermined. According to the testimony of our elders, ancient civilizations, the first nations to possess these values. In all aspects of life there must always be a balance and one of the most important sources of balance is the community.
is precisely what has been Period today. The people on Earth no longer remember that Earth is his mother. Most humans and only think about your body and not think of your soul. I no longer remember that due to the community. No longer agree that the Earth is the source of so much energy and so much wealth. Then there has been an estrangement. We are human beings that we do not need arrogant Earth. It does not feel it needs the other and only their talents. Or just plain forget that the Earth exists and we do not agree that the Earth is a collective heritage. The community does not necessarily have to be a village or a big village, for community comes from a group of people you need each other to live. So I think this can generate a very important debate. If there is imbalance, it is natural that produce serious consequences such as the existence of individualism, war, cruelty, intolerance, racism, ignorance. All wars have a cause: imbalances and mismatches living our humanity. Currently, the Earth has a purely material sense. In our America, in Guatemala in particular, the Earth has a lucrative way for those who have monopolized it. Have stripped it to its people. The eviction and intimidation caused the earth to stay in a few hands and the earth then just exploded business sense. In Guatemala there are two types of relationship with the earth: those who monopolize it for purely material and those who see her as our mother, the origin of life and the source of our thinking.
Our grandparents were very wise to find too many years ago that the Earth was a serious risk to chemical experiments. What they were doing was to produce an alteration of the natural order, somehow, would have to be painful for future generations. Arrangements are needed that transcend beyond the governors beyond the powers. Agreements and solutions are needed applicable and feasible urgently to save the Earth from destruction. A concrete commitment to the Earth being saved from the greed of man and woman. That, then, be at the service of the natural rhythm of our humanity. Not only the Indians were born on Earth. All humanity originated on Earth. It was born. As mankind is subject to their own progress, also undermines the integrity of the knowledge of the Earth. Also completely forgets the safety of their generations. Most Indian scientists know the extent of problems and risks faced by the Earth, but they say it with energy so people do not care and not struggle to regain balance.
Source: http://www.cord.edu/faculty/gargurev/menchu.htm
H 96 - March 29, 2002
Tum Letter to the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Dear Madam Mary Robinson:
A few days ago, I received from you a cordial invitation to join a group of eminent persons under the patronage of HE. Mr Nelson Mandela, to promote and raise awareness of the importance of achieving real progress in the fight against racism in Durban and to develop an action program that includes practical measures to promote tolerance and respect for diversity. Reasons beyond my control prevent me from accompanying you and this select group of personalities in the planned activities under the 3 rd PrepCom that starts today in Geneva. However, I do wish to express my personal views about the difficulties facing the Conference and the issues that motivate, thanking you want to share these reflections with colleagues who have the opportunity to attend this event.
As I expressed in our conversation a year ago today, I saw in the 3rd World Conference against Racism an opportunity to return to the scene of the United Nations, seeking to revive the hope for so many years I led them to look at various mechanisms receptive ears, recognition and respect for indigenous peoples and our rights.
I'm not oblivious to the advances that the struggle of our peoples and the continued presence of a select group of leaders and representatives Indians have been able to realize in various fields of international affairs. However, these developments seem to lose significance at the continued refusal of some states and other international actors to recognize Indigenous Peoples as they have been for millennia and are today, people with full ability to determine freely, with a cultural background and value they bring to humanity ever more confused about their common destiny, becoming less supportive and aware of its responsibility in preserving the natural balance, and increasingly impotent against a minority that believes it can impose its designs at the expense of welfare and General dignity.
In today's world our presence defies the unfulfilled promise of the United Nations system to end the colonial regimes that subjugated peoples and created our shameful institutions of slavery and servitude. It has established a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its construction are now more fears and doubts than certainties and hopes. At this point it seems clear that there will be Indigenous Peoples Forum which had demanded the opening of the International Decade proclaimed in our name, as subjects of rights we are denied in all other areas and as a platform from which we can build on the peer group of construction a world of intercultural respect and dignity. The UN system has not been able even to organize a consultation process appropriate and transparent to allow us to rely on pluralism, representativeness and independence of the Forum. If there are no resources or to arrange a consultation, what can we expect to operate this space on so many expectations that weigh?
More recently, it has created a Special Rapporteur on violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of our peoples, but is still boasting the intrinsic inability of Indians to practice such responsibility as if we were not able even to recognize and defend our rights.
And now it is about recognizing our significance in the contemporary agenda of racism, discrimination and intolerance. On the one hand, it continues to mean the recognition of the responsibilities of the colonial process and the persistence of a legacy that continues to perpetuate the forms of exclusion and contempt that we were subjected to extermination minorization and exploitation that have shaped our current invisibility, denial of our existence and, thus, still suffer discrimination. Furthermore, we continue to victimize and considered as a vulnerable, disabled actor, without the tutelage of the neocolonial state thought us doomed to extinction. In discussing the latter documents Preparatory Committee did not set out the essence of the demands that have reiterated our peoples in all preparatory meetings and can be summarized in respect to our existence as peoples, recognition of our historical contribution to the development of humanity and our right to sustainable development, good and fair, with full access and control of our territories and resources.
recognize that, while Humanity is now in a position to confront their real problems and their socio-historical traumas like never before in the past, there are many causes that demand urgent attention and threaten global peace. However, we face the threat that the wealth of this Conference lies in the diversity of its agenda to be subordinated to the need for a political agreement on the burning issues of the moment.
Indigenous peoples are not willing to make our historical claims are, once again, warped and auctioned. We will pay to provide coverage to an agreement that would facilitate the Conference at the expense of our dignity and our rights. We do not recognize anyone's right to crop or condition our requirements and, with them, social movements and millions of men and women who suffer discrimination on multiple grounds and that they expect from this conference a clear and strong word against immobility and impunity.
Indigenous peoples can not be indifferent to recent manifestations of environmental racism and the refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol by the main pollutant of the world power, while humanity requires a paradigm production and consumption absolutely untenable, and indigenous peoples that we convert our territories waste sinks a way of life that we are not responsible and would never share.
In other business, being the first Conference of the post-apartheid, not only incomprehensible reluctance to recognize the historical events of the past but which now become new forms of slavery and devastation of human dignity. As an example, I mention the unjust international order imposed more than four fifths of the population that is causing a cross-border mobility never seen before in the history of civilizations. Ignorance of the cultural dimension This phenomenon, which is already the second largest in the international transfers of foreign currency after oil, is simply unacceptable. Migrants, documented or not, are human beings with rights, and these are still unknown, and overwhelmed daily by both institutional policies of receiving states as for transnational mafias are becoming caused despair in the absence of opportunities for millions of people on all continents and in many cases, their own lives in a multimillion dollar business as dirty and inhuman as any of the ignominious regimes of old, with the aggravating circumstance in this case are the victims of this traffic who pay for their slavery.
Mrs. Robinson, you urged us to promote a strong statement and a program of practical action and measurable, including a mechanism for assessing compliance with the targets by governments. From what I can see from the documents which were negotiated in the last preparatory event, we face the risk of another failure if the responsibility for providing leadership in this conference a commitment to the humanization of the future are not even able to call a spade a his name.
With best wishes, I greet you warmly.
H 96 - March 29, 2002
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