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News :: Civil & Human Rights |
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Words Of Inspiration From Women Working To End Impunity In Guatemala |
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by Meridith Kruse
(No verified email address) |
07 Dec 2002
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On Saturday December 7th over one hundred people gathered at the University of Illinois Campus in Chicago to hear Helen Mack, Dianna Ortiz, and Alice Zachmann recount stories of suffering, survival, and hope. These strong women were part of the 7th Annual Symposium on Human Rights that focused on Guatemala and was entitled, "Working Together Against Impunity." |
Sister Dianna Ortiz began by lighting a candle to remind us of our connection to not only the Mayan communities in Guatemala but to all of humanity. On November 2, 1989, after receiving several threats, Sister Dianna Ortiz was abducted in Antigua, Guatemala, and was brutally tortured. One man who led the torture was an apparent North American. Through the years following, Dianna has worked tirelessly to demand the declassification of material related for the release by the United States of information pertaining to her case as well as to expose the relationship between the CIA, the Guatemalan G-2 and other U.S. agencies. Since then, she has founded and directed the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition. Dianna has just published a book on her experience, "The Blindfold's Eyes: My Jouney from Torture to Truth."
Helen Mack then spoke about her struggle to bring to justice those responsible for the brutal murder of her sister, Myrna Mack Chang. Myrna was a Guatemalan anthropologist who researched and reported on communities of refugees living in horrific conditions as a result of the high-intensity military campaign that resulted in the slaughter of thousands and the annihilation of entire communities. On September 11, 1990, Myrna was stabbed 27 times as she left a research institute in Guatemala City. Since then her sister, Helen, has not rested until the authors of this crime were brought to justice. On October 3 of this year, after much intimidation and even violence to try to stop the process of justice, one of three high-ranking officials was judged guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison for ordering the assassination of Myrna Mack. Evidence gathered for this case has revealed intricate ties between United States military and security agencies and the Guatemalan military and EMP.
To conclude the program Sister Alice Zachmann was honored for her lifetime of work for human rights with a weaving from Guatemala. Concerned about the plight of the people and their persecution by the Guatemalan military, Sister Alice received the support of her order and opened the first office of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in 1982. With a number of volunteers from throughout the United States, Sister Alice and her staff first published bi-monthly Updates on the human rights situation in Guatemala and coordinated urgent actions in emergencies on behalf of human rights leaders and others suffering harassment and intimidation. Sister Alice has recently retired from the GHRC but, as recognized by the Guatemalan community worldwide, she has not stopped in her devotion to the Guatemalan people and her drive for justice in Guatemala.
At the conclusion of the program representatives from the Foundation for Human Rights in Guatemala urged audience members to continue working for justice on behalf of the Guatemala people. For more information please call 773-250-3407 or visit www.fhrg.org. |
