1992 Nobel Peace Prize Winner on two day visit to Belize
Fourth and sixth form students in Belize City are this week being given the opportunity to meet the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Rigoberta Menchu. She arrived in the country this morning, and News Five’s Julietta Burrowes was at the airport to greet her.
She is recognized all over the world as an activist for human rights, in particular for the rights of indigenous peoples. Guatemalan born and 1992 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Rigoberta Menchu Tum arrived in the country today for a brief visit on an invitation from the University College of Belize. Once she was handed the keys to the city by Mayor Jose Coye, Menchu Tum was whisked off to the U.C.B. campus where she met with the press emphasizing that the struggle for human rights is not an easy task and that it should be the concern of not only the less fortunate but all people.
Rigoberta Menchu Tum, 1992 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
“We have to keep on struggling for the values of the community, for the values of the people, for values of life, and that has no time. It doesn’t have space. It’s always a continuing struggle.”
Rigoberta is self educated and has received seventeen honorary doctorates from universities around the world. She has also published a book titled, “I Rigoberta Menchu Tum, an Indian Woman”. Although this is her first visit to Belize, Menchu Tum feels that indigenous people share common experiences and that they must work to promote peace and education and must also strive for sustainable development.
Rigoberta Menchu Tum
“We believe that there are a lot of similarities between the two cultures in particular with the Mayas of Belize who have intercultural relations with the Mayas of Guatemala. We hope that in the future we could produce programs that will benefit both countries. Programs such as educational programs, community development, ecological issues, because ecology is not only about protection but also production. So I think the people here are very organized and I respect the organizations.”
During her brief stay, Menchu Tum will be meeting with Prime Minister Esquivel, as well as with cultural and indigenous leaders. Julietta Burrowes for News Five.
Menchu’s brief visit to Belize ends on Thursday.
