CAMINOS Update- March 2004

By Susan Cotton

In January 2004 seven Denver residents (Jane Covode, Kathy Rodriguez, Tommy Timm, Denise Peine, Catherine Ravescky, Eva Keleti, and Miguel Reyes) traveled to Guatemala on a delegation sponsored by DJPC and CAMINOS. The purpose of the trip was twofold--to learn about the current political situation in Guatemala from the perspective of the civil society and groups that represent them, and to visit two returned refugee communities-El Tesorito and Union Victoria-that have historic ties with the CAMINOS accompaniment project. The trip came on the heels of the most recent presidential election in that country, and four years after the last CAMINOS sponsored delegation had visited. While in Guatemala City, the delegation met with representatives from Myrna Mack Foundation, Rights Action, CONIC Campesino Land Organization, the US Embassy, Sector de Mujeres Woman's Organization, Guatemala Accompaniment Project, Center for Human Rights Legal Action, and COVERCO Labor Relations Group. An excellent report of their findings from these meetings is available through the DJPC office.

In February, Susan Cotton visited the 8th and most recent accompanier, Brad Lawton, at his temporary home in the Guatemalan highlands in the village of Ilom. Brad is now in his 4th month as a human rights accompanier for witnesses from Xix and Ilom, in the genocide case against Romero Lucas Garcia, one of the generals responsible for the civilian massacres of the Mayan population in the 1980's. In February, Brad had the honor of attending reburials of nine children in Ilom who died of starvation while fleeing from the army 2 decades ago, and participating in the commemoration of the massacre in Xix, which included both a Catholic Mass and a Mayan ceremony. Brad is hoping that the genocide cases will move forward this year, and writes-"I am looking forward to seeing my friends (in Ilom) once again, and spending more time in the fields picking coffee and cardamom and planting corn. One of my strongest hopes is that we can deepen our relationships and gain insight into the lives of those with whom we share our time, and hopefully be accepted by them as true friends, despite our privileged background and our starkly different culture."

The impressions, concerns, hopes and plans resulting from the delegation visit to Guatemala by the above travelers were many and varied. The group has put together a compelling power-point presentation to synthesize their findings, and to share thoughts and pictures of the people of Guatemala. If you are interested in arranging a viewing for a specific group, please contact the DJPC office.