The events leading up to the award

Rigoberta Menchú published her book entitled "Yo, Rigoberta Menchú" in 1983 while in exile in Mexico; it has since been translated into ten languages. Together with other refugees she set up the "United Representatives of the Guatemalan Opposition" (RUOG). For a long period, this was the only people's organization to represent Guatemala at the UN Human Rights Commission. Since (...) 1987 it has being taking an active role in "national dialogue". This process of reconciliation is being promoted by the church and foreign politicians that are mediating between the government and the guerillas. Four international universities have awarded her an honorary doctorate and UNESCO, too, awarded her a prize.

The idea of awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Rigoberta Menchú for her tireless struggle for the rights of indigenous people was first put forward by Italy's Socialist Party in 1989. At the second meeting of the Latin American campaign "500 Years of Indigenous, Black and People's Resistance" in 1991 it was decided to put forward formally her candidature to the Nobel Prize Committee in Oslo. Former winners Aldolfo Pères Esquivel, Oscar Arias and Bischop Desmond Tutu publicly endorsed the application. Committees were set up to support the candidature in Canada, the US, Japan and number of European countries. (...)

The campaign in Guatemala was slow to get of the ground. The fear of reprisals in Guatemala were too great, because President Serrano had branded her as being the "terrorists friend". In efforts to thwart the movement in favor of Menchú and to prevent the "national shame" of a Guatemalan Indian and native being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, some conservative organizations even created a counter-candidate: Their candidate is the chairperson of a society for the blind and hard of hearing; and she is, of course, white.

In the summer of 1992 the Catholic Bishops' Conference and Union of University Academics endorsed Menchú's candidature. On the 15th of July numerous representatives of political, religious and cultural groups brought their influence to bear in a "campo pagado", an advertisement in the daily "La Hora" newspaper.

The marimba, guitar and flute music was almost drowned out to the thunderous applause from almost one thousand people as, on the afternoon of the 11th of July 1992, Rigoberta Menchú walked across the tarmac of the  "La Aurora" Airport in Guatemala City. "Returning to one's own country is one of the happiest moments a human heart can experience", said the 33 year-old Quiche Indian in an impromptu speech. Today we are united in the same way as our ancestors. All of us that were born on this piece of land that belongs to us all."

This visit represents the first from Rigoberta Menchú since she left her homeland in 1981. She is here in an official role to discuss the identity and rights of native Latin Americans with a number of Indigenous organizations. The talks are intended to pave the way for a meeting of the UN Commission against Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in which Menchú will be taking part as the first indigenous women to do so.

During her visit she went through a whole range of ups and downs. Enjoying the cheers from the crowds on the street corners as she returned to the villages, on her journey from the airport to the city centre she also saw the freshly painted slogans denouncing Guatemalan people's organizations and even Menchú for collaborating with the guerillas. The next morning her vehicle is rammed by two four-wheel drive vehicles with tinted glass in the village of Chimaltenango - the first of a total of three attempts on her life during her 5-day visit.

[Reimar Paul, in: Evangelische Zeitung, 1. November 1992]

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The reaction in Guatemala to the awarding of the Prize

Hundreds of South American Indians in the mountain village of San Marcos enthusiastically celebrated the Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú. Cheering people lined the streets to get a look at the 33-year-old civil rights activist, who is currently coordinating protest action against the celebrations planned to mark the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus in America.

"She is one of us, a woman that fights", says Usta Quia Fuentes who has arrived by foot from a neighboring village. Menchú looked truly moved as she waved to the crowds from the back of the small delivery vehicle that had brought her from the capital to San Marcos. She didn't stay long in Guatemala City following the announcement of the award. "My people are waiting for me", she explained to journalists.

The government of Guatemala, a country in which civil war has raged for longer than in any other Central American nation, offered split reaction to the decision by the Nobel Committee. In an official statement from the offices of the President Jorge Serrano it was expressed that Menchú should "use the influence and authority of the award" to find a peaceful solution for Guatemala. Foreign Minister Park, however, said that he was against the award being awarded to Menchú, "because, as he saw it, she belonged to certain groups that had placed Guatemala in danger". (...)

The spokesperson for the guerilla umbrella organization, the United Resistance of Guatemala, Miguel Sandoval, spoke in Mexico of the first piece of good news that the natives of Guatemala have received in 500 years". Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, also described the decision of the jury as a "recognition of 500 years of disregard and discrimination".

[AP-Meldung, 18. Oktober 1992]

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Rigoberta Menchú has demanded far-reaching reforms in Guatemala to ensure that the Indian majority are allowed to play a full part in government. The government must take action to address the demands coming from the native population. "Real participation of the Indians means that many laws in Guatemala have to be changed."

Frau Menchú said, she wanted to make sure that the protests against the celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of the discovery of American by Columbus were not forgotten. The Nobel Prize should serve in keeping alive international awareness about the plight of South American Indians. Menchú was reluctant to be regarded as the representative of the Indians: "No one has the political or moral authority to decide who will represent the Indians. This decision has to be made by the grass roots at a local level.

"Deceit, stubbornness, short sightedness and the egoistic nature of those in power have corrupted society and led to a situation in which the people believe that they are the rulers of the land - and not their children", said the civil rights activist. She accused Guatemala's state President, Jorge Serrano, of hiding his true feelings about the award. She had received many congratulatory calls from around the world before the president rang. She hopes now that the accusations from the army that she is a communist or an active member of armed resistance will cease. According to Menchu, accusations such as these were an attack on the Nobel Peace Prize itself.

[Reuter-Meldung, 19. Oktober 1992]