kagisolechibuku

Si tu estuvieras

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:13:51 GMT

This song is played pretty much every 10 minutes in Xela, so I thought I would share the words with you. Just sing along to your basic Bachata beat.

SI TU ESTUVIERAS
Los Toros Band

Ahora te he encontrado nuevamente
cada segundo en mis recuerdos
las horas se hacen largas y queman
porque siempre me encuentran con las manos vacias
la vida es un castillo de ilusiones
que te deshilusiona al derrumbarse

Yo no entiendo tu mataste mi mundo
y aun muero con las ancias de adorarte

Porque no estas amor
si tantas vecesjuraste que tu me amarias
y aunque el mundo se acabara tu serias mi vida
pero no estas corazón

Si vieras como estoy
o supieras que mi alma no te pertenece
que aun siento tu suaves labios besandome siempre
que estoy loco por tu amor

Coro

Si tu estuvieras,
se que mi mundo seria diferente
tendria el destino mi mundo en su suerte
y volverian sueños de primavera

Vuelve mi reyna,
que a mi la vida se me esta acabando
que tanto el alma me esta destrozando
y aqui en mi pecho no caben mas penas
si tu estuvieras

Porque no estas amor,
si el cielo nos vió querernos en las desventuras
si mi vida tuvo vida al sentirtu ternura
al mojarme tu pasión

Si vieras mi ansiedad
o tan solo imaginara mis deseos por verte
que daria la misma vida por porder tenerte
cerca de mi corazón

y siempre que despierto mi alegria
se va porque era un sueño, pude amarte

Coro

Si tu estuvieras,
se que mi mundo seria diferente
tendria el destino mi mundo en su suerte
y volverian sueños de primavera

Vuelve mi reyna,
que a mi la vida se me esta acabando
que tanto el alma me esta destrozando
y aqui en mi pecho no caben mas penas
si tu estuvieras

Vuelve mi reyna,
que a mi la vida se me esta acabando
que tanto el alma me esta destrosando
y aqui en mi pecho no caben mas penas
si tu estuvieras.

Don Pedro

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:19:34 GMT

As I have mentioned in other blogs...Guatemala was in a civil war for 36 years from 1960 to 1996. During this time the opposing groups were the Guatemalan army and military vs the Guerilla forces who had the backing from the majority of pueblos. In 1982, Rios Montt was the president and initiated some of the most brutal attacks of pueblos. He was known for the Scortched Earth tactics where soldiers would enter a town thought to be sympathetic with the guerilla and completely destroy everyone and everything there. During the entire war and his presidency, all types of people were targets for assasinations, torture and kidnappings. Targets included priests, members of cooperatives, students organizers, union organizers among others.

One of these cooperative leaders came to our school yesterday to share his experience being kipnapped and tortured by the Guatemalan army. His story is unusal since he survived and was able to endure such an experience. This isnt an easy thing to write but it is an important story to share.

Don Pedro was kidnapped and tortured for 15 days by the Guatemalan army. He was captured on April 16, 1982 in his home town of San Jose Ojetenam. Due to his invovlment in the local cooperative there he was acused of being invovled in the guerilla, which was not true. 60 or 70 men came to take him from his home. They took him to a jail cell in army complex to be tortured. There they took off all his clothes and tied his hands behind his back and feet together. They would hurt him in every way possible, they kicked him, hit him with their guns, and kept telling him they would continue torturing him until he told them he was a guerrillero. He did not say anything because he was not a guerrillero and also he did not want to acuse any innocent people. The less he said, they more they beat him. They even used a plastic whip and that night left him beaten, naked in the jail cell where it was freezing.

Two people from his town had accused him, one of whom was a 14 year old boy, who only acused him out of fear for his own life. Many people who were invovled in co-ops at the time were being acused, so when the boy was interrogated he naturally mentioned Don Pedro. Another man from the town also accused him, but only after being seriously beated. The three of them were taken from their town together.

The following day they were taken to another place, and driven in a car with many soldiers surrounding them. During the car ride, the soldiers continued to beat him, they bit Don Pedro´s ears and cut his face with their machetes until his entire facing was running with blood. While they were in the car, the other two captured men kept acusing Don Pedro in order to avoid being beaten themselves. At one point, one of the soldier´s hit Don Pedros head so hard, it broke a piece of his gun where the bullets were kept. This made them relent a bit in the beatings, thinking he was a well trained guerrillero who could withstand a great amount.

The arrived at the new location, where Don Pedro was put into a pit about 3 meters high and one meter square. There were rocks and ashes in the pit, and he knew the ashes were from people who had been burnt to death there. This area was in a secret army station where people were taken to be tortured. He was kept there for 8 days being tortured and interrogated the entire time.

They had specially trained people torture him who knew which areas were the most painful and how to hurt him just enough without killing him. They would target his head, his testicles and his stomach. They kept saying he had to tell them who his companeros were, but he would not say anything. One day they said if he didnt tell them, they would hang him. And he said, fine, hang me, i cant endure the pain anymore. So they tied a noose around his neck and would pull him up just enough before he was killed and then lower him again. They did this 3 times or so, each time making his neck more raw with the weight of his body. But they didnt kill him. Later they came back and said that he had to tell them who are the companeros, but again he said nothing and asked to be killed, thinking he could not endure anymore. When he said this, they said this time they would burn him. But these were just threats. Again, they came back and they began to drop huge rocks on his stomach from above the pit. He was sure he would die this way and that all his organs were destroyed. Other times they intentionally shot bullets into the pit without intending to hit him, just to scare him. The other two men were also seriously beaten.

A few days later, another group of soldiers arrived to watch over them. One of them asked if he was hungry, but he did not want to say yes. Before when they would ask if he was hungry or thirsty and he said yes they would urinate on him. But this time he said, of course he was hungry but that it didnt matter. For some reason, the soldier gave him a part of a tamalito and some water. You cannot imagine how that tasted after 6 days with nothing. He told him to eat it fast so that no one would notice. This was the only food and water he had the entire 15 days.

That same soldier gave him a shirt to wear since he was still naked. Later, they took them to a new place, and on the ride there, they sat on them with cushions. He was sure they were taking him to kill them since that is what happened to most people who were kidnapped. When they arrived at the new place, he could see there were tons of soliders. He saw a soldier with a hose and asked him for it, which he gave reluctantly. Don Pedro drank as much water as he possibly could which felt incredible to have something so good in him. The soldiers then hosed him off with that same water and gave him a shirt and pants, since until now he had had no pants to wear, only the shirt. They said he had to go talk to the boss. In the room where the boss was there was a crucifix. The boss pointed to it and said - that is why you survived this - he also asked him cruely what it was like in the other place, although he knew perfectly well what had happened.

They tied his hands and feet again and left him on the floor of that room. The next 6 days he laid there while they interrogated him, soldier after soldier, although this time they did not torture him anymore. His entire body was black from the beatings and he remembered looking at his own body and wondering how he had survived to this point. They then told him that he would be set free and could see his family if he just told them who was in the guerilla or they would kill him. He said he knew nothing and just wanted them to kill him. He just wanted an answer and an end to all the suffering.

The next day he left the room on his own and started asking people why he was still there and what was going on. He just wanted to leave or be killed, for it all to end. Finally someone said he could go but he had to sign a paper first. So he signed the paper without looking, took a copy and just left. As he left he realized he knew where he was and was able to return to his home.

Back at home it was incredibly hard to survice since he was so injured and so sick. His family had to care for him and a local preist helped him by sneaking him medicine. This all had to be done secretly since the army would kill anyone who was aided the suspected guerrilleros. The paramilitary groups came through town and demanded that Don Pedro join them, but he was unable to do so. They would continue to return to his house and kept asking why he was staying at home and why he wasnt out fighting. They began to suspect him again, and a local man involved in the Catholic churtch in the town advised Don Pedro and his family to flee. So they decided to go to Mexico where many refugees were fleeing to. This journey was incredibly hard since he was so hurt he was unable to walk, and his family had to cary him along the way.

In Mexico it was also very hard since he could not work and was very weak. He did receive some help and found a job where he could be sitting down. Living was physcially difficult for him for 2 years after. There were other refugees there as well from El Salvador where there was another armed conflict. Don Pedro and his family spent two years in the shelter in Tapachula, but after 2 years wanted to return home. The lifein the shelter was very hard since many people had arrived with their cultural traditions, but had to forget them in order to blend into mexican society and not be suspected. Don Pedro and his family ended up spending 18 years there.

The cooperative he was invovled in had been designed to help with inflated prices that were produced by the coyotes who took advantage of the challegning system of product transportation. Areas that were more isolated and more mountanous had a hard time getting much produce and as a result, people took advantage of this. Coyotes would buy in large amounts and would over charge, sometimes double, the amount of the product. The co-op acted to counteract this by buying large amounts and reducing the prices for those who were members. This was a very effective system that worked well and within 4 years had grown from 8 people to 800 people. They also helped with trainings on how to produce more efficiently from the land since many peope were using older slower techniques. The co-op also held trainings on humans rights to educate people about the laws of their country. Don Pedro had only been thru 2nd grade and his involvement in the coop was one of the most informative and helpful experiences for him. However, many of the leaders of these co-ops were killed during the war. One leader that Don Pedro knew from a neighboring community was also kipnapped and tortured. His eye ripped out and nose broken, however he too is still alive now. But this type of violence scared people so much that all of the co-ops dissolved.

Viva la Revolucion

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:24:47 GMT

This weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a manifestation to commemorate the Dia de la Revolucion of 1944 in Guatemala on October 20th. This day is celebrated annually to remember the 10 years of spring that followed this era. The day is of particular significance for several reasons, first, it was a populist movement generated in response to a facist dictator (Jose Ubico) and it also stimulated the CIA intervention in 1954 which destroyed the hope of progress in Guatemala.

Here is a little context for you although I must apologize for anything lacking -- Under the 14 years of power of Jose Ubico, a system of farmworker dependence was established. The VAGRANCY LAW required landless pesants to work on the farms or FINCAS for 150 days a year, or they risked fines. This system referred to a the FINQUERO system also gave the plantation owners the ability to -- take any action necessary to protect their land and goods-- which in effect allowed the murder of any pesants who disobeyed.

During this time 70 percent of the land was owned by 2.2 percent of the population. Ubico also continued to allow massive foreign investment, particularly enabling the United Fruit Company (which has how dissolved into Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte). He also allowed foreign ownership of the largest electric company and railroads.

This horrendous inequality and system of oppresive servitude, instigated the revolution of 1994 and the ten years of spring that followed. Ubicos government was overthrown on October 20, 1944, which is the day Guatemala know commemorates.

The revolution of 1944 brought into power Arevalo and Arbenz Guzman who sought to change this system of campesino servitude and unequal land distribution. During this time, Social Security system was started, 860,000 acres of land was redistributed to 100,00 families, for the first time (and last time since) education received the most federal funds, followed by health and housing. These policies, particularly around land distribution, were perceived as such a threat to US foreign investment that the CIA launched a complete overthrow of this government. Of course, in 1954, the reasons were disguised as --the threat of communism-- in Central America. In reality, the elected presidents were not communist, and their political tendencies were more center than left.

The CIA intevention, OPERATION PBSUCCESS, installed Casillo Armas, who was followed by several horrible miliary dictators, including the infamous Rios Montt. (please excuse the lack of info here). In 1960 the country entered a civil war, which lasted until the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996. This 36 year period was marked by genocide and continued oppression. 200,000 people were killed, 55,000 disappeared and 1.5 million displaced. Entire towns, entire families, and innumerous social leaders were destroyed. A strong guerrilla movement was built up during this time with support from the international community and sympathetic countries.

It has only been 11 years since the signing of the Peace Accords, which brough an end to the legalized violence, but did not do much to change the social conditions of the country. Since this time, people here have been trying to accualize the promises made in the Accords. In 1999, a referendum of the people demanded that these so called Accords, be made into law. However, due to perceptions that this would allow legal reverse-discrimination, nothing was changed.

In summation, this Sunday marked a critical day in the past and future of Guatemala. People look back on the Revolution as a time of hope, prosperity and possibility. However, this event also brings up the roots of the civil war which the country is still recovering from. Thanks for reading...I will try to fill in the gaps in other entries.

trust me, you want to know...

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:47:41 GMT

Yesterday´s conference put on by the school was about the radio station of the guerrilleros during the civil war. Actually one of our teachers (Anita) here gave the presentation, since she was one of the key people invovled with the radio. The station was called La Voz Popular, or the People´s Voice and was aired for 9 years from 1987-1996.

Anita became invovled in the revolution after she was approached by a local priest who encouraged her to learn about the history of Guatemala and the current politics. At this time in the late 1970s, the people of Guatemala were not taught about what was happening in their own country. Anita herself could not read terribly well and was not accustomed to reading academic or historical texts. However after learning more about the situation, she felt the need to become invovled.

In 1978 when Anita was iniciated into the guerrilla front, the movement was divided into 4 seperate forces. However, in 1982 they joined together under the name URNG - Unidad Revolucionario Nacional Guatemalteco (National Unity of Guatemalan Revolutionaries or something like that). In her first years, she became directly invovled in the radio programming. However in 1980, they were forced to move to the capital due to security reasons, and live hidden in there. Later that year, Anita and another woman were sent to Cuba to become trained in radio development.

More coming soon...te prometo!

Los Republicanas se matan con armas, y los democratas se matan con hambre.

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:17:15 GMT

El Mercado de la Democracia

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/1478387585_4e677114b6.jpg">

Alright so maybe I dont know so much about technology..but there you can try that link if you want. This was the week of new beginnings...in a way. I decided to change host families - the others were very sweet and generous but really didnt engage with me the way I wanted and expected. So I am now living with a family completely the opposite of the older couple I had been living with for three weeks. The new house is constandtly full of people and commotion...and I love it. There is a mother and father, three kids and the mother is pregnant. In fact she is due in the next two weeks. Also her father in law lives there along with a 19 year old guatemalteco who is renting the room next to mine. The kids are 9, 7 and 4, Diego, Andrea and Fernando. Fernando was sick when I arrived with chicken pox, so he was calm compared to his normal hyperactive self. But he has been gradually getting better. The kids are amazingly sweet and friendly and it has been great talking with them. The second day I was there, I came home from school to be greeted by blasting reggaeton and a dance session about to break out. While dinner was on the stove, the rest of us proceeded to dance, play games, and bascially jump around the living room. I also now live on the same street as Vida...Diagonal 2 for life!!!

Classes started out great this week, but I think due to lack of sleep I have not been able to focus much in the early mornings and proceed to get really overwhelmed. My teacher is awesome awesome awesome and I feel bad not being able to give him my full attention. Tonight I have vowed to go to sleep early.

Last night was a special occasion that I feel honored to have been a part of. While we were on the day´s viaje to Zunil, a small pueblo about 30 min from Xela, our guide invited us to listen to a presentation he was giving at a nearby cultural center. He was in the guerilla movement, organzing and fighting for 10 years total during the 1980s and 90s. We had spoken briefly about his experiences before, but I had not hear his story in more detail. (By the way, he is my favorite person in Guatemala and I am ever so slightly enamored, more about that later!). The presentation covered the history of the need for the guerilla movement, his invovlement during the years he was fighting and he also spoke about the refugee community he now lives in (which we visited last weekend). But in classic Amaro style, he finished his presentation with a pitch for the honey his community sells, and of course flashing that smile.

40th and 20th

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:34:55 GMT

Turns out I picked a great time to be in Latin America...and particularly at this school, Proyecto Linguistico Quetzaltenango en Español. The school was founded in 1987 after the assasination of two Guatemalan students who were invovled in organizing against the military controlled and oppressive government at this time. Approximately 200,000 were killed and 1.5 million displaced and 55,000 disappeared over the 36 year long "civil war" brought to you in part by the United States (that is another story). However, later this month marks the 20th anniversary of the assasination of these two students. There will be a week long series of events commemorating these people. We are also going to have the opportunity to meet their families and speak directly with them.

The other amazing coincidence is that I will be here during the 40th anniversary of the murder of Che. Actually he was killed on October 9th of 1967....it is hard to believe it has been 40 years and he is still talked about as if he were alive today. Our school will also be holding an event to commemorate the meaning of Che as a revolunary and hope for social change in this world.

Un pueblo con hambre es un pueblo sin paz.

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:22:56 GMT

Today marks the end of the first week of my stay in Xela, Guatemala and so far my experience has been nothing short of amazing. The school, Proyecto Linguistico Quetzalteco de Espanol, organized a trip to La Comunidad San Francisco, which none of us really knew anything about. But being our first week we have been trying to see as much as possible, we gladly woke up at 6:15am to catch the bus at 7. The town turned out to be about an hour and half away on the other side of the mountains, which is an entirely different climate. It was amazingly hot and tropical with coffee fincas, banana trees, cocoa trees and just generally HOT. The town, also known as Ixquiac, is a smallplace of about 52 families. It is known for its collective decision making processes and shared duties. The president and spiritual leader of the town lead us around, and showed us the community center, public well and washing house, the natural springs, and some mayan carvings that remained in the area. The washing house was intentionally built in the middle of the town in order to encourage the interaction of women and girls. They also had rules posted up in this area, such as no fighting, or playing, since this could lead to the splashing and wasting of water. We also toured the spiritual area of the town where various types of ceremonies are performed, and finished our tour by observing one of the self-composting toilets. The town has a unique history and is one of the few places where people have purchased the land together. They also elected a female representative to the town, and due to her being female, the town has been neglected for the past 2 years and has yet to receive social services in this time from the government. The town still lacks potable water and a school, two things they have been fighting for.