Guatemala featured in debut episode of “BBtv World”

July 22nd, 2008 | By Joshua | No Comments »

BoingBoing.net, a.k.a. “A Directory of Wonderful Things,” a.k.a the most popular blog in the world, just launched a round-the-world video series featuring “first-person glimpses of life around the world, told … through the people in these places, their own stories, their own way. When we can, we want to place the camera directly in the hands—literally—of the people whose lives, cultures, and lands we’re visiting.” This short clip, called “El Molinero,” is by Xeni Jardin and is about grinding corn masa for tortillas. “We’re kicking this off with an episode I shot during a recent visit in a K’iche Maya village in the highlands of Guatemala….” [LINK]

Justice in Guatemala: 5 Jailed for Rio Negro Massacre, Murderers get 780 Years Each

May 30th, 2008 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

This just in: the trials mentioned in yesterday’s post about Rabinal and Guillermo Chen have made international headlines:

*The BBC: “Guatemala jails five for massacre: A court in Guatemala has sentenced five former paramilitaries each to 780 years in prison for the 1982 murder of 26 indigenous Mayan villagers.”

*Related: “Guatemala: Río Negro Survivors Identify Executioners”

*My article on meeting and working with Rio Negro massacre survivors and their children

Of Bridges and Bullets: My Worldview article in the Spring 2008 Volunteer Vacation issue

May 29th, 2008 | By Joshua | No Comments »

My article in the Spring 2008 edition of Worldview, “Bridge to Somewhere,” is about a week-long alternative break trip to Guatemala. Worldview is the quarterly magazine of the National Peace Corps Association. The current issue is a special edition about volunteer vacations—a goldmine for anyone thinking about volunteering or working abroad. My article is about an intense visit to the dusty pueblos of Rabinal and Pacux in northern Guatemala, where justice and solidarity are the weighty issues of the day.
Here are some related links and articles:

*Bridge to Somewhere: Healing the World Begins in Rabinal, by Joshua Berman

*Two weeks among the Maya: my original blog post from the trip to Rabinal

*James Rodríguez: revisiting genocide in Rabinal, Guatemala

*Xeni Jardin: Accused mass murderer Montt to run for congress

UPDATE: Guillermo Chen, director of the Fundación Nueva Esperanza, was our host, guide, and friend during our week in Rabinal. He is featured in my article above and he has continued encouraging survivors of the massacres committed against the Guatemalan Mayan population to come forward and give their testimony. On March 5, 2008, the same day that victims were presenting testimony in a local court, two unidentified men on bicycles fired six shots into the door of his house (the same house where our group stayed the previous year).

AJWS reports that “Guatemalan human rights organizations believe the shots were a clear attempt to intimidate Guillermo, his family and his colleagues from proceeding with their efforts to enable the prosecution of atrocities.” To learn more about the threats against Guillermo and his family, visit his “fear for safety” page on Amnesty International and read this AJWS background article: “The Persistence of Historical Memory.”

To support his work, visit the Fundación Nueva Esperanza website.