Guatemala has been called the South Africa of the Americas... It has no formal system of aparteid because it does not need one.It does not have any political prisoners because they are all dead.

Highland Guatemala is ethically much as it was in the sixteeth century...The maintenance of the Mayan culture is in itself a political act, a defiance of the ladino state The rhythems of the calendar anchor the Mayas to their past, to their sense of who they are, and to hope in the midst of despair. If knowledge is power, knowledge of time is perspective.The Maya know they have been here a lot long than their conquerors, they know that all things pass.

By 1985 there were 50,000 war widows and 200,00 orphans, in a country of 8 million people.

"Indians never saw the natural world as if it were seperate to their own lives. The mother earth is an economic resource...but it is also the source of culture, she is our historical memory, she is our root, she is the only reason that Mayan heritage exists today. In our struggle, the most important factor, and the one that has created the most conflict, is the problem of the land, and it's abuse...It is the indians' historical right to possess a part of this conintent... Why should we merely survive? We need to develop our ancient culture and offer it as a contribution to the human race." Rigoberta Menchu.

From Maya Rebirt, discussing the discrimination that exists against the Mayan population in Guatemala which makes up around 50% of the population.