Jungle Ruins
Relics of the Mayan civilisation rise from the jungles of Guatemala.
It was a culture founded 3000 years ago. An empire that flourished while Europe languished in the dark ages.
A realm that lasted six times longer than the Roman empire.
PTC "The Mayan civilisation that once lived here simply vanished, but their descendants still cling to the land of their forebears. They've survived over 500 years of brutality from the Spanish with their muskets and measles, through dictators, the Guatemalan army and civil war. Thousands upon thousands of them have died and yet they still wait for the justice they so richly deserve.
Festival
Celebrations
At a midsummer saints day celebration in the countryside there's vivid evidence of the ancient Mayan traditions mingled with their more contemporary catholic beliefs.
In modern day Guatemala these indigenous Mayans far out-number the descendants of their Spanish conquerors - they are the majority.
But it's the minority that rules here - Mayans have no power.
Eighty percent of them live in poverty. For every 1000 Mayans children that are born - 500 will die as infants.
Their land has been stolen and they are exploited as a cheap source of labour.
I/V Rigoberta Menchu
"Land has been the oldest issue in Guatemala. People have fought for a piece of land, for land to harvest, for a future for their children and this has caused their deaths."
Grave Digging
Only now is it becoming clear just how many Mayan deaths there have been in the past 14 years - the so-called "disappeared" number about 45 thousand.
I/V Andy Kaufman
"Essentially what I do is dig up graves. Mass graves of indigenous Mayan people massacred in the early 80's."
Andy Kaufman is working on a grisly documentation identifying victims slaughtered in a secret campaign of terror.
I/V Kaufman
Pics - widows
and bodies unearthed
"It's incredibly traumatic in many way. You have 50 widows standing around a grave of 15 skeletons, screaming at the top of their lungs while you're sitting there for 2 days in the boiling hot sun scraping the dirt off the bones of their husbands"
"From a scientific standpoint I can't say from the graves who done it but if the testimony of the victims - and they all seem to corroborate - from the various cases around the country are to be believed the army is responsible for the majority of cases."
V/O The commander shouts orders to troops. In Guatemala the generals command more than their troops.
Guatemala's army has controlled this country since 1954 when it overthrew a democratically-elected government in a coup orchestrated by the United States.
Thirty-two years ago a small band of Mayan decided to fight back.
Armed by Cuban and Nicaragua's Sandinistas a guerilla force numbering less than two thousand became the focus of a US-backed counter insurgency war in which 100 thousand Mayans are believed to have been killed.
I/V General Mario Enriquez - Minister of Defence
"The Guatemalan army has been involved in this counter-insurgency to take over power"
Question- "To what extent do you concede that the army has been responsible for human rights violations?
"There have been some violations of human rights but as I have been telling you they are individuals. But I believe that institutionally there has never been a policy of human rights violations."
Rigoberta-walking in
house.
Since she won the Nobel Peace prize last year Rigoberta Menchu, has become the most powerful symbol of the Mayan people.
She too have lived with death - her brother tortured and burnt to death in front of her. Her parents both murdered. She escaped by fleeing to exile here in Mexico.
I/V Rigoberta
"I believe I am one of the living witnesses. I think if it were a personal offence it would be much easier to forget and forgive and start a new life. But this is not personal horror It is not a personal offence. It is a collective offence it is the collective memory of Guatemala"
Question "It would certainly seem from my research in the time that I've been here that at the heart of the problem for the indigenous people is the behaviour and record of the any - now will you in your term as president, be seeking to demilitarise Guatemala"?
"No, at this moment we can't talk about that. The army of Guatemala is prepared for peace, is conscious of it's role in a democratic system and I'm sure they're ready to defend government institutions and constitution"
It's the army that still orchestrates the nations political decisions and it's the army that's the major obstacle to the Mayans struggle for justice and the new president's ability to initiate change.
Army
The army is split into two main factions - the traditional hardliners lost ascendancy with the failure of their coup attempts in May.
I/V Commander
"Our main mission is to protect the safety of Soloa's population and we must remember to respect human rights".
What are known as the moderate pragmatists are now in control.
Despite army assurance that they are now a new army mindful of human rights, far away from the capital, in the countryside, the Mayans still live in fear.
Miguel & Family
sequence
Miguel Sirkookie Muhere anmd his wife Manuela feed not only their own three daughters but the seven orphans and widows of murdered neighbours.
As a community organiser there's already been one attempt on his life.
I/V Miguel Sucuqui Mejia
"I remember that day well, when they inflicted these wounds on me. I have one here and one here, and they cut the tops off both these fingers.
Reporter "They cut your fingers off ?"
"Yes they cut them and it's only because I had a radio in my hand that I was able to defend myself. At that time this girl was only seven or eight weeks old. I was carrying her on my back when the attack happened."
Civil Patrols
The most insidious part of the countryside's state of siege are the civil patrols, community groups armed and administrated by the military.
In many cases they're nothing more than young thugs with guns. Officially membership is voluntary, but terror is often used to force villages to join up.
Carpio
When Deleon Carpio was Human Rights commissioner, he was emphatic that the Civil Patrols should be abolished.
But now as President he's changed his tune.
Question You mentioned the Civil Patrols - will you disband them?
I/V President Deleon Carpio
"At no point was the issue of dissolving them addressed. When peace comes yes, at leats we will discuss disarming them, removing their defence role."
Miguel at Community MTG
Miguel and other local leaders are holding a meeting to discuss a petition of demands they plan to take to the new President. This is the front line of Mayan resistance. Communities trying to take control of their own destiny.
Miguel "We're taking this petition to him so they realise that the people are taking note of the promises they're making to us"
Mayan Marchers
Emboldened by the recent political changes, indigenous leaders from all over the country descend on the capital to deliver their position.
It's taken a lot of courage to get here. The courage of individuals like Miguel.
Presidential Palace
Initially they're told they don't have an appointment.
But eventually they're allowed in - not to meet the president, but his representatives.
Miguel in MTG
Having waited 500 years they don't expect much to change quickly.
It's not enough to say we are here, we've always been here and we're not going away.
Miguel and Others Leaving
Palace and applause
Miguel's Song
Playing guitar
"On a very dark night, I saw a shadow,
It was the shadow of a friend I lost a long time ago.
Sebastian my friend, what are you doing here?
I'm searching for my people I lost a long time ago"
Relics of the Mayan civilisation rise from the jungles of Guatemala.
It was a culture founded 3000 years ago. An empire that flourished while Europe languished in the dark ages.
A realm that lasted six times longer than the Roman empire.
PTC "The Mayan civilisation that once lived here simply vanished, but their descendants still cling to the land of their forebears. They've survived over 500 years of brutality from the Spanish with their muskets and measles, through dictators, the Guatemalan army and civil war. Thousands upon thousands of them have died and yet they still wait for the justice they so richly deserve.
Festival
Celebrations
At a midsummer saints day celebration in the countryside there's vivid evidence of the ancient Mayan traditions mingled with their more contemporary catholic beliefs.
In modern day Guatemala these indigenous Mayans far out-number the descendants of their Spanish conquerors - they are the majority.
But it's the minority that rules here - Mayans have no power.
Eighty percent of them live in poverty. For every 1000 Mayans children that are born - 500 will die as infants.
Their land has been stolen and they are exploited as a cheap source of labour.
I/V Rigoberta Menchu
"Land has been the oldest issue in Guatemala. People have fought for a piece of land, for land to harvest, for a future for their children and this has caused their deaths."
Grave Digging
Only now is it becoming clear just how many Mayan deaths there have been in the past 14 years - the so-called "disappeared" number about 45 thousand.
I/V Andy Kaufman
"Essentially what I do is dig up graves. Mass graves of indigenous Mayan people massacred in the early 80's."
Andy Kaufman is working on a grisly documentation identifying victims slaughtered in a secret campaign of terror.
I/V Kaufman
Pics - widows
and bodies unearthed
"It's incredibly traumatic in many way. You have 50 widows standing around a grave of 15 skeletons, screaming at the top of their lungs while you're sitting there for 2 days in the boiling hot sun scraping the dirt off the bones of their husbands"
"From a scientific standpoint I can't say from the graves who done it but if the testimony of the victims - and they all seem to corroborate - from the various cases around the country are to be believed the army is responsible for the majority of cases."
V/O The commander shouts orders to troops. In Guatemala the generals command more than their troops.
Guatemala's army has controlled this country since 1954 when it overthrew a democratically-elected government in a coup orchestrated by the United States.
Thirty-two years ago a small band of Mayan decided to fight back.
Armed by Cuban and Nicaragua's Sandinistas a guerilla force numbering less than two thousand became the focus of a US-backed counter insurgency war in which 100 thousand Mayans are believed to have been killed.
I/V General Mario Enriquez - Minister of Defence
"The Guatemalan army has been involved in this counter-insurgency to take over power"
Question- "To what extent do you concede that the army has been responsible for human rights violations?
"There have been some violations of human rights but as I have been telling you they are individuals. But I believe that institutionally there has never been a policy of human rights violations."
Rigoberta-walking in
house.
Since she won the Nobel Peace prize last year Rigoberta Menchu, has become the most powerful symbol of the Mayan people.
She too have lived with death - her brother tortured and burnt to death in front of her. Her parents both murdered. She escaped by fleeing to exile here in Mexico.
I/V Rigoberta
"I believe I am one of the living witnesses. I think if it were a personal offence it would be much easier to forget and forgive and start a new life. But this is not personal horror It is not a personal offence. It is a collective offence it is the collective memory of Guatemala"
Question "It would certainly seem from my research in the time that I've been here that at the heart of the problem for the indigenous people is the behaviour and record of the any - now will you in your term as president, be seeking to demilitarise Guatemala"?
"No, at this moment we can't talk about that. The army of Guatemala is prepared for peace, is conscious of it's role in a democratic system and I'm sure they're ready to defend government institutions and constitution"
It's the army that still orchestrates the nations political decisions and it's the army that's the major obstacle to the Mayans struggle for justice and the new president's ability to initiate change.
Army
The army is split into two main factions - the traditional hardliners lost ascendancy with the failure of their coup attempts in May.
I/V Commander
"Our main mission is to protect the safety of Soloa's population and we must remember to respect human rights".
What are known as the moderate pragmatists are now in control.
Despite army assurance that they are now a new army mindful of human rights, far away from the capital, in the countryside, the Mayans still live in fear.
Miguel & Family
sequence
Miguel Sirkookie Muhere anmd his wife Manuela feed not only their own three daughters but the seven orphans and widows of murdered neighbours.
As a community organiser there's already been one attempt on his life.
I/V Miguel Sucuqui Mejia
"I remember that day well, when they inflicted these wounds on me. I have one here and one here, and they cut the tops off both these fingers.
Reporter "They cut your fingers off ?"
"Yes they cut them and it's only because I had a radio in my hand that I was able to defend myself. At that time this girl was only seven or eight weeks old. I was carrying her on my back when the attack happened."
Civil Patrols
The most insidious part of the countryside's state of siege are the civil patrols, community groups armed and administrated by the military.
In many cases they're nothing more than young thugs with guns. Officially membership is voluntary, but terror is often used to force villages to join up.
Carpio
When Deleon Carpio was Human Rights commissioner, he was emphatic that the Civil Patrols should be abolished.
But now as President he's changed his tune.
Question You mentioned the Civil Patrols - will you disband them?
I/V President Deleon Carpio
"At no point was the issue of dissolving them addressed. When peace comes yes, at leats we will discuss disarming them, removing their defence role."
Miguel at Community MTG
Miguel and other local leaders are holding a meeting to discuss a petition of demands they plan to take to the new President. This is the front line of Mayan resistance. Communities trying to take control of their own destiny.
Miguel "We're taking this petition to him so they realise that the people are taking note of the promises they're making to us"
Mayan Marchers
Emboldened by the recent political changes, indigenous leaders from all over the country descend on the capital to deliver their position.
It's taken a lot of courage to get here. The courage of individuals like Miguel.
Presidential Palace
Initially they're told they don't have an appointment.
But eventually they're allowed in - not to meet the president, but his representatives.
Miguel in MTG
Having waited 500 years they don't expect much to change quickly.
It's not enough to say we are here, we've always been here and we're not going away.
Miguel and Others Leaving
Palace and applause
Miguel's Song
Playing guitar
"On a very dark night, I saw a shadow,
It was the shadow of a friend I lost a long time ago.
Sebastian my friend, what are you doing here?
I'm searching for my people I lost a long time ago"