The purpose of this page is to update anyone who may have missed a recent event. We will try to archive these "reviews" as a way of journaling events of our hermanamiento. |
The purpose of this page is to update anyone who may have missed a recent event. We will try to archive these "reviews" as a way of journaling events of our hermanamiento. |
Yolanda Aquilar: October 24, 1998
More than sixty-five people shared a meal,
prayed, sang and heard a message of pain, hope and a report
about Guatemala's Catholic Church's Nunca Mas, in St. Joan of
Arc's Hospitality Hall when Guatemalan torture survivor Yolanda
Aguilar spoke Sunday, October 25. Ron Joki began the evening
with a candle light service as a prayer memorial to the slain
Guatemalan Archbishop and head of the ODHA(Archdiocesan Human
Rights Office), Msgr. Juan Gerardi. Katy Johnson led the group
in song. Ms. Aguilar shared a message of her torture,
background information and recommendation for increased human
rights protections for Guatemalans, especially
women.
Aguilar, an employee in the Guatemalan Diocesan office and co-author of the Nunca Mas report, attacked the U.S. Army's School of Americas (SOA) as one of the continued contributors to Latin America's suffering along with a message of hope offered by the Nunca Mas report. She also urged people to visit Guatemala to witness its plight so that they can return to the U.S. and stand in solidarity with her people (as the Sister Parish members do). She expressed the need for U.S. citizens to plead with their political leaders to pass the Human Rights Information Act that would reveal the truth that is hidden in the CIA and State Department archives about the torture and murders of Guatemalans. The prosecution of those responsible and the finding of the disappeared are needed for full recovery and is the goal of the REMHI project, Nunca Mas.(SJA's Sister Parish committee has a copy of the report in Spanish for anyone interested.) The report contains the actual experiences of over 6,500 victims. Over 200,000 died, 85% by the military. Most believe Msgr. Gerardi, who was murdered two days after the release of the REHMI report, was killed by the military.
The evening, sponsored by the Sister Parish Committee, was coordinated by its chair, Louise Bertsch. To read the English translation of Yolanda's account included in the report, e-mail your request to Bob at: heber014@tc.umn.edu.