THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

ON CAMPUS

A Guatemalan Jew
Fears Mayan Holocaust

Y HOWARD LOVY
Special to The Jewish News

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fore they were conquered by the
I I MONOGRAMMING SERVICE I
1
Spaniards. Since then, no matter
who has been in power in
Guatemala, "the Indians contin-
CLONES & LISTON TAILORS
m
or Commercial
ued to maintain the economy of
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LADIES' & MEWS AMMONS SPECIALIST
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18161
Southfield
Rd.
the country."
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TUXEDO RENTALS Lowest Prices
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The Mayans now make up 60
Southfield
357-1722
percent of the total population
T.1-ft Plan, Teltrapi N. d 10 Rh
and represent the entire labor and
farming force of Guatemala.
However, according to Gabriela,
they are treated as second-class
citizens.
In 1979, when they formed
labor rights groups such as the
Peasant Committee of the High-
lands, theywere treated as sub-
versives. Rounded up and put in
concentration camps, they were
only allowed out when their labor
was needed.
All of Guatemala's Indians are
now imprisoned in these camps,
she said, except for those hiding in
the mountains or who have es-
caped to Mexico and the United
States.
According to Gabriela, there
are presently 900,000 civil police
in a country of seven million
people. Since 1954, 105,000
people have been killed and
38,000 have "disappeared." In
Guatemala, the chances of "dis-
appearing" are 20 percent greater
than in any other Latin American
country, she said.
Gabriela does not see the gov-
ernment loosening its control.
"The government knows that
when they stop the control, the
laborers will rise again," she said.
6 Way Power Seat, Pwr. Locks,
Like the European Jews in the
Pwr. Windows, Tinted Glass,
1930s and 1940s, the Mayans
Front & Rear Mats, Pulse Wipers,
seem to have few options. Gab-
R. Defog., Remote Mirrors,
riela said the Catholic Church in
Cruise, Tilt Wheel, Pwr. Antenna
Guatemala cannot advocate
& More. Stk. #1610.
human rights, as in other Latin
MONTHLY LEASE PYMNT. 5 249.88*
American countries, because the
army is not afraid to "kill the
priests." All the candidates in
next October's national elections
are either members of the upper
class or the army, and are not
sympathetic to the Mayan people.
Mayans are threatened with a
fine if they do not vote, so the
Guatemalan government can tell
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Radials, AM/FM Stereo & More. Stk. #1590.
She said the Reagan Adminis-
AM Radio. Stk. #810.
SALE
tration is aware of the problems
MONTHLY LEASE PYMNT.
SALE
MONTHLY LEASE PYMNT.
facing the Mayans, but refuses to
address them because their
"interests are elsewhere." Rea-
New '85 NINETY-EIGHT REGENCY 4 DOOR
gan's interests, according to Gab-
Armrest, F&R Bumper Rub Strips, Convenience Group Lamps. Visor
Vanity Mirror,.Chime T ones, Side Wind. Del., Pwr Di. locks, 3.8 VS Eng.,
riela, are to support a "democ-
Transverse Mounted W/Frt. Whl. Drive, Courtesy Warning L amps, ETR
racy" in Latin America, in spite of
AM/FM Stereo W/Digital Display Clock, Dual Speakers & Fixed Mast
Antenna, 5•Way Pwr. Seat, PS. Suspension System, SEIR All Season
the fact that U.S. aid to
Tires, Auto. Trans. 0.D., F&R Pwr. Brakes, Pwr. Side Windows, Tinted
Guatemala "democracy" helps to
Glass. Dk Blue. White. Black. Stk. iiPRF-004
SAVE
maintain concentration camps.
SALE
MONTHLY LEASE PYMNT.
UP
TO
"The Reagan Administration
wants to show that they are creat-
ing new democracies," she said.
She stressed that understand-
ing the Mayans' problems is es-
sential in helping prevent them.
"They need to know that the
people of the United States sup-
port them," she said.
Their culture and heritage are
in danger of being stamped out.
"Through history, they have kept
*Aulovest 48 mos., 18,000
28000 Telegraph at Tel-12 Mall
miles per year. 51500 down
their moral and social values. The
plus sec. dep., tax, 1st mo .
goal of the Guatemalan govern-
Open till 9
payment.
ment is not only to stop rebellion,
Mon. & Thurs. Eve.
but to kill these morals and val-
ues," she said.

SE OUR

)

11
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SemieButouia

AND MAINTENANCE

646-2452

Fearful of retaliation in her
homeland, a Guatemalan Jew
refused to allow her face to be
photographed.

Gabriela's ancestors were
Spanish Jews who secretly prac-
laticed a faith that was outlawed
and constantly subjected to abuse
from Spanish authorities. Now
she is a sociologist in Guatemala
krand says the Mayan Indians in
that country are subjected to the
same type of persecution as the
Jews were in Spain.
The Mayans are "suffering an
equal holocaust that we suffered
in World War II," with kidnap-
, pings, murders, imprisonment in
concentration camps, and
' threatened destruction of their
culture.
Gabriela spoke in Wayne State
University's Hillel lounge April 8
L
- \about the problems now facing the
Guatamalan Indians. She is re-
turning to Guatemala this week
and fears the consequences of
speaking out against the govern-
ment. For that reason, she wishes
`--) to be known only as Gabriela.
Distributed at her presentation
__was a Jan. 7 letter from the
Mutual Support Group
Guatemalans whose family mem-
bers have "disappeared."
"To the people of the United
1 . States," the letter begins. "We,
`)
2 , the wives, mothers and daughters
1, among the people of Guatemala,
,---\'are suffering with anguish over
the forced disappearances of our
loved ones, and because of these
, treacherous acts we, together
1=, with our small children who have
been deprived of paternal affec-
c ' tion, are living a most horrible
nightmare."
The Mutual Support Group has
' been outlawed by the govern-
ment. According to a March 19
newsletter published by the
Guatemala Human Rights
Commission/USA, Guatemala's
' chief of state, General Oscar
,Mejia Victores, has declared that
"to take steps toward the reap-
pearance alive of the disappeared
is a subversive act and measures
1 ,, will be adopted to deal with it."
To Gabriela, these "subver-
sives" are Mayan Indian laborers,
I rebelling against their imprison-
i-,tnent in Guatemalan concentra-
tion camps. Persecution of the
Mayan people is nothing new, she
said. The Mayans had a thriving
civilization thousands of years be-

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