Miguel Guzaro Raymundo: Surviving Genocide
Surviving genocide: The Ixhil Maya Story - Don Miguel Guzaro Raymundo will speak about his experience as one of the leaders of the Communities of Population in Resistance (CPR) during the Guatemalan Civil war. The CPR organized thousands of Maya refugees living in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. The CPR provided self-defense, mutual aid, and education for residents in mountain communities who were periodically threatened by soldiers seeking to eliminate insurgents hiding among the mountain populations. Don Miguel’s mobilization of national and international organizations was instrumental in breaking the siege of the Ixhil Maya towns and bringing an end to the violence. In the years since the war, he has played a vital role in reconciliation and recovery of the communities through repatriation of remains of victims of the war. His talk touches on subjects relevant today, including grass-roots movements, democracy, genocide, indigenous rights, Latin American politics, globalization, and migration. Q&A will follow his presentation. CSUSM Students: free. Community: optional donation. Faculty/Staff/Alumni: optional donation. All donations will go back into the Arts & Lectures fund to provide for future events.