Rigoberta Menchu was born and rise from a poor indigenous family of K’iche’ descent near the small town of Laj Chimel. She became a student of several Catholic Boarding Schools and works as an activist against human rights. She has become well known especially on her dedicated work in protecting and promoting the indigenous rights in the Country. Because of her well hearted service she was able to receive different awards such as Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and in 198 the Prince of Austrias Award. She also became a UNESCO Ambassador and ran as president of Guatemala in 2007.
Why She Is Important
She became one of the makers of justice, peace and equality, she also became one of the inspirations of people in Guatemala especially of the youth who also wants to change their self and become a leader of the community. She was able to travel around the world to talk with the youth and share inspirational stories during the PeaceJam conferences. But with all the success and contribution that she had share to many people is the controversy that changed how people’s thinking about her.
It was more than a decade after Menchu published her book when David Stroll makes an investigation about her story, reports, land claims and others. When Stoll has finish with his investigation he found out that some of the details that she wrote on the book are not all true. There are some elements in the story of her life that she has changed, and that cause her in receiving widespread coverage and negative opinions. The story that she included on her book is well improved by her to gain stronger support from the Guatemalan guerrilla movement.
Still Unanswered
With this unanswered controversy, Stoll had gathered more information to prove that Menchu’s story was not really accurate. So Stoll went to the place where Menchu was raised and there he was able to interview some of the neighbours of the family regarding their life status and there he found out that Rigoberta was not totally poor. Because of these Menchu has responded to all the criticisms about her. She stated that all of her assertions are not actually 100 percent accurate; she admitted that some of her stories are not exactly stated on the book. In fact she said that she had attended school while she is growing up, she did not also witnessed the torture killings that happened to her brother. Menchu cleared that everything that she stated in her book has the purpose of protecting her neighbours and other people that are living in Guatemala.
Conclusion
With the statement of Rigoberta Menchu she came to clean some of the controversy that is being accused to her. Some may believe and some may not, but with all of these according to her everything that she did ahs a purpose. She just wants to ensure the safety of the people Especially the Guatemalan who already becomes part of her life. Even though she faced such kind of issue, she still did not fail to serve and to fight for the right of the indigenous people.
