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Rigoberta Menchú Tum is a Guatemalan Maya human rights activist and recipient of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize. As a member of the indigenous population, whose 22 ethnic groups constitute 65 percent of the total population of Guatemala, she grew up in conditions of poverty and exploitation, witnessing human rights violations committed by the Guatemalan armed forces during the civil war (1960–96). The US-backed Guatemalan military regimes followed a scorched earth policy to fight the left-wing guerilla movements. This included massacres, torture, and the “disappearing” of opponents. At least 200,000 Guatemalans were killed, most of whom were members of the indigenous population. Still very young, Menchú started to campaign for indigenous rights, and in 1979 she became an activist in the Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC). In 1980 her father and 37 activists were killed by the Guatemalan army when a delegation of CUC members occupied the Spanish embassy to seek political support. Her mother and other members of her family were tortured and killed by government forces. In 1981 Menchú had to flee to Mexico. In exile she continued her political activities and took part in the foundation of the United Representation of the Guatemalan Opposition (RUOG), of which she became a leading member. Menchú gained international recognition as a representative of indigenous culture and resistance ... log in or subscribe to read full text