A Chapter of Aurora 8 de Octubre´s History

This chapter of the history of the members of Aurora 8 de Octubre begins in 1981 when, because of the violence in Guatemala, they abandoned their homes and belongings and fled into the mountains. They lived in the mountains without food or roofs over their heads for a year. After a year they agreed to take the initiative to find a refugee camp in Mexico, where they would stay for 11 years as refugees.

The first year in Mexico they were in Chiapas and were received by the Catholic church who gave them food and homes. Living near the border, the Guatemalan army would still cross the border to kill some of the refugees. After a year and a half, the Mexican government moved some of them move to other, better, locations in Mexico. The refugees divided into three groups at this point.

In 1993 the refugees decided to return to Guatemala without conditions, the peace treaty was signed in 1996. Despite two years of negotiation, they had been unable to obtain promise of security or safety for their return, but decided to return anyway in an organized fashion. With the support of the Catholic Church and NGO´s, 5000 refugees returned. They walked for one month from Mexico to Guatemala to a community called 20 de Enero en the department of Quiche. After a year and a half it became apparent that 20 de Enero could not support 5000 people so the group divided… They had looked for farms and/or land and the government helped them find land. They found Finca Xaman which they renamed Aurora 8 de Octubre.

Now they live there and have a place to live and grow their crops. Throughout this chapter of their lives they never thought they would be sitting in a new church in Guatemala telling their story to a group of Americans. As Pantelon said, it is through Christ that we have been connected so that you, the delegation, can learn our story.

The story did not end with their arrival in Aurora 8 de Octubre. By 1995, they had established homes, a school, and their crops. One day (before the peace was official) the army came into the community, marching through the crops, and killed children and a few teachers. 11 were killed and 37 were injured. The Lieutenant in charge of the army had a Quiche last name and yet was killing those of the same Mayan group.

The children were studying at the Finca house when the army started to surround the community. One girl had her notebook in hand, as she was walking she was shot in the shoulder. As she felt the bullet she asked her father what had happened… even as the pages of her notebook turned red from her blood. She said goodbye to her dad and died.

Another boy was fishing in a pond, his corn doll next to him. He was killed. In his morrale (bag) was his notebook and three small fish. He was shot three times in the chest.
Two of the 11 who died that day.