Jesús Tecú sits in front of the Rabinal school he founded.
In 1982, much of the population of Río Negro was murdered; Tecú survived, but witnessed the deaths of most of his immediate family members. He spent two years as a household slave to one of the perpetrators before being remanded into the custody of his older sister, who had also survived the massacres.
In 1993, Tecú began legal proceedings to have the mass grave of Río Negro exhumed; this led directly to the prosecution of three of the men responsible for the massacre and, in 1998, to their being sentenced to death for crimes against humanity (in 1999, their sentences were commuted to 60 years in prison). As of 2006, this is the only Guatemalan trial for crimes against humanity committed during the civil war for which the perpetrators have been convicted.
Tecú has organized four separate charitable organizations, including a legal aid clinic, for the Achi Maya people. He has written his memoirs – these have been translated into English as The Massacres of Rio Negro – and gone on speaking tours throughout Canada, Europe, and the USA.
In 1996, Tecú won the Reebok Human Rights Award; he used the USD 25,000 prize money to start the New Hope Foundation[1] which provided scholarships and later expanded into a school called the New Hope Community Bilingual Institute[1] in Rabinal. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary law degree from Saint Francis Xavier University.[2] In 2010, Tecu was awarded the Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty by Human Rights First.[3]
jesús, tecú, osorio, born, 1971, río, negro, baja, verapaz, guatemalan, social, activist, worker, human, rights, advocate, achi, maya, jesús, tecú, sits, front, rabinal, school, founded, 1982, much, population, río, negro, murdered, tecú, survived, witnessed, . Jesus Tecu Osorio born 1971 in Rio Negro Baja Verapaz is a Guatemalan social activist worker for human rights and advocate for the Achi Maya Jesus Tecu sits in front of the Rabinal school he founded In 1982 much of the population of Rio Negro was murdered Tecu survived but witnessed the deaths of most of his immediate family members He spent two years as a household slave to one of the perpetrators before being remanded into the custody of his older sister who had also survived the massacres In 1993 Tecu began legal proceedings to have the mass grave of Rio Negro exhumed this led directly to the prosecution of three of the men responsible for the massacre and in 1998 to their being sentenced to death for crimes against humanity in 1999 their sentences were commuted to 60 years in prison As of 2006 this is the only Guatemalan trial for crimes against humanity committed during the civil war for which the perpetrators have been convicted Tecu has organized four separate charitable organizations including a legal aid clinic for the Achi Maya people He has written his memoirs these have been translated into English as The Massacres of Rio Negro and gone on speaking tours throughout Canada Europe and the USA In 1996 Tecu won the Reebok Human Rights Award he used the USD 25 000 prize money to start the New Hope Foundation 1 which provided scholarships and later expanded into a school called the New Hope Community Bilingual Institute 1 in Rabinal In 2007 he was awarded an honorary law degree from Saint Francis Xavier University 2 In 2010 Tecu was awarded the Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty by Human Rights First 3 See also EditRio Negro Massacre ADIVIMAReferences Edit a b La Fundacion Nueva Esperanza www fne cosmosmaya info Retrieved 2020 02 10 Man of Peace and Artist Philanthropist Honoured at Fall Convocation at Saint Francis Xavier University published November 23 2007 retrieved August 15 2014 via archive org Guatemalan Genocide Survivor Wins Roger Baldwin Award at Human Rights First published March 25 2010 retrieved August 15 2014External links EditReebok s profile of Jesus Tecu Osorio via archive org Fundacion Nueva Esperanza New Hope Foundation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jesus Tecu Osorio amp oldid 978935775, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
