Yahoo NewsGuatemala City (AFP) – A community of 230 Orthodox Jews from several countries Thursday began leaving the Guatemalan Indian village where they have lived for six years after claims and counterclaims of discrimination and threats.
Their exit from San Juan La Laguna, on the banks of Lake Atitlan and 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the capital Guatemala City, follows a meeting Wednesday in which Jewish and indigenous representatives failed to reach an agreement.
“We are a people of peace and in order to avoid an incident we’ve already begun to leave the village,” Misael Santos, a representative from the Jewish community, told AFP.
They had received threats, Santos said.
“We have a right to be there, but they threatened us with lynching if we don’t leave the village,” he added.
Most members of the small Jewish community are from the United States, Israel, Britain and Russia, and around 40 are Guatemalan. Approximately half are children.
Since October, the local indigenous population has accused the Orthodox Jews of discriminating against them and of violating Mayan customs.
The Council of Indigenous Elders said the Jewish community “wanted to impose their religion” and was undermining the Catholic faith that is predominant in the village.
“We act in self-defense and to respect our rights as indigenous people. The (Guatemalan) constitution protects us because we need to conserve and preserve our culture,” council spokesman Miguel Vasquez told AFP.
http://news.yahoo.com/jewish-community-forced-guatemalan-village-013932272.html
Imagine that. Such a small fraction of their population trying to take control over the indigenous population. Whoda thunk? Apparently they were not afraid of the pc police and will live to fight another day. Perhaps they learned by what has happened to us and most of the rest of the world
“they threatened us with lynching if we don’t leave the village”
Well, that’s what eventually happens when you treat people like expendable cattle and profit centers.
“We have a right to be there, but they threatened us with lynching if we don’t leave the village,” he added.”
Like that hasn’t happened in every country they’ve ever infested.
Infest, great description!
Yep infest is a very good description, so much like an infestation of roaches, same principle.
And like roaches, they’re extremely difficult to eradicate completely.
“We have a right to be there”
and:
“Most members of the small Jewish community are from the United States, Israel, Britain and Russia”
say’s it all really.
i suppose they will claim god gave them the planet next!
Like every other country and people that has had enough of their insanity.
-flek
So if Guatemalans are kicking out the Jews (the chosen people), shouldn’t we be at war with them instead of bringing them across the border illegally? I’m confused.
Good for the Guatemalans. How come we can’t kick out the Jews, too?