[HWPL]

[HWPL] Peace Tours of Man-Hee Lee (19): Laying of ‘Rose of Peace’ in Guatemala & Signing of Peace Agreement in Peru with Leaders of 12 million Incans

On April 5, 2014, Chairman Lee and Incan leaders are taking commemorative photos after signing a peace agreement

On April 8, 2014, a commemorative photo is taken of Chairman Man-hee Lee after receiving a letter of appreciation from Minister of Culture Carlos Enrique Batzín Chojoj at the National Palace of Guatemala, the headquarters of the President of Guatemala

On April 8, 2014, Chairman Lee received a letter of appreciation from the National Palace of Guatemala and laid a white rose at the Palm of Peace Monument in the National Palace of Guatemala, the headquarters of the President of Guatemala. He also received a letter of appreciation from the Guatemalan authorities in recognition of his contribution to peace.

This was meaningful in acknowledging that the peace agreement made and signed by Chairman Lee with the Mayan people in 2013 had substantially contributed to peace in Guatemala. The laying of a white rose at the Palm of Peace Monument is permitted only to individuals who have contributed to world peace, and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon is the only Korean prior to Chairman Lee who did so in 2011.

On April 8, 2014, Chairman Lee lays a white rose at the Palm of Peace Monument in the heart of the National Palace of Guatemala

Why is the Palm of Peace Monument located in the center of the National Palace of Guatemala?

Guatemala suffered from 36 years of civil war from 1960 to 1996. At least 140,000 people are believed to have been killed in the process. The civil conflict broke out when, in 1954, the leftist President Juan Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán was deposed in a coup sponsored by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after attempting to nationalize the United Fruit Company, which controlled Guatemala's economy at the time.

Fruits, such as bananas, are the main produce of Guatemala, so it is not unsurprising for fruit and vegetable companies to dominate the economy. Under the military dictatorship, the leftist forces who fled to the mountains created a guerrilla organization with the native Indians. The U.S.-backed military launched a guerrilla sweep, indiscriminately slaughtering natives in the mountainous regions. In the process, at least 140,000 indigenous people were killed and 100,000 others fled across the northern border to Mexico.

On April 8, 2014, Chairman Man-hee Lee delivers a peace message prior to the White Rose Laying Offering Ceremony at the Palm of Peace Monument in the National Palace of Guatemala

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, who received global attention as a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1992, is a human rights activist whose indigenous parents were slaughtered by government forces during the civil war. The civil war ended in 1996, the first year in office of the 32nd President of Guatemala Álvaro Enrique Arzú Yrigoyen (1946-2018).

Former President Arzú signed a peace accord with the rebel forces, ending the 36-year Guatemalan civil war. Following his presidency, he served as mayor of Guatemala City for 14 years from 2003 until his death on April 27, 2018 from cardiac arrest. He helped rebuild Guatemala.

After that, the Palm of Peace Monument was installed in the National Palace of Guatemala, and the White Rose, which is a symbol of peace, was placed on top of the Peace Monument to signify the peace that Guatemalans hope for and build in their daily lives. The symbol of peace is sculpted with two hands raised to the heavens, symbolizing prayer to God the Creator for peace throughout the world. The White Rose Laying Offering Ceremony at the Palm of Peace Monument was initiated for world figureheads who spread a culture of peace.

To date, the Dalai Lama and President George W. Bush have laid the white rose at this wreath-laying ceremony. According to HWPL, the government of Guatemala highly appreciated Chairman Lee's successful peace agreements in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central and South America, and that he was selected as the first civilian to lay the white rose.

Minister of Culture of Guatemala Carlos Enrique Batzín Chojoj, who delivered congratulatory remarks at the White Rose Laying Offering and Awards Ceremony, praised Chairman Lee's peace movements.

Minister Chojoj said, “Today, representatives working for peace in Guatemala and the world have gathered.” He said, "I believe that as a recipient of this letter of appreciation, Chairman Lee will spread the message of peace for mankind more widely in every country he visits in the future." He added, “I would like to express my gratitude and congratulations to Chairman Lee, who is the guardian of world peace.”

On April 8, 2014, Chairman Lee delivers a message of peace to an audience of Mayan people and Guatemalan citizens prior to the White Rose Laying Offering Ceremony

The Guatemalan government presented Chairman Lee with a letter of appreciation following the wreath laying ceremony. After completing all the steps, the Guatemalan local orchestra performed ‘Arirang’ (sometimes considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea) as a special performance.

Religious people who attended the peace ceremony held a separate meeting with Chairman Lee and asked him to send a message of peace. Chairman Lee emphasized that religions must unite in order to achieve God's will, which is a world of peace.

The news of the peace ceremony was reported not only in Korea, but also in countries throughout the world, including Guatemala, the United States, Costa Rica, Uruguay, the Philippines, and Ghana.

On April 8, 2014, the Mayan peoples in Guatemala wear traditional costumes and attend the White Rose Laying Offering Ceremony to listen to Chairman Lee's message of peace

Prior to the 9th peace tour, Chairman Lee had met with the former President Yrigoyen on November 5, 2013, during the 7th peace tour. Former President Yrigoyen, who was then Mayor of Guatemala, appointed Chairman Lee a distinguished guest and awarded him a certificate of appointment. Former President Yrigoyen called Chairman Lee called Chairman Lee a devoted "brother" in Korean and formed a kinship. This relationship led HWPL to carry out many activities in Guatemala, such as an MOU for peace education, laying flowers of peace and giving certificates of appreciation at the Peace Monument, relief work in the Maya region, and holding peace seminars.

On April 5, 2014, Chairman Lee greets an Inca leader at the Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel in Peru

In Peru, where the Amerindians have lived since B.C., traces of the flourishing Incan civilization have remained intact. The light of HWPL's peace was also shone on the Inca people who number 12 million.

April 3, 2014. Chairman Lee and the peace delegation had a meeting with Hilaria Supa Huamán, a politician and human rights activist who is an active member of several Indigenous women's organizations in Peru, and began HWPL's peace movement for the 12 million Incas. After that meeting, a meeting was held with Vice President of Peru Marisol Espinoza Cruz.

On April 5, 2014, at the Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel in Peru, Chairman Lee had a conversation with three Inca leaders.

On April 5, 2014, Chairman Lee is meeting with three leaders of the Incan people

On the day of the meeting, leaders of the Inca wore traditional costumes and brought dried leaves and bells. Then, a cloth was laid on the table and leaves, which are a local specialty, were placed. Prior to the meeting, a traditional ceremony was performed with great effort and piety with the heart to unite the world for peace. Claudio Cuisdisamata, a leader of the Inca people, said, “The reason we wore these clothes and brought special produce is because we want to unite with HWPL for peace by sharing our culture and hearts.”

Chairman Lee responded to their open hearts by delivering a message of peace and holding various meetings.

After their meeting, another leader, Lazaro Gusdiyafra, said, “It is a great blessing and joy for us to meet the Chairman today.”

The leaders of the Inca people signed a peace agreement with Chairman Lee and promised to carry out the peace movement together.

Peace!!