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Guatemala: Peace at Last

Church bells rang, and grateful citizens lighted candles in Guatemala last week. After 36 years of civil war, peace has finally arrived in the poor Central American nation.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, in Oslo, Norway, members of Guatemalan rebel groups and government leaders came together to sign a cease-fire agreement. The former enemies hugged after signing the truce. Two more agreements must be signed before the final peace treaty is completed in Guatemala on December 29.

Rigoberta Menchu, a Guatemalan Indian and peace activist, attended the ceremony. In 1992 Menchu won one of the world's highest honors, the Nobel Peace Prize, for standing out as a "symbol of peace." She said the agreement was a dream come true but warned both sides that they must not return to the habit of war.

"With this agreement," said rebel commander Rolando Moran, "the weapons will be silenced forever."

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