Hotel mistakes Nobel laureate for bag lady

She was wearing a Mayan dress, the traditional attire of indigenous people in central America, and the hotel's response was also traditional: throw her out.

Staff at Cancun's five-star Hotel Coral Beach appear to have assumed this was another street vendor or beggar, so without asking questions they ordered her to leave. Except the woman was Rigoberta Menchú, the Nobel peace prizewinner, Unesco goodwill ambassador, Guatemalan presidential candidate and figurehead for indigenous rights.

The attempted eviction, an example of discrimination against indigenous people common in central and south America, backfired when other guests recognised Ms Menchú and interceded on her behalf.

The human rights activist was in the Mexican coastal resort at the request of President Felipe Calderón to participate in a conference on drinking water and sanitation and was due to give interviews at the hotel.

David Romero, a journalist and newsreader who was due to interview her for state radio Quintana Roo, told local media that hotel security tried to eject Ms Menchú from the lobby. They relented when told who she was. It was said not to be the first time a hotel has tried to throw her out.

Ms Menchú, 48, was awarded the 1992 Nobel peace prize for protesting against human rights abuses during Guatemala's brutal civil war.

Commentators noted the irony of upmarket resorts discriminating against real Maya while trying to attract tourists with fake Mayan architecture and spectacles.

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This article was reposted from the following location:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2150467,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigoberta_Mench%C3%BA

Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent

Friday August 17, 2007 The Guardian

If you are asking "why is she posting this?" Perhaps you are unaware what the tourist industry is doing to developing nations and third world countries... in my short time in Azerbaijan, I have already seen the effects of american culture here... from american music videos and food products, to american brands and advertisements. It is not necissarily a bad thing... but it can have negative impacts when what it shows the world is that money is the only thing that matters. This just goes to show that we need to show the world that there are more important things than making money. Everyone here asks me why are you here? How much are you making? They can't understand the concept of volunteering. The language doesn't even have an actual word for volunteer. The closest word means "from the heart." For many, money is motivation.

Life has so much more to offer... I'm not here to make anyone rich financially. There are things in this world that bring more joy than money could ever buy. I am just beginning to figure out how I can teach the world to give these things. Every person deserves to have a happy and rewarding life... it's just ironic when those like Ms Menchú who have devoted their lives to fighting against human rights abuses are the victim of the very same thing they are fighting to end.

My hat goes off to you Ms Menchú. Wherever you are, know there those of us scattered across the world trying to follow in your footsteps...