GUATEMALAN INDIAN JUDGES MEASURE RIGHT-OF-WAY, 1998-12-03 (photo)

TO GO WITH BC-GUATEMALA-INDIANS - Guatemalan Mayan Indian judge Nicolas Chumil (kneeling) measures a corn field to establish a right of way for farmer Francisco Morales Ajqui (R). Chumil and Morales both speak an Indian language called Kaqchiquel and the judge sits on a community court that allows the peasants of San Andres Semetabaj to seek justice in their own language and according to local traditions. Morales and his brother have been squabbling for years over a right of way issue on their adjoined corn fields. Until the community court was established this year they had no access to justice in their own language. Picture taken 19OCT98. FO/ME