Guatemalan Genocide & Its Dark Truth
63
This page will focus on the Guatemalan genocide, a period of brutal violence that brought tremendous adversity to those indigenous communities residing in the rural areas of Guatemala. It will provide details regarding the atrocities that the Mayan people experienced, the trauma that was left behind, and the hardships that they continue to face today. Furthermore, it will demonstrate how this heinous period of history fostered activism and social movements in Guatemala. By Paola Chavarria and & Aurora Nieves
image_header
2023-06-11T22:04:39-07:00
The economic and political inequalities led to the Guatemalan war between the government of Guatemala and various leftist rebel groups (also known as the Guerillas) from 1960 until 1996. Unfortunately, this civil war gave rise to what is known to some as the Guatemalan genocide, the Mayan genocide, or the Silent Holocaust. The Guatemalan genocide was precipitated by the Guatemalan government’s belief that the indigenous people were sympathizing with the leftist Guerrilla groups. As a result, the Mayan community became the recipients of torture, forced disappearances, sexual violence, massacres, and human rights abuse. In fact, it is estimated that there were over 200,000 deaths in which 83% of them were indigenous individuals.
Rigoberta Menchú – a Mayan activist who like many lost her brother, father, and mother during the genocide – was one of the first people to speak on this barbaric event. As news of the atrocities spread, international attention was drawn. Subsequently, international human rights organizations together with some Guatemalan activists and intellectuals began to speak out against the genocide. They wanted to raise awareness and pressure the government along with other international organizations to get involved, but more specifically they wanted those responsible for the genocide to be held accountable.
Like Mechú, others have joined the efforts to seek justice for the victims of the Guatemalan genocide. For instance, The Mutual Support Group (GAM) assisted the families of those who were illegally detained and forcibly disappeared. The Human Rights Office of the Archbishop of Guatemala (ODHAG) supported survivors, documented evidence, and brought international pressure on the Guatemalan government so that they could address the crimes committed during the Guatemalan war and the Mayan genocide. In addition, Anthropologist like Freddy, the founder and director of the Guatemalan Foundation of Forensics Anthropology (Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala) and forensic Anthropologist Gabriella Padilla helped exhume remains from mass graves to match them to individuals who are yet to discover the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Undeniably, the Guatemalan genocide has left a lasting impact on the country. Yet, the ongoing efforts of the people of Guatemala to seek justice has brought recognition to indigenous rights and served as a catalyst for human rights advocacy today.