Guatemala is very much a country that is still recovering from a 36 year violent civil war that only ended with the signing of peace accords in 1996. This democratic republic governed country has just persecuted that dictator, Efrain Rios Montt, responsible for ordering the slaughter of thousands of indigenous and non indigenous people in a trial decided May 10th. But it is far from being fully recovered. People still mourn the loss of their relatives and loved ones, most of which "disappeared" never to be seen again. Many rural people of Guatemala fled the country to escape death by Montt's regime as well. The number of people affected by the murders are ever increasing, and more often than not a Guatemalan has at least one missing relative because of the genocide. Montt was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 80 years in prison. This sentence is controversial and sends a clear message because Montt is 86 years old. He will most likely die in prison.
The violence of the civil war still lives on in the streets of Guatemala, in the lives of the notorious mara's. More specifically the Mara Salvatrucha 13, the Mara 18, and the Zeta's from neighboring Mexico just to name a few. Most of the violence that occurs is drug related or against women in the form of rapings and killings. Rape was widely used during the civil war as a weapon of war to intimidate opponents. Just last year some 700 women were killed in Guatemala alone, mostly from gang violence. These gangs were hardened in the streets and prisons in places like L.A. and have brought that sense of violence back home with them. Much of Guatemala's most dangerous crimes occur along the Mexican-Guatemalan border and these include drug smuggling as well as "alien" smuggling. Gang members often kidnap and kill as their tactic and high rates of these crimes have been seen in Guatemala City as well as rural Guatemala.
Many of these civilians being targeted are indigenous Mayans. Guatemala's indigenous population makes up over 60% of the countries total population. Though this 60% percent is quite poor, they also make up 61.7% of the countries economic output.
It is highly unfortunate to see the suffrage of indigenous groups. The discrimination and abuse these people receive is utterly repulsive. I think it would be a good idea to investigate how natives are dealing with violence towards them. are they organizing themselves socially or politically?
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