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War is nasty. There is no doubt that horrible things happen during armed conflicts. Many things that occur are unintentional when it comes to civilian losses. However, when the actions that are carried out against civilians are intentional it is criminal.
During the decades long war in Guatemala that ended in the 90’s many atrocities are reported to have been committed to various groups. Indigenous farmers, statesmen, women, children, all perished at the hands of criminal activity. All in all, it is said that 200,000 civilians died in the armed conflict.
Now as different human rights groups are conducting investigations into the allegations of war crimes, there new troubling developments. Many members of the military are spouting violent, threatening rhetoric toward those who might accuse them of wrong doing. In the Prensa Latina, this article describes the situation and response.
Guatemalan Bodies Slam Threats
Guatemala, Jun 27 (Prensa Latina) Civil society organizations condemned ex army members´ threats on human right advocates who seek to try people responsible for genocide in Guatemala.
Members of the Human Rights Legal Action Center held the Association of Military Veterans responsible for any intimidation or attack against its leaders.
In article published by Prensa Libre, retired General Jose Luis Quilo Ayuso, chairman of the association, said the trial of the military “can lead to tragic actions.”
Ex army members accused of crime and genocide have been threatening to avoid the implementation of justice, according to the Human Rights Legal Action Center.
A Spanish judge is presently in Guatemala to investigate the burning of the Spanish embassy in 1980, when 36 died including some diplomats and officials of that country.
A group of farmers who protested the army´s hostile conduct died, together with Vicente Menchu, father of Nobel prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu.
More than 200,000 people, most indigenous people, died during the 36 years of that war.
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It is hard for those of us living in a country not affected by civil war for 140 years to understand what it is like to still be in the aftermath of such an event. The war claimed so many lives and lasted so long that it has shaped the culture of Guatemala today. Much of the violent, poverty-stricken, climate we see is a direct result of this war.
I remember in 1989 I was on my way to Panajachel with a group. I was 14 at the time and knew little about Guatemala much less the armed conflict that was occurring. At a roadside market, we were approached by men wearing fatigues of some sort and armed with automatic weapons. To this day I’m not sure who they were or if I was in any danger or not for real. The looked through our stuff and moved on talking with the indigenous people. Our leader, who is from Guatemala, told us to quietly get in the vans and we left with most of the group not knowing what happened. It was a small event and nothing compared to what so many faced, yet it changed my life. I don’t find it hard to believe how things are the way they are after such a long difficult war.
