Guatemala

Latin America

Guatemala: The shadow of the ex-dictator

By Carlos Quintanilla

The war in Guatemala which ended with a peace agreement in 1996 continues to drive polarization, dissatisfaction and dissent.

The current demonstrations in that nation have arisen in protest to the presidential candidacy of ex-dictator Efrain Rios Montt. Through dirty manipulations, Rios Montt registered his candidacy for the November 9 elections. However, his presence on the ballot has generated a thorough rejection and condemnation from national and international organizations.

In 1990 and in 1995 the Constitutionality Court rejected the ex-dictator's candidacy. Currently he is President of the Guatemalan Congress and Secretary General of the ultra-right wing government party Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG).

The military repression in Guatemala gained strength in the early 1980's, when a military group headed by Rios Montt took the presidency with a coup d'etat.

A few months after he declared himself the new chief of state (1982-83), Rios Montt launched an aggressive counter-insurgency campaign. While in power his first year over 15,000 Guatemalans were assassinated. Seventy thousand more became political refugees in Mexico. Over half a million fled the army, hiding in the mountains.

According to the human rights organization Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo(GAM), during the 17 months of the Rios Montt administration, over 440 massacres were committed and more than 3,000 suspected guerrilla sympathizers were disappeared.

In the 36 months of war, about 200,000 Guatemalans lost their lives. The counter-insurgent campaigns launched by the military and aided by U.S. advisers, ended in numerous massacres against the indigenous and peasant (campesino) populations.

One of the main concerns today in Guatemala is the possible reappearance of the terrible death squads, which could be now threatening journalists. In these uncertain times, over ten journalists have been the targets of attacks, as well as repeated threats by strangers attempting to intimidate them from investigating cases of corruption.

In this context, the candidacy of Efrai Ris Montt does not bring good tidings to the Guatemalan people. R¡os Montt is a murderer. He repressed the people with his famous formula "bullets and beans".

Facing this dark history, the different sectors in the country must unite more than ever before, and confront this nefarious character. Hiding behind religious beliefs, Rios Montt has forced thousands of Guatemalan families into mourning, leaving behind scars which can never be erased.

Carlos Quintanilla produces and hosts KPFK's Spanish Language news program "Noticiero Pacifica," which is broadcast over 90.7 FM. Noticiero Pacifica is the only independent news program focusing on Latin American issues in the Los Angeles area. P. O. Box 761475 Los Angeles, CA 90076 E-mail: notipaci@hotmail.com