What was the reason for the genocide? What groups were involved, both as victim and aggressor?
The Guatemalan government, using the Guatemalan Army, began a systematic campaign of repressions and suppression against the Mayan Indians, whom they claimed were working towards a communist coup. The genocide is also called 'The Silent Holocaust'.
What was the duration of the genocide?
The Guatemalan Genocide lasted from 1981 to 1983. The Guatemalan Civil War, however, lasted from 1960 to 1996.
What was the death toll of the genocide?
The Guatemalan army destroyed 626 villages, killed or “disappeared” more than 200,000 people and displaced an additional 1.5 million, while more than 150,000 were driven to seek refuge in Mexico.
Were there particular events during the genocide in which a greater number of people died?
The daily number of killings increased from an average of 20 to 30 in 1979 to an estimate of 30 to 40 daily in 1980 equaling an estimated of 5,000 deaths in 1980 alone. The numbers increased even more so from 1981 to 1983 when the actual genocide was going on.
Were people simply killed, or were they tortured as well?
Torture did occur, even though it was not the main idea of the genocide. Women were often raped before being killed, and many of the survivors were tortured. Soldiers mainly wiped out the inhabitants of the Mayan villages, leaving no people left to be tortured.
How did the aggressors feel about their role?
The Guatemalan government looked at the Mayan Indians as second class citizens, viewing them as if they were collaborating with the Civil War Guerrillas. This "justified" and made up for their attempt of terminating the Mayan community. Soldiers were controlled by a dictator, so they did not have any say.
How were the lives of the survivors affected?
After the genocide, the lives of the survivors were greatly affected. Most people did not have remaining, living family members to return to. Most towns and villages were destroyed due to the Guatemalan soldiers policy, "Scorched Earth." This is where the soldiers would burn down houses and farms, destroy sacred places, kill off any farm animals, and even contaminate the water sources. All of this was an attempt to disable the remaining Mayans to return and to make use of their villages.
How did the international community respond to the genocide?
The international community responded to the genocide in many ways. One way was allowing three commissioners to travel the country. In doing so, they received 9,000 witness statements in an attempt to decipher the Guatemalan government's actions. Witnesses were protected from the Guatemalan government by the United Nations. In February of 1999, the commission released 'Guatemala: Memory of Silence,' which documented the genocide against the Mayans by the Guatemalan government.
The Guatemalan government, using the Guatemalan Army, began a systematic campaign of repressions and suppression against the Mayan Indians, whom they claimed were working towards a communist coup. The genocide is also called 'The Silent Holocaust'.
What was the duration of the genocide?
The Guatemalan Genocide lasted from 1981 to 1983. The Guatemalan Civil War, however, lasted from 1960 to 1996.
What was the death toll of the genocide?
The Guatemalan army destroyed 626 villages, killed or “disappeared” more than 200,000 people and displaced an additional 1.5 million, while more than 150,000 were driven to seek refuge in Mexico.
Were there particular events during the genocide in which a greater number of people died?
The daily number of killings increased from an average of 20 to 30 in 1979 to an estimate of 30 to 40 daily in 1980 equaling an estimated of 5,000 deaths in 1980 alone. The numbers increased even more so from 1981 to 1983 when the actual genocide was going on.
Were people simply killed, or were they tortured as well?
Torture did occur, even though it was not the main idea of the genocide. Women were often raped before being killed, and many of the survivors were tortured. Soldiers mainly wiped out the inhabitants of the Mayan villages, leaving no people left to be tortured.
How did the aggressors feel about their role?
The Guatemalan government looked at the Mayan Indians as second class citizens, viewing them as if they were collaborating with the Civil War Guerrillas. This "justified" and made up for their attempt of terminating the Mayan community. Soldiers were controlled by a dictator, so they did not have any say.
How were the lives of the survivors affected?
After the genocide, the lives of the survivors were greatly affected. Most people did not have remaining, living family members to return to. Most towns and villages were destroyed due to the Guatemalan soldiers policy, "Scorched Earth." This is where the soldiers would burn down houses and farms, destroy sacred places, kill off any farm animals, and even contaminate the water sources. All of this was an attempt to disable the remaining Mayans to return and to make use of their villages.
How did the international community respond to the genocide?
The international community responded to the genocide in many ways. One way was allowing three commissioners to travel the country. In doing so, they received 9,000 witness statements in an attempt to decipher the Guatemalan government's actions. Witnesses were protected from the Guatemalan government by the United Nations. In February of 1999, the commission released 'Guatemala: Memory of Silence,' which documented the genocide against the Mayans by the Guatemalan government.