Guatemala Solidarity Network

“From behind protective masks, almost two hundred, mostly young people look through and clean stacks upon stacks of papers and documents at long tables in a cold and run down building in Guatemala City. The mountains of folders are one of the most unbelievable findings in Latin American history.”

We have touched on here about the discovery of the police archives following a large explosion which revealed these archives despite the state’s assurance that they did not exist. The filmmaker, Uli Stelzner, has made a film called ‘La isla – Archives of a Tragedy’ to tell the story of the archives and the work being carried out to uncover the truth about the brutality endured by the Guatemalan people. The film had its premiere in Guatemala City recently.

There’s more on Uli’s iskacine website, and there is this article, in Spanish, from Alesia Martínez. I must admit not knowing about periodimohumano but it certainly appears a site worth knowing.

'La isla' is a film that is eagerly awaited here in the UK. In the meantime, you can view the trailer here:

 

Flickr: photos.robert 

The BBC World Service is to broadcast a documentary about the police archives, much in the news recently. Entitled "The Atrocity Archives" it will be broadcast on 6 Apil. You can find out the programme details, listen to a trailer and find out the transmission times for different regions here.

The Atrocity Archives- BBC World Service: Part One

Programme One begins with the launch of the report in Guatemala City, attended by 1000 guests and journalists.

Gerry meets those at work restoring it - who lost loved ones during the civil war, killed or disappeared.

He speaks to Mayan people who suffered massacres, torture and the rape of their women, and looks at the risks posed by those who would rather names and evidence stayed secret.

Gerry also hears the story of a former general who expresses pride in what he did to ‘preserve the dignity of Guatemala.' And the story of a Catholic bishop who - during the war - denounced the state, only to be murdered days later.

Due to evidence revealed in the archives - the bishop's killers are now being prosecuted.

The Atrocity Archives- BBC World Service: Part Two

Programme Two begins with a tour of the archives - where documents, mouldy and crumbling, are being deciphered by a team of dedicated archivists and technicians.

Many of them do so in the hope of finding evidence of what happened to their loved ones were either killed or ‘disappeared.'

These include the case of union leader Fernando Garcia, and an eye-witness account of a village massacre, with buildings set on fire, children tossed into the flames, and women raped.

The last word goes to a Mayan spokesman who has seen the worst of Guatemala.

He tells Gerry that the opening of the archives might lead to justice, reconciliation, and the best of Guatemala.