Guatemala 1

Running Head: GUATEMALA

The Gradual Extermination and Racial Marginalization of Indigenous Peoples from Guatemala

Qasim Zia

July 12, 2016

Abstract
 Guatemala 2

What has become common practice for a majority of Latin American states in the past

and even today is the social separation or creation of “otherness” between the indigenous people

and those who are descendants of Spanish settlers and Conquistadors. This paper will examine

how the indigenous people have been targeted throughout the years and how the use of the

political machine has allowed for their gradual “disappearance”. Journal articles and the internet

will be the primary sources of data and research will be made from the literature in the respective

fields.

Introduction
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Throughout history the human race has always found an opportunity to pit one of its

races against the other, for a multitude of reasons. This has resulted in social stereotypes, ethnic

cleansing, racially-driven conflicts, transnational wars, civil wars, genocides, and countless

human rights abuses. Latin America is a prime example of this, even though there exists a

convenient lack of media coverage in these areas. “Since Guatemala became independent from

Spain in 1821, the state has considered the very existence of the indigenous population to be a

problem. Intellectual and political debates revolved around how to solve the ‘Indian problem’”

(Rasch, 2011). This paper will focus on the country of Guatemala and the indigenous Mayan

people who have been victims of much of the abuses wrought by the military and political

regimes.

Guatemala is a rather temperate country which lies in Central America and is bordered by

Mexico and Belize to the North, with El Salvador and Honduras to the South. Guatemala is a

relatively cool, mountainous country with warmer coastal plains and lush jungles.

Map of Guatemala (CIA, 2016)

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The state has a long legacy left over from the Spanish colonial period as a majority of the

population is European and what is known as Mestizo, which is a mix of Spanish and the local

indigenous population (CIA, 2016). Gleamed from the Spanish as well, is the Roman Catholic

faith, which plays a large role in the lives of many in Central and South America. What is

interesting about Guatemalan demographics is that there exists more than a few ethnic groups.

The Ladino group is made of people who have a mixture of the indigenous Mayan and of the

Spanish colonial line. “Rural thus means ‘poor’ and ‘indigenous’, while urban means ‘rich’,

‘Ladino’, and ‘Maya’” (Rasch, 2011). The delineation between Mestizo and Ladino is not

necessarily apparent as Ladino can be seen as the middle class of the Mestizo population

utilizing Spanish as their primary language and observing fewer Mayan traditional customs.

“The entrenched, structural problems of poverty and authoritarianism have exacerbated racist

attitudes towards indigenous Guatemalans and generated a palpable sense of anger within

distinct sectors of Ladino society” (Brett, 2011). This issue is not new as, “The dominant class

viewed Indians, and the ladino population that grew since the fifteenth century, as idle, dirty,

hypocritical, disloyal beasts for whom there was only one remedy: the whip” (Ibarra, 2006). As

time progressed and Communism raised its ugly head in Latin America, the same class-conflict

which had been the foundation of the struggle was allowed to solidify. The United States, with

McCarthyism, favored those who were opposed to the Communists, the Right-Wing

conservative forces which included institutions such as the Catholic Church, the military and

political elites. These quickly became important allies to U.S. interests.

Racism towards the indigenous Mayan population occurs in all levels of society, even

when providing medical services. “Healthcare providers would not seek out any interpreters;

even when family members were present and willing to help. This led some participants to
 Guatemala 5

believe that speaking a Maya language put people in disadvantage, and that only Spanish native

speakers will receive the care they seek” (Cerón, et al., 2016). In recent years there has been an

increasing drive to build awareness to the indigenous population which has brought on more

sentiments of contempt from the Ladinos who argue they have fewer rights when it comes to the

implementation of such measures as affirmative action (Brett, 2011). The socio-political

environment of Guatemala tends to agitate the issues, as Brett (2011) explains:

This backlash against the indigenous population, which generally emerges when
historically privileged groups begin to feel direct threats against the protection of their
interests, is evident not only at the level of the economic, military and political elite, but
also in the poorest sectors of Ladino society, where urgently needed development
programs have not been targeted to the extent necessary (Brett, 2011).

These sentiments have allowed for a justification by militarized groups and political elites

to target the indigenous populations over the years. Guatemala has experienced many civil wars

with the last one lasting for 36 years. “Guatemala's military and paramilitary forces were

responsible for 93 percent of the 42,275 cases of people who… were "murdered, disappeared,

raped, or tortured"—and that number covered little more "than 20 percent of the estimated

victims"” (Alterman, 2013) It took place from 1960 to 1996, and was fought between

government forces and rebel groups who held leftist views which were made up of primarily the

poor indigenous Mayan people and Ladino peasants. After World War II the United States

became keenly aware of states that developed leftist policies and inclinations towards socialist

principles as fears of a Communist domino effect quickly spread. “Latin America’s societies are

characterized by a race-based system of ethnoclasses in which the subjugated indigenous

groups, along with the imported African slaves (and their free or enslaved descendants), have

been politically, economically, and culturally marginalized ever since the colonial conquest”

(Vogt, 2015). With the onset of the Cold War the US opted to stage a coup d’état in order to
 Guatemala 6

overthrow the leftist government of Guatemala. From then on a series of conservative

dictatorships had control of the state and systematic violence, oppression, “forced

disappearances”, and discriminatory acts were carried out on civilians, especially the indigenous

populations.

Methodology

In an effort to better understand the extent to which the indigenous populations of

Guatemala have been targeted, a historical context will be given as to ascertain the causal factors

for discrimination and violence. Additionally, the current political situation will be analyzed in

order to see how this issue has evolved throughout the years and if there has been any

improvement or digression in the process. Because this topic is centered on the identity of

various groups of people and their relationships through interactions with one another, the theory

of constructivism will be utilized in order to provide a better description of why past events have

shaped what is occurring in the Guatemala of today. Regional news sources, periodicals, and

journal articles will provide the primary sources of data collection in this paper.

Research Question

Since the colonial period there has been class struggle and discrimination between those

of Spanish descent and the indigenous populations in Guatemala, often resulting in violent

conflict and even genocide. Has this issue been abated to a more pacified extent, or is it still as

persistent in today’s political landscape?

Thesis Statement

With the election of a more conservative president, there are justifiable concerns that the

situation for the indigenous peoples of Guatemala will not improve. With a general lack of media
 Guatemala 7

coverage, the plight of the indigenous populations in Guatemala will remain unnoticed and, as

such, fail to see significant improvements.

Literature Review

Within this review of literature an attempt to provide some historical context to the

present situation will be made. The recent civil war and ensuing genocide provide major

foundational elements to the current political and social frameworks existing today in

Guatemala. Journal articles will provide the primary sources for data collection in this study.

With the information gleamed from the literature, we can hope to paint a better picture of the

future of Guatemala and its indigenous populations to determine whether or not it will be

prosperous or continue to have bleak prospects.

Carlos Figueroa Ibarra (2006) discusses just how devastating the civil war was for the

Central American country and why it is such an important cornerstone in the history of the state,

“The internal conflict left Guatemala a total of 150,000 to 160,000 dead. In addition, the 40,000–

45,000 who went missing, according to conventional estimates, place Guatemala at the pinnacle

of the ignominy witnessed in Latin America during the twentieth century” (Ibarra, 2006). In what

has become common knowledge about the United States during the Cold War Era was that a

major prerogative of the government and of its primary Intelligence gathering agency, the CIA,

was that Communism had to be prevented from spreading to the Homefront. However diplomatic

or subversive in nature, “it was not the revolutionary measures concerning the United Fruit

Company that led the empire to overthrow the Guatemalan revolution, it was the spirit of

McCarthyism which made the presence of communists in the broad alliance that supported the

Arbenz government intolerable to US leaders” (Ibarra, 2006). Many issues were used as a front

in order to effectively marginalize the indigenous populations and ultimately legitimize any form
 Guatemala 8

of extermination or disappearances that may occur with little apathy from the perpetrators or

populace. “In a society sustained by the forced labor of the indigenous, obscurantism began with

a contempt towards them that combined racism and a fear that bordered on paranoia” (Ibarra,

2006). Fear, racism, hatred, marginalization and a sense of “otherness” provide a deadly recipe

for violent abuses towards indigenous population world-wide, as was the case when the

government authorized use of death-squads during the civil war to target the subversive, internal,

and covert enemy:

In the anticommunist world vision, the peaceful life of Guatemala—that is, the peace of
the oligarchic world—was threatened by a masked group of rebels, who supposedly were
not Guatemalan, who acted not out of love for Guatemala but in the name of the Soviet
Union or of the Cuban–Soviet axis. The harshest treatments, the most ruthless actions
became possible because they were perpetrated against someone who was not an intimate
part of “us.” (Ibarra, 2006)

With the Cuban missile crisis the eyes of the United States turned to the Caribbean and

interests in the potential allegiances of Latin American states towards the ideologies of

Communism grew as the Cold War brought this fear to a head, and eventually the fear for the

United States came of the Southern neighbors. “Genocide or no, Guatemala was considered an

important ally in the Reagan administration's anticommunist crusade in Central America, which

was focused on, but not limited to, Nicaragua and El Salvador” (Alterman, 2013).

As Manuel Vogt (2015) mentions in his article The Disarticulated Movement: Barriers to

Maya Mobilization in Post-Conflict Guatemala, “the history of genocidal violence and military-

led assistentialist development programs during the civil war provides a particularly fertile

ground for paternalist clientelism in today’s Guatemala” (Vogt, 2015). Due to the years of racial

separation and abuses by the military, the indigenous populations of Guatemala have become

scattered and unorganized. Strategically this is a positive in the eyes of the military and wealthy

elite as it means there is little chance of assembly and an uprising that could potentially disrupt
 Guatemala 9

or topple the regime. Yet this is quite a negative development for the indigenous populations as it

bars the ability to assemble, protest, or petition which in turn signals a continuation of

marginalization and a high potential for human rights abuses.

Analysis/Findings

Based on the review of literature, we now have a better understanding of how the

turbulent past of Guatemala has shaped the foundation of the treatment, and position towards, the

indigenous populations of the state. In a move to combat the former regime that was seen as

being run by the corrupt elite, Guatemalans have voted Jimmy Morales as their President. Yet

there is reluctance due to his conservatism and amicable relationship with the military that has

people concerned for the future. “A socially conservative evangelical, Morales is anti-abortion,

anti-LGBT rights and he has the support of much of the military elite, through the FCN and

otherwise. He’s argued for the outright annexation of Belize, for example, and he’s

otherwise embraced nationalist positions” (Lees, Morales Easily Wins Guatemala's Presidency,

2015). Many of the former comedian’s, and now President’s, past comedic plays and acts

included parodies and stereotypes, which may prove problematic in building trust with

indigenous populations who have endured much abuse over the years. With the relationship he

has with the military, the concerns that the abuses towards the indigenous will not see much of

an improvement are justified.

The research done and data collected from the literature supports the original thesis that

Guatemala will fail to see any improvements in the rights or treatment of the indigenous

populations. And with a general lack of media coverage on this issue, and a general ignorance

towards South America, significant action on part of the United States seems rather unlikely. In a

developing country, the economy tends to receive more attention than the minorities.
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Conclusion

In this paper some historical context was provided in order to have a better understanding

of what founded the marginalization of Guatemala’s indigenous, and now minority, populations.

Since the colonial era Guatemala has had an internal, social, dilemma with what has been called

“otherness”. Years of racism towards the indigenous peoples have allowed for marginalization

and their eventual genocide during times of conflict. In later years the excuse for these actions

had been that the minority groups were Communists and posed a threat to the state. During the

Cold War, this mentality was fortified by the Reagan administration and the CIA’s attempt to

quarantine Communism or at least prevent its intrusion into the United States. This has resulted

in an increase in the removal of civil liberties for the indigenous populations and a truly

incredible loss of life during the 36 year civil war.

Even though there exists various NGOs and agencies dedicated to raise awareness to this

issue and provide aid to those most effected, the change that is taking place in Guatemala is truly

phlegmatic and is rooted in the very culture and societal foundation of its people. We may see

human rights abuses in Guatemala become lessened in the years to come, but it would be naïve

to believe that a way of life wrought from the colonial era would simply dissipate. The

marginalization of the indigenous populations and permitted extermination of these people is an

issue which has plagued Guatemala for quite some time. In order to cure the virulent nature of

hatred which develops into violent marginalization, the solution must be conceived from within

the state and develop a change in the psyche of the people.

 Guatemala 11

List of References

Alterman, E. (2013, July 8). The Upside of Genocide. The Nation, p. 10.

Brett, R. (2011). Confronting Racism from within the Guatemalan State: The Challenges Faced

by the Defender of Indigenous Rights of Guatemala’s Human Rights Ombudsman’s

Office. Oxford Development Studies, 205-228.

Cerón, A., Ruano, A. L., Sánchez, S., Chew, A. S., Díaz, D., Hernández, A., & Flores, W.

(2016). Abuse and discrimination towards indigenous people in public health care

facilities: experiences from rural Guatemala. International Journal for Equity in Health,

1-7.

CIA. (2016, July 3). Guatemala. Retrieved from CIA World Factbook:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gt.html

Ibarra, C. F. (2006). The culture of terror and Cold War in Guatemala. Journal of Genocide

Research, 191-208.

Lees, K. (2015, October 26). Morales Easily Wins Guatemala's Presidency. Retrieved from

Suffragio: http://suffragio.org/2015/10/26/morales-easily-wins-guatemalas-presidency/

Rasch, E. D. (2011). Representing Mayas Indigenous Authorities and Citizenship Demands in

Guatemala. Social Analysis, 55(3), 54-73.

Vogt, M. (2015). The Disarticulated Movement: Barriers to Maya Mobilization in Post-Conflict

Guatemala. Latin American Politics & Society, 29-50.