Monday, April 22, 2013

A Crossing in the Cuchumatanes


Whatever happens in Guatemala, one of history's rivers has been forded.

In this case it was by people wearing huipiles and being pursued by US aircraft, slogging on as their loved ones fell and reaching the opposite shore by daybreak.

By mounting a domestic criminal trial for genocide against a former state ruler they crossed the threshold into what is arguably a next phase of the human journey up from slaughter -- one marked by actual good-faith efforts to enforce society's murder laws.

Those who have accomplished this are descendants of a long, rich popular tradition, a tradition whose leaders in Guatemala were almost all -- to a man and woman -- assassinated.

But as any smart repressor can tell you, you can kill most but you can't kill all.


Allan Nairn 




NOTE TO READERS: News and Comment is looking for assistance with translating blog postings into other languages, and also with fund raising and distributing the blog content more widely. Those interested please get in touch via the e-mail link below. NOTE TO READERS RE. TRANSLATION: Portions of News and Comment are now available in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, French, German, Russian and Spanish translation (click preceding links or Profile link above) but translation help is still needed -- particularly with older postings, in these and all other languages. NOTE TO READERS RE. POTENTIAL EVIDENCE: News and Comment is looking for public and private documents and first-hand information that could develop into evidence regarding war crimes or crimes against humanity by officials. Please forward material via the email link below. Email Me