Setting the truth in stone: Guatemala's monuments to the dead.
Six years after the end of a protracted internal conflict in Guatemala, many individuals and communities are still working to overcome the legacy of Guatemala's violence and silence about the past. This article considers the role of monuments and examines the context and situation in Guatemala. It discusses the impact of the violence on a local level and how many Mayan spiritual practices were paralyzed. Some communities have exhumed mass gravesites and built monuments that honour the dead and challenge the army's official version of history. Acknowledging the past has enabled some communities to move towards genuine reconciliation. Finally, the article reflects on the role for international support and accompaniment of this process.
Gidley
Ruth
R
Guatemala Solidarity Network, London SE13 7HJ. gsn_mail@yahoo.com
Roberts
Hannah
H
D001293:Attitude to Death; D002048:Burial; D003469:Culture; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D014754:Violence; D014857:Warfare