Who were the perpetrators of these outrageous crimes?  The Guatemalan military and government.    During the most violent and bloody period of this era, from the late 1970’s to the mid 1980’s, under the leadership of Guatemalan dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt (with financial and arms support of the United States Reagan administration) some of the worst of these atrocities were committed against the Mayan communities in the Central Guatemalan highlands.  Military operations during this time period were concentrated in the state of Quiche and in particular, the municipalities and pueblos of Santa Maria Nebaj, San Juan Cotzal, and San Gaspar Chajul.   The very same San Gaspar Chajul, where Philanthropiece has been working these past 4 years co-creating a more healthy and sustainable community, and building the capacity of a new generation of indigenous community leaders.The UN sponsored Commission for Historical Clarification registered a total of 42,275 victims including men, women, children and elders.   Of these, nearly 24,000 were victims of arbitrary execution, over 6,000 were victims of “forced disappearance”, 83% of the fully identified victims overall were of Mayan descent.   Twenty five percent of direct victims of human rights violations and acts of violence were women.

In 1982 a young documentary filmmaker named Pamela Yates went to Guatemala posing as a journalist covering the so called “democratic elections” that year, and filmed extensive footage including private interviews in the heart of the Ixil region.  She documented the military leadership in action, the guerilla movement and also the indigenous Mayan perspective.  Part of the footage she filmed became an award winning documentary called “When the Mountains Tremble”.   It was this film that introduced the world to a young Mayan activist named Rigoberta Menchú, when she was in her early 20’s.  Rigoberta has dedicated her life to working on behalf of indigenous peoples throughout Latin America, and in 1992, at the age of 33, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the youngest person ever to be awarded this honor.   She continues her work for social justice today.