Any of the acts done purposely to destroy, in whole or in a part, is described as genocide:
- Killing people of a group
- Physical or mental harm to people of a group
- Causing bad conditions of life
- Preventing births of a group
- Forcing children of a group to another group
Guatemala is a country in Central America. It belonged to the Mayans. When Spanish explorers won over this country, the Mayans became slaves.
In 1980, the Guatemalan army started “Operation Sophia,”.This program targeted the Mayans.
The army destroyed 626 villages, killed more than 200,000 people and moved 1.5 million Mayans, while more than 150,000 were trying to find a way out.
Forced disappearance policies included secretly arresting or kidnapping people, who were often killed and buried in unmarked graves.
The Guatemalan armed problem ended in 1996 when the government signed the Oslo Accords.
The United Nations to organized a Commission of Historical Clarification (CEH). It started in July 1997. In February 1999, it released the “Guatemala: Memory of Silence,”.
In November 1998, three members of a “civil patrol” were guilty in the case from the genocide. In September 2009, Felipe Cusanero was given 150 years in prison for the disappearance of six people in the Choatulum.
In June 2011, General Hector Fuentes, was charged with genocide.
In August 2011, four soldiers were given 30 years for each murder plus 30 years for crimes against killing.