Victoria Sanford (New York: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2003).

Between the late 1970s and the mid-1980s, Guatemala was torn by mass terror and extreme violence in a genocidal campaign against the Maya, which became known as "La Violencia." More than 600 massacres occurred, one and a half million people were displaced, and more than 200,000 civilians were murdered, most of them Maya. Sanford brings these chilling statistics to life as she chronicles the journey of Maya survivors seeking truth, justice, and community healing, and demonstrates that the Guatemalan army carried out a systematic and intentional genocide against the Maya. The book is based on exhaustive research, including more than 400 testimonies from massacre survivors and interviews with members of the forensic team, human rights leaders, high-ranking military officers, guerrilla combatants, and government officials. Buried Secrets traces truth-telling and political change from isolated Maya villages to national political events and provides a unique look into the experiences of Maya survivors as they struggle to rebuild their communities.

Top of Page

Home > Publications > Peace Colloquy > Issue #3 (Spring 2003)