Military Regimes in Guatemala During the 1960’s

     Guatemala is a strip of land located in Central America below Mexico, with a revolting and unique history. Throughout their history they have had mostly military leaders. Sometime in the early 1960’s there appeared to be many mysterious murders. This had been traced back to the military and the police of the country. The victims were usually opponents of the regime. The opponents or leaders of these guerillas were usually of an indigenous background, most common being the Mayans. Eventually forming an alliance known as URNG (Unidad Revolucionario Nacional Guatemalteco, Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity). The civil war started in the 1960’s under rule of Enrique Peralta Azurdia, Resulting in over 150,000 deaths. This civil war lasted to about 1995 where the government finally acknowledged the indigenous guerillas. They sign a peace treaty the same year allowing them in 1996 to become an official political party for the country. Although there is an official treaty and standard the permits the indigenous people with these rights. The change does not prevent the military from intervening whenever it suits them necessary.