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Image / Soldiers on guard in a church belfry, Chajul, 1983

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Title
Soldiers on guard in a church belfry, Chajul, 1983
Creator
Cross, Richard, 1950-1983
Date Created and/or Issued
1982-03-05
Publication Information
California State University, Northridge
Contributing Institution
California State University, Northridge
Collection
Richard Cross Photographs (Bradley Center)
Rights Information
Use of images from the collections of the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center is strictly prohibited by law without prior written consent from the copyright holders. The responsibility for the use of these materials rests exclusively with the user.
The Bradley Center may assist in obtaining copyright/licensing permission to use images from the Richard Cross collection. http://www.csun.edu/bradley-center/contact
Description
Three armed soldiers stand guard inside a church's belfry in Chajul. They are armed with IMI Galil rifles of Israeli origin. The soldier in the middle next to the bell is wearing a black beret. The civilian population was under control by heavy army presence, which included a nationwide network of civil defense patrols, military commissioners and informers. Guatemala's military identified Chajul as one of three towns that formed the "Ixil Triangle," in the northern Quiché region, and inhabited by Ixil Mayan people. The army occupied this region in late 1970s as guerrilla support grew there. Chajul suffered major massacres in 1978 and 1982.
Tres soldados armados hacen guardia en el campanario de una iglesia en Chajul. Los tres soldados portan fusiles IMI Galil de origen israelí. El soldado parado en el medio de la imagen junto a la campana lleva una boina negra. La población civil estaba bajo control por la fuerte presencia del ejército, que incluía una red nacional de patrullas de defensa civil, comisionados militares e informantes. El ejército de Guatemala identificó a Chajul como uno de los tres pueblos que formaban el "Triángulo de Ixil", en la región norte de El Quiché, y habitados por el pueblo maya ixil. El ejército ocupó esta región a fines de la década de 1970 cuando el apoyo de la guerrilla creció allí. Chajul sufrió masacres importantes en 1978 y 1982.
Type
image
Format
Photographs
image/jpeg
color slides
Extent
35 mm
Identifier
99.01.RCr.sl.B12.08.40.12
http://digital-collections.csun.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p17169coll1/id/8502
Subject
Soldiers
Firearms
Church buildings--Guatemala
Bell towers
Place
Chajul (Guatemala)
Relation
99.01.RCr.sl.B12.08.40.12.tif
Richard Cross Photographs
California State University Northridge. University Library. Special Collections & Archives. Tom & Ethel Bradley Center

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