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Description
Three soldiers investigate the remains of a building near Cobán, Department of Alta Verapaz. The two soldiers on the left observe the building as the soldier on the right touches the building with his right hand. The soldier in the middle is holding an IMI Galil rifle of Israeli origin. The building was allegedly destroyed by guerilleros. Most soldiers forced to patrol as part of the "Patrol of Self-Defense" program in the 1980s were Mayan men. Patrols were used by the military to destroy civil organizing and to control any political networks of rural Mayans. The UN-administered Truth Commission, known as the Commission of Historical Clarification documented more tan 600 massacres committed by government forces against civilians in predominately Mayan areas between 1981 and 1983. Tres soldados investigan los restos de un edificio cercano a Cobán, departamento de Alta Verapaz. Dos soldados sobre la izquierda de la imagen observan el edificio mientras que el tercer soldado toca la estructura con su mano derecha. El edificio fue presuntamente destruido por guerrilleros. La mayoría de los soldados obligados a patrullar como parte del programa "Patrulla de Autodefensa" en los ochenta eran hombres mayas. Las patrullas fueron utilizadas por los militares para destruir la organización civil y controlar a cualquier red política de los mayas rurales. La comisión de la verdad administrada por la ONU, conocida como la Comisión para el Esclarecimiento Histórico, documentó más de 600 masacres cometidas por fuerzas gubernamentales contra civiles en áreas predominantemente mayas entre 1981 y 1983.
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