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
Soldiers patrol drive up a road as they patrol a small mountainous hamlet near Zaragoza, Chimaltenango. They are traveling in two Cadillac Gage Commando armored vehicles of U.S. origin. On the left side of the image there is a small house. 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. Soldados patrullan pequeña aldea montañosa cerca de Zaragoza, Chimaltenango. Los soldados viajan en dos vehículos blindados Cadillac Gage Commando de origen estadounidense. Sobre el costado izquierdo de la imagen se observa una casa pequeña. La mayoría de los soldados obligados a patrullar como parte del programa "Patrulla de Autodefensa" en los ochentas 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.
Documentary photographs Combat patrols Guatemala. Ejército Firearms Guatemala--History--Civil War, 1960-1996 Military vehicles Armored vehicles, Military
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.