Country Facts

Republic of Guatemala

The Basics:

Population - 14MM, the most populous of Central America
Population of Mayan descent - 48%
Langages Spoken - Spanish, 21 Mayan languages, 2 Caribbean
Size of country comparable to - 108,890 sq Km, equivalent to Ohio
Geography - Touches both Caribbean and Pacific Coasts; elevation extremes varying from 0'-12,650'; 33 volcanoes, of which 3 are still active
Government - Constitutional Democratic Republic; Country divided into 22 departments (like states)
Economy - Largest Exports: sugar, coffee, petroleum, bananas, cardamom, vegetables, and textiles; Export Partners: USA -39.6%, El Salvador -13.4%, Honduras - 8.1%, Mexico -5.9%, Nicaragua -4.4%, Costa Rica-4.2%

A Brief History:

1944-54: "Guatemala Spring" 10 years of democracy and social reforms (two democratically elected presidents, women gain right to vote, freedom of speech, freedom of press, etc)
1952: President Arbenz enacts "Decree 900" appropriating unused lands from United Fruit Company to give to family farmers; UFC had paid for the land, but the government felt it wasn't enough
1954: Arbenz overthrown by "the military" widely speculated that the coup was lead by the UFC adn assisted by the CIA
1960: Junior military officers defect adn form guerilla groups with the goal of restoring the social reforms of the democratic government.
1960-1996: Civil War in Guatemala. 200,000 civilian deaths, 440 villages destroyed, 1 million people internally displaced, and 0 political prisoners.
1996: Guatemalan Peace Accords signed.
1999: UN Truth Commission calls actions of Guatemalan Army "genocide" and attributes 93% of atrocities to Guatemalan security forces and collaborators.
1996-Present: Democratically elected governments, heightened disparity of wealth, hope for the future.

Sunday, December 13, 2009, Administrator