GUATEMALA
Susanne Jonas Bodenheimer, Guatemala: Plan plloto para el
contlnente (EDUCA, 1981). Write for price, paper, 430 pgs. A
Spanish version, with some reworking, of NACLA’s 1974 book,
Guatemala, by Jonas and David Tobis. Still the most com-
prehensive study of Guatemala as “guinea-pig,” examining suc-
cessive U.S. strategies for pacifying the country since the 1954
counterrevolution. (EDUCA, Confederaci6n Universitaria Cen-
troamericana, Apdo. 64, Ciudad Universitarla Rodrigo Facio,
San Jose, Costa Rica.)
Richard H. Immerman, The CIA In Guatemala: The Foreign
Policy of Intervention (University of Texas Press, 1982).
$24.50, cloth, 291 pgs. Based on 10 years of research and ac-
cess to newly available U.S. government documents obtained
under the Freedom of Information Act, Immerman’s book
dissects the overthrow of the Arbenz regime. Though his liberal
analysis underplays the domestic contradictions of the
Guatemalan “revolution,” it is an essential study of U.S. cold
war ideology. As such, it is vital to understanding how the
revolution currently unfolding is the direct legacy of obses-
sional U.S. policies in 1954. (University of Texas Press, P.O.
Box 7819, Austin, TX 78712.)
Audrey Bronstein, The Triple Struggle: Latin American Peas-
ant Women (War on Want Campaigns Ltd., 1982). L3, paper,
268 pgs. Direct testimony from women of five countries of their
threefold oppression-as women, as peasants, as citizens of
Latin America. Includes a brief overview of the political situa-
tion in Guatemala, with rural women’s reflections on sex roles,
rural organizing, indigenous culture. Additional chapters deal
with Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and El Salvador. (WOW Campaigns
Ltd. 467a Caledonian Road, London N7 9BE, England.)
John 0. Early, Demographic Structure and Evolution of a
Peasant System: The Guatemalan Population (University
Presses of Florida, 1982). $20, cloth, 207 pgs. Concentrating
on the indigenous peasantry, this highly specialized piece of
demographic research supplies a wealth of data showing the
impact of capitalist modernization on Guatemala’s class struc-
ture, migration flows and ethnic cultural forms. (University
Presses of Florida, 15 NW 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32603.)
Americas Watch, Human Rights In Guatemala: No Neutrals
Allowed (Americas Watch, 1982). $5, paper, 133 pgs. This re-
port of an October 1982 mission has unfortunately received
less attention than the organization’s earlier report on El Salva-
dor. The mission concludes emphatically that the Rios Montt
regime is “despotic and totalitarian” and has “overtly aban-
doned the rule of law.” A final section condemns the cynical at-
tempt by Assistant Secretary of State Enders to discredit the
professionalism of Amnesty International and other interna-
tional human rights organizations in preparation for congres-
sional battles over restoring military aid to the dictatorship.
(Americas Watch, 36 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036.)
Jan/Feb 1983
Anibal Yanez, The Struggle for Freedom in Guatemala (Path-
finder Press, 1981). $.75, paper, 31 pgs. Pamphlet-size over-
view of Guatemalan history and U.S. policies. Basic facts for
activists from the Socialist Workers Party viewpoint. (Path-
finder Press, 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014.)
IUF, The Coca Cola Guatemala Campaign 1979-1981 (IUF,
1981). Write for price, paper, 222 pgs. A fascinating compila-
tion of press clippings documenting the struggles at Guate-
mala’s Coca Cola franchise, and an impressive testimony to in-
ternational labor union solidarity. (International Union of Food
and Allied Workers, Rampe du Pont Rouge 8, CH-1213 Petit-
Lancy, Geneva, Switzerland.)
Mario Payeras, Los dims de la solva (Casa de las Americas,
1980 and Editorial Nuestro Tiempo, 1981). Write for price,
paper, 115 pgs. One of the most remarkable testimonies of
guerrilla warfare in Latin America. Written by a founding mem-
ber of Guatemala’s Guerrilla Army of the Poor, the book de-
scribes in vivid detail the organization’s early years (1972-1976)
in the remote jungles of the IxcAn. (Casa de las Americas, 3A y
G, El Vedado, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba; Editorial Nuestro
Tiempo, S.A., Avenida Copilco 300, Locales 6 y 7, Mexico 20,
D.F.)
CISCAC, Guatemala: Repression and Resistance (CISCAC,
1982). Australian $2, paper, 32 pgs. Well-produced solidarity
publication surveying Guatemalan history and current strug-
gles. (CISCAC, GPO Box 5421CC, Melbourne 3001, Australia.)
Organization of American States, Inter-American Human Rights
Commission, Report on the Situation of Human Rights in the
Republic of Guatemala (OAS, 1981). Write for price, paper, 133
pgs. Published toward the end of the Lucas Garcia regime, the
OAS report is one of the most devastating criticisms of a Latin
American government’s human rights record. A follow-up mis-
sion recently visited Guatemala to study changes since the
March 1982 coup. (General Secretariat, Organization of Ameri-
can States, Washington D.C. 20006.)
El Parcial, Guatemala: El laboratorlo de la contrarrevolucl6n
centroamericana (November 1980). DM 5, paper, 129 pgs. El
Parcial, Guatemala, fuslles y frljoles contra el avance del
movimlento popular (December 1982). DM 10, paper, 123 pgs.
Two unique collections of press clippings on Guatemala from
this West German organization, which include much valuable
material not available elsewhere. Publications scanned include
Mexican -and West German newspapers, Inforpress of
Guatemala, Latin America Newsletters of London and Le
Monde Diplomatique. The second issue contains particularly
interesting sections on the strategy of the Rios Montt regime,
Israeli aid to Guatemala and extensive interviews with leaders
of the revolutionary organizations. Excellent research and
solidarity resource. (Doris Hermes, Kielortallee 4, 2000 Ham-
burg 13, West Germany.)
Inforpress, Centroamerlca 1982: Anillsls econ6micos y
politicos sobre la region (Inforpress Centroamericana, 1982).
$75, paper, 303 pgs. The best source of data on economic and
political developments in the region. Scrupulously researched
chapters deal with each country in turn, including Panama and
Belize. Normally published at $125, the publishers are offering
the volume to NACLA subscribers at a specially reduced price
of $75. (Inforpress Centroamericana, 9a. Calle “A” 3-56, Zona
1, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala.)
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SOLIDARITY RESOURCES
Guatemala Venceri (Guatemala Will Win) is a 25-minute slide/
tape show designed by the Toronto Central America Solidarity
Committee for use by trade unionists, church members and
non-governmental organizations. (Rental is $15 for community
groups, $30 for other institutions. Purchase price $175. Dis-
tributed by DEC Films, 427 Bloor Street W., Toronto M5S 1X7,
Canada.)
Guatemala: A People In Search of Dignity is a new booklet by
the New York Circus aimed at lay persons and clergy alike. The
contents concentrate on the Guatemalan Church’s “Option for
the Poor,” trade union activity under repression and U.S. mili-
tary aid. (Copies available at $2 each plus $.75 postage from
New York Circus, P.O. Box 37, Times Square Station, New York,
NY 10036. Information on bulk orders available on request.)
Guatemala: Personal Testimonles is a 20-minute color videotape
in Spanish and indigenous languages with English subtitles. The
continuing pattern of human rights abuses under the regimes of
Lucas Garcia and Rios Montt are exposed through eyewitness
accounts and scenes filmed in Guatemala. (Skylight Pictures, 330
West 42nd Street, 24th floor, New York, NY 10036.)
The Central American War: A Guide to the U.S. Military
Buildup describes U.S. covert activities against Nicaragua;
U.S. policy toward El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, in-
cluding security and economic assistance 1979-1983; U.S. mil-
itary training programs; testimony by victims of violence; map
of U.S. military installations in the Caribbean Basin surrounding
Central America; lists U.S. military equipment in the arsenals of
El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, with manufacturer and
battlefield use. Attractive, concise, useful. (12 pgs, $.50 single
copy, $20 for 100, $90 for 500, National Action/Research on
the Military Industrial Complex [NARMIC], 1501 Cherry Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19102.)
MISCELLANEOUS
Rafael Menjivar, Acumulaci6n orlginaria y desarollo del capl-
tallsmo en El Salvador, (EDUCA, 1980). Write for price, paper,
169 pgs. Three provocative, heuristic essays by one of El
Salvador’s most respected social scientists. They explore the
roots of capitalist development in 19th century El Salvador, in-
cluding British and U.S. economic penetration, the creation of
the coffee oligarchy, the basis of the “oligarchic state.”
(EDUCA.)
Tom Barry, Beth Wood and Deb Preush, Dollars and Dictators
(The Resource Center, 1982). $5.95, paper, 263 pgs. Chock full
of information and charts about Central American history,
economy and politics, this book is the essential reference work
on Central America in English.Excellent on U.S. corporate in-
volvement in the region. A must. (The Resource Center, Box
4726, Albuquerque, NM 87196.)
Death and Torture in Caqueti (Colombia) (Committee for Hu-
man Rights in Colombia, 1982). $3, paper, 75 pgs. The original
Spanish edition was published in BogotA, jointly by the Com-
mittee for the Defense of Human Rights, the Center for Popular
Investigation and Education (CINEP) and the Committee in Sol-
idarity with Political Prisoners. The book describes the effects
of Army violence in this “militarized” province in southeastern
Colombia where guerrillas have been particularly active. Con-
tains testimonies from tortured peasants, relatives of peasants
murdered and a history of the region. (Committee for Human
Rights in Colombia, P.O. Box 1214 Cathedral Station, New York,
NY 10025.)
George Black, Central America: Crisis in the Backyard is the title
of the cover story in the September-October 1982 issue of New
Left Review (No. 135). See NACLA News.
Joseph Collins, What Difference Could a Revolution
Make?-Food and Farming In the New Nicaragua (Food First,
1982). $4.95, paper, 184 pgs. Asked by the Nicaraguan govern-
ment to act as unpaid adviser on agricultural policy, food and
development expert Collins has visited the country 10 times since
then. The result is a sympathetic yet critical account of the San-
dinistas’ extremely successful efforts to increase production of
basic foods as well as export items. Extremely readable, the book
is based on privileged access to the Nicaraguan policy-makers
and interviews with peasants. Resource guide provided. (Food
First, Institute for Food and Development Policy, 1885 Mission
Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-3584.)
Frances Moore Lappt and Joseph Collins, Now We Can
Speak-A Journey Through the New Nicaragua (Food First,
1982). $4.95, paper, 127 pgs. Lapp6 and Collins, guided by U.S.
Jesuit and agricultural adviser Peter Marchetti, toured the New
Nicaragua, asking everyone they met the same questions: How is
the revolution changing your lives? What are your problems,
hopes and fears for the future? How did you come to be so
involved? Their findings are personal and inspiring. Nice photos.
Focus on agricultural policy. (Food First.)
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