Testimony: Death of a Guatemalan Village

by Victor Montejo, Victor Perera (Translator)

TESTIMONY: DEATH OF A GUATEMALAN VILLAGE is an eyewitness account by a Guatemalan primary school teacher detailing one instance of violent conflict between the indigenous Maya people and the army. An accidental clash between the village's "civil patrol" and a Guatemalan army troop leads to the execution or imprisonment of many villagers. Written in clear, direct prose, this account reads like an adventure story while conveying an historical reality. This vital and essential record captures how Guatemala's 36-year civil war, which reached its most violent peak in the 1980s, ripped the traditional fabric of Guatemalan society. 

Genres: History, Memoir, Nonfiction, School, College, Read For School, War

113 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1987

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me a bit longer to finish just because I was less familiar with the historical background, but it was still a good and powerful read, especially compared to many other books I've been assigned in classes. The author exposes atrocities he'd been unfortunate enough to witness (and experience) first-hand as a schoolteacher in an Indian village in Guatemala, including the power dynamics used by those in control to turn "subordinates" against each other.

Montejo's testimony at once gave me a glimpse into the types of injustices pushing many Latin American (and other) refugees into the United States in (whether well-placed or misplaced) hopes for freedom — though of course, it varies from country-to-country and even person-to-person and got me thinking about the similarly oppressive intimidation tactics that I'm sure are unfortunately used by some among our own police force as well. Grace and accountability are definitely needed in all locales :/

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

In March 1982, Efrain Rios Montt's junta seized power in Guatemala. His death squads massacred approximately 70,000 Mayan peasants and political opponents during his 14 months in power. Three months after Montt named himself dictator, his forces entered the village of Tzalala, gunned down anyone they suspected of being an insurgent, and kidnapped the author, schoolmaster Victor Montejo. What he relates in the narrative that follows is a harrowing account of forced marches, torture, and terror. And as Montejo's testimony makes clear, he was among the luckier ones. It's wrenching to read, but I recommend it to those who can handle it and also to those who fear they can't.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es comun a leer sobre caudillos y dictadores en latinoamerica y en otra partes del mundo, y es fácil a comprender que los dictadores son malos. Es diferente a leer una cuenta de un hombre, un profe que está atrapado en la violencia de una guerra civil sangrienta y genocida. Podemos ver cuán grave fue la violencia. Se rompió comunidades y pueblitos, obligó a los vecinos a delatarse entre sí para salvarse, incluso cuando nadie estaba involucrado en nada. A la chingada con Efraín Ríos Montt, Romeo Lucas García, Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores, Vinicio Cerezo, y cualquier otra persona que ha participado en la genocida del pueblo maya. Espero que todos están quemando en el infierno.

[Roselena Mejia-Campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

as someone who had little to no knowledge about guatemalan history and had to read this for my human rights in latin america class, this was a quick read about the atrocities that victor montejo was a witness and victim to some decades ago. some parts were hard to read but if you are able to and if it’s not too triggering, i would recommend this if you want to learn more about guatemalan history.

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/4 stars

[Katherine Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about the genocide in Guatemala.

[Cyndy Gleave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written account of the atrocities sanctioned by the government on the Mayan villages in the highlands of Guatemala 1982

[Yoselin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping testimony told from an educator's perspective during the Guatemalan civil war. It also shows the results of miscommunication during combat and the disregard for life. Definitely would recommend reading this after you've researched the topic since the definitions/explanations at the back of the book are bare-bone. And the author provides facts about his day, with few reflective or historical inserts.

[lydia sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

heart-wrenching, unforgettable, painful to read, but so so crucial to understanding the pain the U.S. funded in central american countries

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I heard the news this week that Rios Montt would finally be heading to court, I picked up a book by Victor Montejo, who as a school teacher witnessed one of the massacres that took place in rural Guatemala in 1982, and though he was tortured, he managed to escape with his life. The book is called Testimony: Death of a Guatemalan Village, and while it is terrible to read, I believe it testifies to the reality of what life was like for indigenous Guatemalans at that time. I hesitate to recommend it because it is vulgar and graphic, but it’s part of the legacy of the war, and one way or another, part of the legacy of Ríos Montt.

- See more at: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2012/0...

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably one of the most descriptive books I've read about war and death. Victor Montejo goes into great detail about the death of the Guatemalan village he once lived in. The audience definitely feels like they're sitting on the edge of their seats while reading the book since Montejo himself escaped death many times in the book. The only thing that I didn't really like about the book was that it was kind of confusing as to who was fighting who and why. I would've liked for him to discuss that more, but that is something that you'd probably find in a less personal book.

[Lira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it three stars because, although it is very well written, and it certainly moves you, it is a very hard book to read. Although it's short and straightforward, I couldn't read more than a few pages at the time.
This book is indeed a Testimony to the atrocities humans commit everyday for trivial reasons.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a glimpse into the fear that permeated Guatemalan society during the civil war and the brutality and sadism of the military. However, the writing seemed a bit too simplistic and straightforward.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a small book that packs a really vivid punch. It details the horror of a village being destroyed in first person account by a survivor. It boggles the mind that humans can do this to each other.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

short and packs a punch.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in very matter-of-fact language. Definitely a piece of history that should be attested to.

[Victoria Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a heart wrenching read. I had to stop several times.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful indictment.