Guatemala

&A WAISers are sharply divided about Guatemala. International Books of Utrecht, The Netherlands, in cooperation with the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam, has published a book by Kees Biekart, a Fellow at the Transnational Institute, where he coordinates the program on Central American and Democratization. Entitled The Politics of Civil Society Building, it comes with a color photograph showing on the left a group of tiny Mayan women with their children. Facing them, on the right, is a line of fierce-looking police with German-style helmets, shields, truncheons., and well-polished black boots.
     What is behind the women, off the picture? No date or place, so we can't check it. Is there more to it than meets the eye?

Ronald Hilton - 05/21/99