The indigenous people of Central America have suffered greatly at the hands of both the Ladinos and military regimes. One example of how they suffered at the hands of the Ladinos is through displacement and colonization, which has been a common theme throughout Central American history. This can be seen in Guatemala, for example, where Ladino landowners began to take over lands traditionally occupied by Maya communities beginning in the 19th century (Mann 31). The encroachment upon their land caused economic distress to Indigenous people, as well as social and political disruption.
Discuss one example of how the indigenous people suffered at the hands of the Ladinos, and one example of how they suffered at the hands of the military regimes?
The exploitation of Indigenous Peoples by military regimes was also widespread throughout Central America during this time period. In particular, Guatemala’s military dictatorship was known for its systemic violence against Indigenous populations during their 36-year reign from 1954-1996 (Cuello & Zea 33). These oppressive policies included forced labor camps which denied basic human rights to those who were detained there. In addition, many civilian massacres were orchestrated in rural Indigenous villages that resulted in an estimated 200 thousand deaths between 1960-1996 (Mann 35).
These examples demonstrate how Indigenous People have faced immense discrimination and oppression at the hands of both Ladinos and military regimes over a long period of time . While progress improved dramatically recent years , more must done address deep rooted issues faced these vulnerable communities order ensure safety prosperity them future generations alike ( Cuello & Zea 167 ) .
Works Cited
Cuello , Ester & Zea , John “Indigenous Peoples Latin America : Historical Experiences ” 2016