Background on the Guerrillas

The Guatemala National Revolutionary Unity brings together four rebel forces that have been fighting a series of right-wing governments for more than three decades.

The Marxist guerrillas originally sought to topple the government and replace it with their own. But the struggle’s ideological tint has faded in recent years since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

Estimates on the number of guerrillas still hiding in the mountains range from 1,000 to 2,000.

Most are Indians, many of whom lost families or villages during the army’s counterinsurgency offensives in the 1980s. About half appear to be teenagers from rural areas, most with little education.

The guerrillas are well organized and well armed, mostly with AK-47s and M16s. They have electronically detonated mines and anti-tank artillery. They also have sophisticated shortwave radio transmitters, used to communicate daily with the rebel command in Mexico City.

Because of tight security, the Guatemalan rebels have remained a mystery over the decades. Rarely do they allow visits to their camps.

Talks with the government to end Central America’s last and longest conflict have gained momentum recently, particularly with the recent signing of socioeconomic and agrarian reforms long seen as an obstacle to a final agreement.

A cease fire in effect since late March has helped the talks.