Pro-Government Militias
Eye for an Eye (Guatemala)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 296 |
| Country: | Guatemala |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1969 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 14, 1986 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | There is no reported termination date. However, Eye for an Eye was in favour of and supported by the military governments of Guatemala, therefore the termination of the squad as a Pro-Government Armed Group is coded as the 14 January 1986, when President Cerezo was inaugurated as President of a new civilian government in the country. |
| Termination Type(s): | change in government |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution); military (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | unclear |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; landowner; military |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; security forces |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | None |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; unarmed political opposition, government critics; ethnic group; peasants |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; intimidation of ethnic/religious groups; intimidation of civilians |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Mayas (Guatemala) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | inferred |
| Ethnic Membership: | Guatemalans (Guatemala) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | inferred |
| Ethnic Purpose: | Mayas (Guatemala) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | inferred |
Other Information
| Other Information: | Eye for an Eye (Spanish: Ojo por Ojo) was a right-wing terrorist group/death squad. Ethnic membership refers to members being from white families, and the state leader’s ethnicity. Ethnic targets (also linked to purpose of intimidation) were indicated as indigenous people. The indigenous population in Guatemala is mainly consisting of Mayas. There are also small minorities of Xinca and Garifunas. It is unclear whether the latter groups were also targeted by Eye for an Eye. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | Eye for an Eye was involved in killings and mutilations of civilians it suspected of supporting the rebels during the 1970s (Wikipedia Guatemalan Civil War). News sources report killings, disappearances, forced land seizures and torture. Their actions were ordered by powerful landlords or were supported by the police and military. Alongside the White Hand (PGM), it is estimated to be responsible for up to 40,000 deaths between 1954 and 1983. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; torture |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | According to a news source, members of the PGM came from middle class white families, attempting to stop political consciousness among Indian population. This might imply that they joined the PGM to ensure their position in society. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Eye for an Eye was organized as a death squad with largely military membership with some civilian cooperation (Wikipedia Guatemalan Civil War). A news source reports that for some time the group was almost beyond the control of the army, but was later institutionalized in an apparatus within the army high command. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.