Disappeared: A Journalist Silenced

While in Guatemala, I came across Disappeared: A Journalist Silenced by June Carolyn Erlick, the Publications Director at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University. 

Erlick tells the story of Irma Flaquer, a remarkable Guatemalan journalist who was disappeared nearly twenty years ago, on October 16, 1980.  Irma spent her entire career life speaking out against injustice.  Among other things, she wrote a column called "Lo que otros callan" or "What others don't dare write" for several newspapers and founded the first Guatemalan Human Rights Commission. 

Irma criticized both the revolutionaries and the Guatemalan government for being naive to think that violence would solve the country's problems.  She repeatedly called on the government to promote political and economic reforms to stave off revolution.  However, at some point before her disappearance and after a beating and car bombing, she lost faith in her government and joined the Rebel Armed Forces (FAR).

The book is really a great easy read and I'd encourage everyone to pick up a copy today.