In 1944, a student led revolution, which my mother and uncle were part of, helped usher in Guatemala’s decade of democracy after a century of dictators. I was born in Boston in 1954, the year a C.I.A.-led coup overthrew Guatemala’s elected government. But in 2001, three military officers were convicted of participating in his state-sponsored extrajudicial execution, a landmark verdict that seemed to herald a new era of justice. Efforts to build a working democracy by defending the rule of law and fighting corruption has been the central struggle of 21st-century Guatemalan politics. The commission dismantled 70 organized crime and corruption structures, and charged some 680 people, including two former presidents.

---

Persons: Guatemala’s, Bishop Juan Gerardi, Jimmy Morales, Morales, Giammattei, ”, Consuelo Porras Organizations: United Nations, Guatemalan Public Ministry, U.S, U.S . State Locations: United States, Boston, Latin America, U.S .