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“We never forget. 30th anniversary of the March 13, 1982 massacre”
Sebastian Iboy – a Chixoy dam/Rio Negro massacre survivor and eyewitness, as a 15 year old boy in 1982 – hikes supplies into the remains of the Rio Negro community. The original community lies buried deep under this silt (seen here in dry season) caused by the poorly designed dam that is filling in the river valley.
The Chixoy dam flood basin, looking down river towards the dam wall.
Carlos Chen – a Chixoy dam/Rio Negro massacre survivor and eyewitness, as a 22 year old man whose wife and two infant children were killed – stands in the forced relocation village of Pacux, by streets named after some of the massacre victims.
Annual commemoration ceremony at “Pacoxom”, site of the March 13, 1982, Chixoy dam/ Rio Negro massacre, high above the original village of Rio Negro.
The reading of the names of the massacre victims, during an annual commemoration ceremony.
A community member lights a candle during an annual commemoration ceremony to remember those lost.
Sebastian Iboy squats right at the massacre site, where he lost most of his family, as a 15 year old boy. Survivors write the names of their massacred loved ones on rocks and pieces of wood, and place them here regularly.
A repainted cross that had originally been erected in 1982 at a massacre site in the mountains above the destroyed and flooded village of Rio Negro.
A second repainted cross that had originally been erected in 1982 at a massacre site in the mountains above the destroyed and flooded village of Rio Negro.
Looking down over the Chixoy dam flood basin. The original village of Rio Negro lies under the flood basin and increasing buildup of silt.
Artistic depictions of the original village of Rio Negro and the massacres.
Artistic depictions of the original village of Rio Negro and the massacres.
Artistic depictions of the original village of Rio Negro and the massacres.
Highway sign near Coban, describing the Chixoy dam, and none of the atrocities committed to build it.
Annual commemoration ceremony at “Los Encuentros”, site of the May 14, 1982, Chixoy dam/ Rio Negro massacre, down river from the original village of Rio Negro.
Annual commemoration ceremony at “Los Encuentros”, site of the May 14, 1982, Chixoy dam/ Rio Negro massacre, down river from the original village of Rio Negro.
Annual commemoration ceremony at “Los Encuentros”, site of the May 14, 1982, Chixoy dam/ Rio Negro massacre, down river from the original village of Rio Negro.
The Chixoy dam wall, down river from the original village of Rio Negro, at the intersection of the departments of Baja Verapaz, Alta Verapaz and Quiche.