Aldea San Juan del Obispo in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala — Central America (Central Highlands)

José Luis de León Diaz

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, February 16, 2017

1. José Luis de León Diaz Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Por qué se empeña la muerte
en matar vanamente a la vida
si la más humilde semilla rompe
la piedra más fuerte
Luis de León.

José Luis de León Diaz, Nombre literario: Luis de
León, Escritor, Novelista Cuentista. Nacido en
San Juan del Obispo el 19 de Agosto de 1939
Desaparecido el 15 de Mayo de 1984 Durante la Guerra Civil

English translation:
Why does death try to
vainly kill life, if
the most humble seed
breaks the hardest rock?
Luis de León

José Luis de León Diaz, Literary name: Luis de León, Writer and Novelist. Born in San Juan del Obispo on August 19, 1939
He was disappeared on May 15, 1984 during Guatemala’s Civil War

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is May 15, 1984.

Location. 14° 31.367′ N, 90° 43.62′ W. Marker is in Aldea San Juan del Obispo, Sacatepéquez, in Antigua Guatemala. It is on 1a Avenida Norte, on the left when traveling west. The marker is in the small village

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(aldea) of San Juan del Obispo of Antigua Guatemala. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Aldea San Juan del Obispo, Sacatepéquez 03001, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in North America,

specifically in Central America,

in Mesoamerica,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

and in the Western Hemisphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also a Spanish colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Church of the First Bishop of Guatemala (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); San Pedro las Huertas Catholic Church (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Esquisuchil (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); Walter Williams in Guatemala (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); The Hermitage of the Holy Calvary (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); The Esquisuchil Medicinal Tree (Bourreria huanita) (approx. 2.7 kilometers away); Catholic Church of Santa Ana (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); Home of Brother Pedro (approx. 3.2 kilometers away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Fountain of the Calvary (was approx. 2.7 kilometers away but has been confirmed missing).

Regarding José Luis de León Diaz. Luis de Lión, born as José Luis de León Díaz (b. San Juan del Obispo, Sacatepéquez, 1939 - d. 6 June 1984) was a Guatemalan writer kidnapped on May 15, 1984 by elements of intelligence of the Guatemalan army and disappeared since then. Born into a Kakchiquel family, his father's job as a policeman in the time of dictator Jorge Ubico

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, February 16, 2017

2. José Luis de León Diaz Marker

This additional marker is mounted to the same wall of the writer's home. It reads:

Homenaje
Al escritor, Poeta y Profesor:
Jose Luis de Leon Diaz
Por su virtud Literaria conocida Internacionalmente,
en defensa de las clases Mayoritarias.
San Juan del Obispo, Antigua Guatemala, Junio 1992.

English translation:
Tribute to the writer, poet and teacher:
José Luis de León Díaz
for his literary virtues, known internationally,
in defense of the classes that make up the majority.
San Juan del Obispo, Antigua Guatemala, June 1992.

allowed him to start a basic education that he would later complete in Guatemala City, obtaining the title of primary education teacher. He carried out his educational work in several parts of the country until he gained a professorship of literature at the University of San Carlos. Affiliated with the Guatemalan Labor Party (Communist), as a teacher leader, he defended general access to quality education as a guarantee for the improvement of the standard of living of the Guatemalan population. In his hometown, San Juan del Obispo, he founded a small library in which he taught several of his neighbors. On May 15, 1984, a group of armed men dressed in civilian clothing forced him into a car without license plates, while he was on his way to work in the Historic Center of Guatemala City, swelling the ranks of about 35,000 disappeared by Guatemalan military governments during the 1980s. Nothing was known of his whereabouts until 1999 when his name appeared in the "Diario Militar", a document containing photographs and information on the capture and execution of about 200 people, and in which he appeared with the number 135. It was then known that he was murdered on June 6, 1984. In 2005, the government of Guatemala, led by President Óscar Berger, acknowledged state responsibility for the death of Luis de Lión and paid him a posthumous tribute at his home museum of San Juan del Obispo.

José Luis de León Diaz Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, February 16, 2017

3. José Luis de León Diaz Markers

The markers are located at the writer's home. It is now a small museum and teaching center.

Adapted from Wikipedia

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Luis de León image. Click for full size.

4. Luis de León

José Luis de León Diaz's entry in the "Diario Militar" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton

5. José Luis de León Diaz's entry in the "Diario Militar"

The discovery of the "Diario Militar" allowed insight into the methods of the Guatemalan intelligence agencies during the Guatemalan Civil Conflict. This is an excerpt of the "Diario", which shows Luis de León and the information about his capture and execution.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2018. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 545 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 19, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on May 20, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.