Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala — Central America

Assassination of Walter Voordeckers

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, November 21, 2016

1. Assassination of Walter Voordeckers Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Aqui fue asesinado el Padre Walter Voordeckers
12 de mayo 1980
"En todo caso, vivamos de acuerdo con lo que ya hemos alcanzado"
(Filipenses 3:16)
A.M.D.E.

English translation:
Father Walter Voordeckers was assassinated here on May 12, 1980
"Only let us hold true to what we have attained"
(Phillipians 3:16)
A.M.D.E.
(La Asociación Memoria, Dignificación y Esperanza or The Association for Memory, Dignity and Hope)

Erected by la Asociación Memoria, Dignificación y Esperanza (AMDE).

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Civil Rights • Peace • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is May 12, 1980.

Location. 14° 19.9′ N, 91° 1.495′ W. Memorial is in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla. It is at the intersection of 6a Calle and 3a Avenida (Carretera 11), on the right when traveling west on 6a Calle. The marker is on the southern corner of the Municipal Building of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, across from the Catholic Church. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla 05002, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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it is in North America,

specifically in Central America,

in Mesoamerica,

on the Ring of Fire,

on 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 one other marker is within 14 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Carlos Castillo Armas (approx. 14.1 kilometers away).

Regarding Assassination of Walter Voordeckers. Walter Voordeckers was a Belgian Catholic priest. He came to Guatemala on August 30, 1966. He worked amongst the day laborers of Santa Rosa and Escuintla. In 1976 he came into conflict with local land owners and factory bosses. That year the so-called Ejército Secreto Anti-Comunista (ESA, Secret Anticommunist Army) painted slogans on the walls of the church that said, “Walter communist, the ESA is looking for you” and “Walter go home – ESA”. He also received death threats by mail. While leaving the parish building on May 12, 1980, Walter was met by four individuals trying to abduct him. He tried to escape, was shot at, and consequently died from wounds caused by seven shots that hit

An additional Walter Voordeckers Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, November 21, 2016

2. An additional Walter Voordeckers Memorial

This additional marker is located on a cross in the courtyard of the Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa Parish Church. It reads:
Señor por mis hermanos te lo he dado todo hasta mi vida.
En memoria del Padre Walter Voordeckers
1939-1980

English translation:
Lord, for my brothers I have given you everything, even my life.
In memory of Father Walter Voordeckers
1939-1980

him. The perpetrators fled in a beige Toyota Landcruiser with covered plates. The Commission for Historical Clarification (CEH) concluded, based partially on a declassified document from the United States, that Walter was the victim of agents of the government or of an armed force supported or tolerated by the government. In their report, the Commission denounced the neglect of the Guatemalan authorities’ duty to investigate and punish these crimes. Adapted from http://www.guatebelga.be/walter-voordeckers/

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, November 21, 2016

3. Assassination of Walter Voordeckers Marker

Unfortunately the marker is mostly blocked by a fried chicken stand on the corner of the Municipal Building where Father Voordeckers was murdered.

The Catholic Church of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, November 21, 2016

4. The Catholic Church of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa

The additional marker can be seen on the base of the cross to the right in this view. The church is directly across from the Municipality near where Father Voordeckers was shot and killed.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 715 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 21, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.