War and Crisis

Abstract

Otto Rene Castillo (Guatemala, 1936-1967) was a political intellectual. As the consequence of his organizing activities at the University of Guatemala he was tortured, imprisoned, and then exiled. In 1955 he shared the Central American Poetry Award with Roque Dalton. After a period of study at the University of Leipzig, he returned to Guatemala in 1966 and joined the FAR (Armed Rebel Forces). In March 1967, having subsisted on roots for fifteen days, his guerrilla group was ambushed and captured. After four days of torture Castillo was put to death and his body incinerated.

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