Women from the Guatemalan Ixil indigenous community carry the coffins containing the remains of 75 Ixils recently exhumed from a nearby mass grave for the cemetery of the small mountainous village of Chacalte. The 75 Ixils were killed by members of the Guerrilla Army of the Poor in a June 1982 massacre during the country's 36-year civil war.  PHOTO: Jorge Uzon

Guatemala's government said for the first time on Thursday (18-05-06) it wanted to investigate the disappearances of some 45,000 civilians during a bloody civil war and hoped to prosecute those responsible. As human rights activist, Ruth del Valle says, let's hope this isn't just another agreement that stays on paper. Read more about the agreement here...