Guatemala

## Country Overview

Guatemala is the main location featured in the Movie Predator. After John "Dutch" Matrix and Delta Force land in Conta Mana, Val Verde they are dropped into Guatemala where they eventually confront the Jungle Hunter Predator. Val Verde was once part of Guatemala, but seceded from the country during the Guatemalan Civil War.

## Guatemala

### Location

Central America

**Guatemala** officially the **Republic of Guatemala**, is a country in Central America, Earth. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean, to the east by Honduras, to the southeast by El Salvador and to the south by the Pacific Ocean. With an estimated population of around 17.6 million, Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and the 11th most populous country in the Americas. It is a representative democracy with its capital and largest city being Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, also known as Guatemala City, the most populous city in Central America.

The territory of modern Guatemala hosted the core of the Maya civilization, which extended across Mesoamerica. In the 16th century, most of this area was conquered by the Spanish and claimed as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala attained independence in 1821 from Spain and Mexico. In 1823, it became part of the Federal Republic of Central America, which dissolved by 1841.

From the mid- to late 19th century, Guatemala suffered chronic instability and civil strife. Beginning in the early 20th century, it was ruled by a series of dictators backed by the United Fruit Company and the United States government. In 1944, authoritarian leader Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a pro-democratic military coup, initiating a decade-long revolution that led to sweeping social and economic reforms. A U.S.-backed military coup in 1954 ended the revolution and installed a dictatorship.

From 1960 to 1996, Guatemala endured a bloody civil war fought between the U.S.-backed government and leftist rebels, including genocidal massacres of the Maya population perpetrated by the military. A peace accord negotiated by the United Nations has resulted in continued economic growth and successful democratic elections, although poverty, crime, drug trafficking, and civil instability remain major issues. During this time rumors stirred with locals concerning "El Diable que hace trofeos de los hombres" (The demon who makes trophies of men) who was said to kill for sport.

The Republic of Val Verde splintered off of Guatemala in 1970 during the Guatemalan Civil War. The territory seized from Guatemala included all the land North of The Northern Transversal Strip which was officially created during the Guatemalan government of General Carlos Arana Osorio in 1970. It is known today as the Guatemalan Department of Petén and is geographically the northernmost department of Guatemala, as well as the largest by area — at 35,854 km2 (13,843 sq mi) it accounts for about one third of Guatemala. The area to the South East of Val Verde was known as Conta Mana and was occupied by the Republic of Val Verde off an on throughout its history as an access point to the Gulf of Mexico. The largest city in the area is the port city of Livingston. In 1996 the Republic of Val Verde returned to Guatemala as part of the Guatemalan Peace Accords. The area known as Val Verde returned as the reinstated Department of Petén.

As of 2021, Guatemala ranks 31st of 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries in the Human Development Index. Although rich in export goods, around a quarter of the population (4.6 million) face food insecurity, which has been worsened by the ongoing food crisis resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Guatemala's abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems includes many endemic species and contributes to Mesoamerica's designation as a biodiversity hotspot.

#### 1987P - Mysterious Explosion in the Chapada das Mangabeiras Mountain Range in Predator

In 1987 Guatemalan insurgents kidnapped the Val Verdian Cabinet Minister and his aid and retreated back into Guatemalan Territory. The United States sent in the C.I.A. to mount a rescue mission under the direction of Al Dillon. Dillon sent in a squad of Green Berets under the command of Jim Hopper to track down and rescue the Cabinet Minister, but the squad went missing in action. Al Dillon then called on Delta Force to track down the Guatemalan insurgents and rescue the Cabinet Members. Unfortunately, Delta Force were unable to rescue the Cabinet Member and his aid who were executed by the Guatemalans and all but one from Delta Force were killed by a mysterious assailant that culminated in what is speculated as a nuclear blast in the Chapada das Mangabeiras Mountain Range that leveled the Jungle in a one mile radius. John "Dutch" Matrix, the leader of Delta Force was the only survivor of this ordeal.