ABSTRACT
Following the exhumations, some former jefes and patrollers—including Mario, his brothers-in-law, and their cronies—stepped up their intimidation of the local population, especially widows. The exhumation created a precedent and they fear that more could follow; that there have been no more testifies not only to the effectiveness of their intimidatory tactics but to continuing impunity. The prime mover behind the exhumation was dona Eugenia. As the long-awaited and long-hoped for exhumation began, the solidarity of the widows’ group flew apart. Belief in the exhumation process has grown slowly because of continuing threats from jefes and military commissioners; in many places, the abolition of their posts has not deprived them of power. Once the exhumation was over, conflicts and jealousies emerged with a vengeance within the widows’ group. There is no talk of the exhumations in dona Candelaria’s house. Dona Josefina was crushed by the treatment she, dona Ana, and dona Flora received at the Kotoh exhumation site.
