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Press Release 1/13 Impunity Watch lauds the indictment of Efran Ros Montt and Mauricio Rodrguez Snchez under charges for Genocide and crimes against humanitarian duties in Guatemala
Impunity Watch IW lauds the Guatemalan Second Major Risk Judges decision made on January 28 2013, confirming the indictment of General (Ret.) Efran Ros Montt, ex de facto President of Guatemala (1982 1983) and his Intelligence Chief, General (Ret.) Mauricio Rodrguez Snchez, under charges of Genocide and crimes against humanitarian duties during the Internal Armed Conflict in the Guatemalan region inhabited by the Ethnic group Maya-Ixil. According to the Judge, there is enough evidence as to assess the criminal responsibility of both high military ranks for planning and implementing the scorched earth policy in the Guatemalan highlands (predominantly indigenous) during the 80s. IW highlights the hard work carried out by those judges and prosecutors who, assuming a historical role before the country, have tried to fulfil the victims expectation for justice, despite the constant pressure openly exerted by Governmental and private sectors. These judges and prosecutors also had to constantly counter fight the vicious dilatory strategies deployed for preventing this case to go to trial. Particularly, IW remarks the determination showed by the Association for Justice and Reconciliation -AJR- and their partners (CALDH and Legal Office for Human Rights, among others) during more than 11 years. The decision to open the trial for Genocide and crimes against humanitarian duties in the Ixil area represents a historical opportunity towards justice in Guatemala, but it is also an opportunity towards truth and non-repetition in the country. The Guatemalan Civil Society has also played a critical role in this process, being supported by some Guatemalan governmental institutions devoted to fight impunity. Furthermore, this decision represents a milestone for Transitional Justice in the Americas, since it is the first time that a former Head of an American State is tried under charges of Genocide. As IW affirms in its reports, justice for conflict-era cases is not only relevant for accountability and reparation in favour of victims from the past; but for setting records and for strengthening the states judicial capacity against present-time impunity. Particularly, these cases should bolster the certainty that all individuals are equal before the law; therefore no one should be capable of avoiding the action of justice. IW trusts the Judges mandated to decide the trial for the Genocide in the Ixil area and their will to safeguard the Rule of Law and the rights of both the defendants and the victims at all time during the trial. Also, IW trusts that the Guatemalan state, particularly the Guatemalan Government and the Domestic High Courts will guarantee the judicial independence and will facilitate a final decision in this trial, promoting a wide social discussion on these topics, realising that this is a unique opportunity for consolidating a real transition to democracy and towards a real reconciliation among all Guatemalans. Finally, IW encourages the Civil Society and the International Community to support the victims and the Guatemalan judicial authorities in their search of truth, justice and reparation. Impunity Watch is an international research and lobby initiative seeking to reduce impunity in gross human rights violations occurred in countries emerging from a violent past, where impunity threats the consolidation of a sustainable peace and the (re)construction of a democratic Rule of Law. Based in The Netherlands, IW is present in Central-America, the Balkans, the Great Lakes region and the Asian South-East. Guatemala City, 28 January 2013
11 Avenida, 14-80 zona 10 Ciudad de Guatemala Tel: +502.2368.1148 Email: iw-guatemala@impunitywatch.org www.impunitywatch.org