17 May 2023
In Guatemala, victims and survivors of the armed conflict (1960-1996) and social organisations marked 10 years of a verdict that sentenced former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt to 80 years in prisonfor genocide against the indigenous Maya Ixil people.
To commemorate this historic milestone, several activities took place in the Ixil Region and Guatemala City.
A ‘Caravan of memory and justice’ drove through the Ixil municipalities of Nebaj, Chajul and Cotzalende. It ended with a political act where victims and survivors defended the verdict and reaffirmed their demands for justice.
Meanwhile, in Guatemala City, roundtables and debates took place on the contribution of women in the search for justice, the impact of the verdict at the international level and its relevance for human rights. An altar to honour the memory of the deceased victims was arranged and a press conference was held.
The Asociación Justicía y Reconciliación (Association for Justice and Reconciliation) and the Plataforma de Organizaciones de Víctimas del Conflicto Armado Interno (Platform for Victims of the Internal Armed Conflict) said the verdict was a historical milestone worldwide.
For the first time, a national court tried and convicted a former head of state for ordering violence against an indigenous people.
In addition, they recalled that during the trial, dozens of witnesses presented their heart-breaking testimonies and that scientific and document evidence about the atrocities committed by the army against the Ixil people were presented.
Finally, the victim organisations added:
“We invite the Guatemalan population to not forget the horrors of the genocide and not to vote for the political parties of corrupt former military and groups that deny the past and seek impunity”.
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Photos: Impunity Watch