On Anniversary of Guatemalan Bishop's Murder, Demand Accountability for Mass Atrocities

Ten years ago, famous Guatemalan human rights defender Bishop Juan Gerardi was murdered. Bishop Gerardi was killed just days after publicly releasing a report that documented more than 200,000 killings during Guatemala's 36 year civil war. The report laid blame on the Guatemalan government for over 90 per cent of the conflict's human rights violations.

While individuals have been convicted for the murder of Bishop Gerardi, there has been no justice for the victims of Guatemala's 422 documented massacres. None of the former military or police officials allegedly responsible for committing the worst atrocities during the conflict have been held accountable.

Through his courageous efforts to reveal the truth, Bishop Gerardi left Guatemala an important legacy. However, without action by the authorities, that legacy will never be fully realized.

Urge the Guatemalan Attorney-General to immediately act on the criminal petitions filed by victims almost a decade ago. Those petitions allege that former police and military leaders committed crimes against humanity and genocide during the civil war.

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The following letter will be sent in Spanish to the Guatemalan authorities:

Lic. Juan Luis Florido
Fiscal General de la Republica y Jefe del Ministerio Publico
8a Avenida 10-67, 
Antiguo Edificio del Banco de los Trabajadores, Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala, 
Guatemala

Dear Attorney General:

On the tenth anniversary of the murder of Bishop Juan Gerardi, I write to you concerned about the failure to act on the criminal petitions filed by victims of the civil war almost a decade ago.

As you know, Bishop Gerardi was killed just days after publicly releasing a report that documented that more than 200,000 killings had been committed during Guatemala's civil war. The report apportioned responsibility to the Guatemalan government for over 90 per cent of the conflict's human rights violations.

While individuals have been convicted for the murder of Bishop Gerardi, there has been no justice for the victims of Guatemala's 422 documented massacres. I welcome the recent decision to empower a Human Rights and Peace Commission to declassify military archives that should shed light on the military's role in human rights violations during the conflict such as Plan Sofia and Plan Victoria 82.

I remain concerned, however, over the lack of investigations and prosecutions of those former police and military leaders allegedly responsible for mass atrocities committed during the conflict. In barring the extradition of several of those accused of committing mass atrocities, Guatemala's Constitutional Court recently recognized the obligation on the Guatemalan state to prosecute those responsible for mass atrocities.[1]

In recent weeks, a rogatory commission, led by Judge Eduardo Cojulun of the 11th Criminal Court, has begun to hear witness testimony from victims in support of the Spanish High Court's investigation into mass atrocities by former military leaders. These proceedings demonstrate that it is possible to bring former military leaders to justice.

I urge you to immediately investigate the accusations your office has received from the Association of Justice and Reconciliation, amongst others, which allege that former military and police officers committed mass atrocities. Those investigations should make use of the police archives discovered in 2005 and the newly declassified military documents and must lead to the prosecution of the individuals responsible for the crimes.

Prosecuting past human rights violations will strengthen the rule of law and bolster security for all of Guatemala's citizens. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

[1] Constitutional Court Decision 3380-2007, December 12, 2007.

Subject:

Estimado Fiscal General:

En el decimo aniversario de la muerte de Monsenor Gerardi, le escribo a usted preocupado por el fracaso de tomar accion a las peticiones criminales entregadas por las victimas de la guerra civil desde hace una decada.

(Edit Letter Below)

Como es de su conocimiento, el Monsenor Gerardi fue asesinado dos dias despues de una publicacion en la cual se documentaran mas de 200,000 muertes y desapariciones forzadas cometidas durante la guerra civil en Guatemala. El informe apunta la responsabilidad al gobierno guatemalteco por arriba del 90 por ciento de las violaciones de los derechos humanos durante el conflicto.

Mientras unos individuos han sido condenados por el asesinato de Monsenor Gerardi, no ha habido justicia para las victimas de 422 masacres documentadas en Guatemala. Le doy la bienvenida a la reciente decision de otorgar poder a la Secretaria por la Paz y los Derechos Humanos para desclasificar los archivos militares que debe arrojar luces al papel militar en las violaciones de los derechos humanos durante el conflicto como el Plan Sofia y Plan Victoria 82.

Sin embargo, todavia estoy preocupado sobre la falta de investigaciones y enjuiciamiento de los dirigentes militares y policiacos, presuntos responsables de las atrocidades cometidas durante el conflicto. En la prohibicion de extradicion de varios de los acusados de cometer atrocidades masivas, la Corte de Constitucionalidad reconocio recientemente la obligacion del Estado Guatemalteco de enjuiciar a los responsables de estas atrocidades.[1]

En semanas recientes, la comision rogatoria, llevada por el juez Eduardo Cojulun del Juzgado Undecimo de Primera Instancia Penal, ha iniciado el escuchar los testimonios de las victimas en apoyo de las investigaciones que la Audiencia Nacional Espanola lleva sobre las atrocidades cometidas por dirigentes militares. Estos procedimientos demuestran que es posible llevar dirigentes militares ante la justicia en Guatemala.

Le insto a que investigue de forma inmediata las acusaciones que su oficina ha recibido por parte de la Asociacion de Justicia y Reconciliacion, entre otros, en los cuales se refieren que militares y oficiales policiacos cometieron estas atrocidades. Estas investigaciones deben hacer uso de los archivos de la policia descubiertos en el ano 2005 y de los documentos militares recientemente desclasificados y se lleven a la prosecucion penal de los responsables de estos crimenes.

El enjuiciamiento de las violaciones a los derechos humanos fortalecera el estado de derecho y reforzara la seguridad de todos los ciudadanos guatemaltecos.

Gracias por su atencion a este importante asunto.

Atentamente

[1] Decision de la Corte de Constitucionalidad 3380-2007, Diciembre 12, 2007

Sincerely,
[Your name]

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