Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA El Quetzal Human Rights News and Updates Issue #14 GHRC May 2013 Justice for Genocide in the Ixil? “There was death every day.” nity began to lift, and the details - Juan, genocide survivor- of this horrible history were made visible. General Ríos In Guatemala’s Ixil triangle, Montt and his then chief of during the early morning hours, military intelligence, General the smoke from countless cook- José Rodríguez Sánchez, sat in ing fires rises to meet the misty a Guatemalan courtroom to face fog that rolls down from the charges of genocide and crimes mountains. The result is a swirl- Publica) Plaza (Photo: against humanity. ing whiteness that swallows everything… all color, all For the next month, hundreds of shapes, all detail. men and women, witnesses, survivors, forensic experts, For over thirty years that mist scholars and others took the has concealed a heartbreaking stand to speak the truth: “aqui si history of violence, suffering hubo genocidio”… yes, geno- and loss. From March 1982 cide happened here. Sitting in until August 1983, a military the courtroom, one could feel dictator named José Efrain Ríos history being written. As lawyer Montt ruled Guatemala. In an Edgar Pérez proclaimed: “This effort to defeat a guerilla move- is the moment that the victims ment in the countryside, he have waited 30 years for!” unleashed a brutal counterinsur- gency campaign. With the in- Then, on May 10, after weeks tent of cutting the guerillas off of uncertainty about the fate of from any source of social sup- Genocide survivor sworn in to court. the case, Judge Barrios read the port, he implemented a court’s verdict to a packed “scorched earth” policy, targeting the Between 70 and 90% of Ixil villages were room. Describing the State’s violent cam- Mayan indigenous population. The result razed between 1981 and 1983 and thou- paign against the civilian population, the was bloodshed and suffering on an uni- sands of innocent men, women and chil- partial destruction of the Maya Ixil popu- maginable scale: massacres, assassina- dren were killed– an estimated 5.5% of lation and the general’s authorization and tions, torture, rape, burning of homes and the entire Ixil population. oversight of the military plans and opera- crops, and the complete eradication of tions, she stated: “the Court believes that villages. But on March 19, 2013 the fog of impu- Continued on Page 3 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Attacks on land rights activists…… ……………...10 Letter from the Director ………..…...……….........2 GHRC calls on presidents to reevaluate security.…..11 GHRC delivers petition after October massacre….…..6 Lolita Chávez inspires audiences in DC………..…..12 GHRC Board Member testifies in Madrid case….........7 Groups denounce violations at IACHR…………....13 AU student delegation learns of indigenous struggles….8 Heidy Rodríguez on Justice for My Sister………….14 Adrian Ventura shares his memory of genocide............9 Human Rights UPDATE……………...……...……15 3321 12th Street NE Washington, DC 20017-4008 Tel: (202) 529-6599 www.ghrc-usa.org Page 1 The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA GHRC Mission Letter from the Director The Guatemala Human Dear Readers: We have witnessed a truly incredi- sassinations of community leaders; Xinca leaders Rights Commission/USA ble moment in Guatemala. General Ríos Montt kidnapped, one murdered; Daniel Pedro, kid- (GHRC) is a non-profit, was declared guilty of genocide and war crimes, a napped and assassinated; dozens of peaceful anti- grassroots, solidarity or- sentence that would have set a world-wide prece- mining protestors arrested and attacked in San ganization dedicated to dent for accountability, for even the most power- Rafael... promoting human rights in ful sectors of society. And although the verdict Guatemala and supporting was later annulled (in a questionable legal ruling), GHRC is responding to these tragic events, pro- communities and activists it´s worth taking a moment to celebrate this fleet- viding emergency funds to mitigate risk and urg- who face threats and vio- ing triumph of justice, and recognize the immense ing protections for human rights defenders, lence. GHRC documents bravery of the Ixil witnesses and the unwavering proper investigations and criminal prosecutions. and denounces abuses, resolve of the lawyers, prosecutors and judges in educates the international the case. Yet it is clear that the political will does not exist community, and advocates to address underlying inequalities and ongoing for policies that foster Watching the trial unfold has been both heart- abuses. In many cases, the Guatemalan govern- peace and justice. breaking and inspiring. I have been moved to ment – often at the behest of big business – is tears by the testimony of survivors and deeply criminalizing human rights defenders rather than Board of Directors troubled by the ongoing attempts by the defense holding perpetrators accountable, and has de- to stall, confuse, intimidate and ultimately derail clared ‘states of siege’ that militarize entire mu- Christina del Castillo the entire process. But when Judge Yassmín Bar- nicipalities and deny residents their constitutional Co-President Ríos read the verdict, I was filled with hope for rights. Patricia Foxen Co-President Guatemala. “Justice is a right for victims and Elliot Rosen contributes to rule of law in our country,” she While accompanying indigenous leader Lolita Treasurer declared, looking up from her text and straight Chávez during our March speaking tour in DC, Joan Dawson into the packed courtroom. “We believe that for a we spoke about the continuum of violence against Secretary true peace to exist in Guatemala there must first communities in the Quiché. “We were silenced Yolanda Alcorta be justice.” by the war,” she told me, “but now we are speak- ing out. The government responds with repres- Andrés Cruz That the case has come this far is due, in large sion [but] we continue to organize peacefully John Leary part, to the commitment of individual human against a new invasion of our lands.” Kathy Ogle rights defenders who are willing to risk their lives Jean-Marie Simon to work for justice. Repeated threats against the As the United States increases ‘security’ assis- Emily Willard judges in the case, for example, are a clear re- tance in the region, we too must continue to speak minder that judicial independence is still only as out against US policies of militarization, and call Advisory Board strong as the courage and willpower of the judges for accountability from our own government to Kit Gage themselves. ensure we do not, once again, contribute to sys- Jennifer Harbury temic abuses. Sr. Dianna Ortiz As the case progressed, GHRC worked to coordi- Sr. Alice Zachmann nate international efforts around the trial, provid- I am continually heartened by the strengthening ing constant updates to the public, the media, and of our solidarity movement, and the thousands Staff partner organizations. GHRC staff have been who are taking action through emails, calls, and present in the courtroom and monitored the safety direct accompaniment – ready to support Guate- Kelsey Alford-Jones of those involved. And from DC, we have led malans in this tense time of uncertainty and in- Director successful government and grassroots advocacy creasing violations. Our collective action reaches Kathryn Johnson efforts; almost 4,000 of you asked the US Am- communities from Izabal to Huehuetenango, as Development and bassador to attend the trial, and close to 5,000 well as the Guatemalan diaspora. Advocacy Coordinator called on the Guatemalan Constitutional Court to hold true to the rule of law. The stories in these pages —linking past and pre- Rob Mercatante sent, Guatemalan and US activists —remind us Director of the Guatemala Yet this historic verdict – if upheld – will be only that we are part of a movement that transcends Office borders, seeking positive change and respect for a partial victory if it doesn’t translate into a long- Dania Rodríguez term commitment to end impunity and address human rights in our own communities as well as Administrative Assistant current violations. abroad. Thank you for reading and for joining GHRC in these efforts. Interns Familiar patterns of violence have resurfaced Jacquelyn Dolezal fueled – as before – by racism, exclusion and With gratitude, Wendy Guardado persecution, particularly around indigenous and Eileen O’Grady land rights struggles. Since the genocide trial Clair Schaub began, I have received a continuous stream of urgent announcements of threats, attacks and as- Kelsey Alford Jones Page 2 Issue #14 / May 2013 Genocide Trial Continued from page 1 the actions of Efraín Ríos Montt are con- is that the Guatemalan judicial system has her safety. sistent with the crime of genocide.” traditionally been at the service of the wealthy and the powerful. Impunity has Si Hubo Genocidio – Yes it was Geno- Ríos Montt was escorted from the court- been the norm, justice the exception. De- cide room amidst a sea of journalists and the spite the fact that the armed conflict, During the trial, over a hundred survivors spontaneous eruption of song by emo- which ended in 1996, claimed the lives of and witnesses to genocide bravely made tional onlookers. Yet only ten days later, over 200,000 people, to date, only a the long trip from the Ixil region to Gua- the Constitutional Court annulled the handful of lower-ranking officials, sol- temala City to testify a mere feet away verdict, a move that was heavily criti- diers and paramilitary have been incar- from the men who masterminded the cized inside and outside Guatemala, and cerated. High-ranking military and gov- bloody massacres that killed their fami- will imply months—if not years –of legal ernment officials, such as Ríos Montt, lies and destroyed their communities. battles. were seen to be untouchable… until now. The Mayan people were targeted during Justice in Guatemala, Justice in the That the structures of impunity are under the conflict because of their ethnicity.