The retrial of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt for charges of genocide and crimes against humanity restarted behind closed doors on Monday, after years of legal battles over the sentencing.
An initial conviction in 2013, where Mr Montt was found guilty of genocide, was overturned just days later by the country’s constitutional court. Years of legal wrangling took place after the original trial, which faced delays after Mr Montt was diagnosed with dementia.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said the trial would be a major test of Guatemala’s justice system. “Tens of thousands of Guatemalans who fell victim to the heinous crimes committed under Ríos Montt’s rule have been waiting three decades to see justice done – they must not be forced to wait one second longer,” he said.
“The Guatemalan ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ approach when it comes to dealing with the hundreds of thousands of cases of torture, killings and disappearances that took place during the country’s civil war is shameful and illegal,” he added. “The only deterrent to the perpetrators of crimes like these is the clear knowledge that they will face justice and the full might of the law.”
Juan Francisco Soto of the Legal Action for Human Rights Center (CALDH) told AFP that the plaintiffs were “ready to start the new debate”.
"If genocide was proved once, we'll be able to prove it in this new trial," he said.
An initial conviction in 2013, where Mr Montt was found guilty of genocide, was overturned just days later by the country’s constitutional court. Years of legal wrangling took place after the original trial, which faced delays after Mr Montt was diagnosed with dementia.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said the trial would be a major test of Guatemala’s justice system. “Tens of thousands of Guatemalans who fell victim to the heinous crimes committed under Ríos Montt’s rule have been waiting three decades to see justice done – they must not be forced to wait one second longer,” he said.
“The Guatemalan ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ approach when it comes to dealing with the hundreds of thousands of cases of torture, killings and disappearances that took place during the country’s civil war is shameful and illegal,” he added. “The only deterrent to the perpetrators of crimes like these is the clear knowledge that they will face justice and the full might of the law.”
Juan Francisco Soto of the Legal Action for Human Rights Center (CALDH) told AFP that the plaintiffs were “ready to start the new debate”.
"If genocide was proved once, we'll be able to prove it in this new trial," he said.