Guatemala's congress approves resolution denying genocide occurred during 36-year civil war

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Guatemala's congress approves resolution denying genocide occurred during 36-year civil war
Article by: Associated Press
Updated: May 14, 2014 - 12:20 PM

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala's Congress approved a non-binding resolution that denies there was any attempt to commit genocide during the bloody 36-year civil war, while calling for "national reconciliation" in the Central American country.

"It is legally impossible ... that genocide could have occurred in our country's territory during the armed conflict," said the resolution, which passed late Tuesday with support from 87 of the 158 legislators.

The resolution was proposed by Luis Fernando Perez, a legislator for the party founded by former dictator Efrain Rios Montt. Rios Montt was convicted of genocide for crimes during his 1982-83 rule, but a court later annulled the 80-year sentence for the massacre of thousands of Mayans and ordered his trial re-started.

The vote apparently will have no effect on the trial, which is scheduled to begin again in January.

Groups representing Guatemala's Indians, the principal victims among the estimated 250,000 people killed during the 1960-96 civil war between a U.S.-supported government and leftist movements, have said the annulment of the Rios Montt verdict was a denial of justice.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/world/259239771.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. And now, they will move on to repealing the law of gravity.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

2. This is sick.

I'll never understand how people who can say things like this re stuff they know happened sleep at night. Never mind the folks who actually did them.

[KittyWampus]

3. Rios Mott, may you rot in hell you pig.

[sakabatou]

4. *pukes*

[Ed Suspicious]

5. If you find yourself in a position of having to deny genocide took place, well, I would be genocide

took place.

[Octafish]

6. 1984 via 1953

"Glorious Victory" by Diego Rivera.



Since Smedley Butler was a second lieutenant, our foreign police, at essence:



War for Wall Street and Welfare for the Wealthy.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Excellent, useful information in the comments at your link.

It's so good Rivera painted this accurate assessment. It clearly explains what has happened, and continued happening.

Have never heard the information on Frieda Kahlo.

Thank you for sharing this information. There are a lot of people who care.

[philly_bob]

7. Up is Down. (NT)

[Judi Lynn]

9. Guatemala police chief faces Geneva court

Guatemala police chief faces Geneva court
swissinfo.ch and agencies
May 15, 2014 - 11:30


The trial of the former head of Guatemala’s national police has opened in Geneva. Erwin Sperisen, who has dual Swiss-Guatemalan citizenship, is accused of planning, ordering or committing the extrajudicial killings of Guatemalan prisoners between 2005 and 2006.

Sperisen allegedly asked his subordinates to make it seem as though ten detainees had clashed with police in three separate incidents before they were shot.

According to the Geneva prosecutor’s office, Sperisen, because of his rank, played a decisive role in the killings. In one case, he allegedly carried out one of the executions himself.

Sperisen is notably believed to have ordered the execution of three prisoners who attempted to escape from a prison centre in November and December 2005, with the scene altered to make it seem like there had been a shoot-out with the police.

More:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/Guatemala_police_chief_faces_Geneva_court.html?cid=38587558

[Judi Lynn]

10. Guatemala slipping back into impunity on anniversary of overturned genocide conviction

May 19, 2014
Guatemala slipping back into impunity on anniversary of overturned genocide conviction


The fight for justice for victims of crimes against humanity and genocide, from Guatemala’s past conflict is being seriously undermined, Amnesty International said today.

A year ago today Guatemala’s Constitutional Court annulled the conviction of former President General Efraín Ríos Montt for crimes against humanity and genocide committed in the 1980s. Since then key judicial figures have been replaced or sanctioned, and resolutions passed that further erode the chances of victims of the past conflict seeing justice.

“Victims of Ríos Montt’s crimes have been fighting for justice for more than three decades and now are again facing numerous obstacles created to deny them that justice,” said Sebastian Elgueta, Guatemala researcher at Amnesty International.

“Guatemala owes a debt of justice to those victims, as well as to the rest of the estimated 200,000 victims of the conflict.”

On 20 May 2013, the conviction of Ríos Montt for his role in the killing, torturing and forced displacement of 1,771 Maya-Ixil indigenous people during his 1982-83 presidency was effectively annulled by Guatemala’s Constitutional Court on a technicality.

More:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/guatemala-slipping-back-into-impunity-on-anniversary-of-overturned-genocide-conviction

[DeSwiss]

11. ''...legally impossible''

- Weasel-words.

K&R

[freshwest]

12. Going backwards!