Guatemala: Prosecutor Who Led Ríos Montt Genocide Trial Arrested

[Judi Lynn]

Guatemala: Prosecutor Who Led Ríos Montt Genocide Trial Arrested

September 23, 2016



In Guatemala, the special prosecutor for human rights, Orlando López, has been arrested, sparking fears he may be killed in prison for his high-level prosecution of Guatemalan ex-military officials implicated in the 1980s genocide. López is best known for prosecuting the 2013 genocide trial of ex-dictator Efraín Ríos Montt, who was found guilty of killing nearly 2,000 Ixil Mayans under his rule in the 1980s. López’s arrest stems from hit-and-run allegations reported by a right-wing group tied to many former military generals.

http://www.democracynow.org/2016/9/23/headlines/guatemala_prosecutor_who_led_rios_montt_genocide_trial_arrested

[Judi Lynn]

1. Guatemalan rights prosecutor arrested over alleged hit-and-run

Guatemalan rights prosecutor arrested over alleged hit-and-run

Orlando López held on homicide charges related to incident reported by rightwing group linked to retired military generals

Nina Lakhani in Guatemala City
Friday 23 September 2016 04.22 EDT

Orlando López has investigated some of the worst crimes committed during Guatemala’s bloody civil war and arrested powerful former military commanders for torture, genocide and forced disappearances.

But the efforts of the senior human rights prosecutor have not gone unnoticed by rightwing groups who claim he is spearheading a leftist conspiracy against the armed forces.

Now, López, 41, has been detained on homicide charges linked to an alleged hit-and-run incident, which his supporters say is part of a wave of malicious litigation against advocates seeking justice over civil war crimes.

The alleged traffic incident was reported by the Foundation against Terrorism, a rightwing group linked to retired military generals, which in recent years has accused dozens of senior judges, prosecutors and human rights activists of crimes including corruption, intimidation and links to organised crime.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/23/guatemala-prominent-human-rights-prosecutor-orlando-lopez-arrested