{"code":"25949","sect":"Central America","sect_slug":"central-america","hits":"386","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/en\/202201\/centroamerica\/25949","link_edit":"","name":"On Anniversary of Peace, Memory is the Enemy","slug":"on-anniversary-of-peace-memory-is-the-enemy","info":"Central America, in Brief: El Salvador and Guatemala just eclipsed 30 and 25 years, respectively, since the accords that ended their armed conflicts. Despite recent attacks on judicial independence in both countries and intense political polarization surrounding the landmark agreements, the courts granted new openings for two watershed civil war-era cases: in El Salvador, for the 1989 Jesuit Massacre; and in Guatemala, for the multi-year genocide against the Maya Ixil people. Subscribe to our newsletter","mtag":"Newsletter","noun":{"html":"El Faro English","data":{"el-faro-english":{"sort":"","slug":"el-faro-english","path":"el_faro_english","name":"El Faro English","edge":"0","init":"0"}}},"view":"386","pict":{"cms-image-000036921-jpg":{"feat":"1","sort":"36921","name":"cms-image-000036921.jpg","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000036921.jpg","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000036921.jpg","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000036921-jpg","text":"<p>El\u00edas Romero, 79, traveled to Cuscatl\u00e1n Park in San Salvador on the 30th anniversary of the accords and then walked to Barrios Plaza to commemorate the day that he says changed the course of the country's history. \"Achieving peace wasn't easy. After years of struggle and war, we need to respect the day and the people, family members, and friends that we lost in that era,\" he said, after lifting his hands during a minute of silence in memory of the victims and disappeared during the armed conflict. Photo: Carlos Barrera\/El Faro<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003EEl\u00edas Romero, 79, traveled to Cuscatl\u00e1n Park in San Salvador on the 30th anniversary of the accords and then walked to Barrios Plaza to commemorate the day that he says changed the course of the country's history. \"Achieving peace wasn't easy. After years of struggle and war, we need to respect the day and the people, family members, and friends that we lost in that era,\" he said, after lifting his hands during a minute of silence in memory of the victims and disappeared during the armed conflict. Photo: Carlos Barrera\/El Faro\u003C\/p\u003E"},"cms-image-000036598-jpeg":{"feat":"0","sort":"36598","name":"cms-image-000036598.JPEG","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000036598.JPEG","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000036598.JPEG","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000036598-jpeg","text":"<p>On July 13, 2016, the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber declared the Amnesty Law unconstitutional. Armando Dur\u00e1n fell victim to the guerrilla during the armed conflict and sought justice for his kidnapping following the Chamber's ruling. Five years after he pressed criminal charges, one of his agressors asked for forgiveness in the Juvenile Court in San Miguel. Photo: Nelson Rauda\/El Faro<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003EOn July 13, 2016, the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber declared the Amnesty Law unconstitutional. Armando Dur\u00e1n fell victim to the guerrilla during the armed conflict and sought justice for his kidnapping following the Chamber's ruling. Five years after he pressed criminal charges, one of his agressors asked for forgiveness in the Juvenile Court in San Miguel. Photo: Nelson Rauda\/El Faro\u003C\/p\u003E"},"cms-image-000036365-jpg":{"feat":"0","sort":"36365","name":"cms-image-000036365.jpg","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000036365.jpg","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000036365.jpg","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000036365-jpg","text":"","capt":""}},"pict_main__sort":36921,"date":{"live":"2022\/01\/17"},"data_post_dateLive_YY":"2022","data_post_dateLive_MM":"01","data_post_dateLive_DD":"17","text":"\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EOn Sunday, Jan. 16, the 30th anniversary of the signing of El Salvador\u2019s peace accords, the government set up \u003Cstrong\u003Epolice and military checkpoints around the country\u003C\/strong\u003E to try to prevent Salvadorans from marching in the capital to commemorate the end of the civil war. This politicized use of the civilian police force, reminiscent of the war and prohibited by the accords, was the latest of the Nayib Bukele administration\u2019s efforts to erase the memory of any political merit of those before him.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EDays before, legislators for Bukele\u2019s Nuevas Ideas party approved a decree to rebrand Jan. 16 from the \u201cNational Day of Peace\u201d to \u201cNational Day of the Victims of the Armed Conflict.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cWhoever wants to \u003Cstrong\u003Ecelebrate this illegitimate agreement\u003C\/strong\u003E, go ahead. This is a free country,\u201d Bukele \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nayibbukele\/status\/1482839418121728004\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Etweeted\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E on Jan. 16, \u201cbut it will no longer be a national holiday.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cTo those in the \u2018international community\u2019 who practically demand that we celebrate: Stay out of it,\u201d he added. \u003Cstrong\u003E\u201cWe don\u2019t question why you don\u2019t celebrate parts of your history.\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ENuevas Ideas has argued that the accords, which ended a 12-year conflict that took some 75,000 lives, were no more than a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/raulncastillo\/status\/1480978561926418435\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Ebusiness deal\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E between the far-right ARENA and the former guerilla front FMLN \u2014 the two main opposition parties now \u2014 \u003Cstrong\u003Eto ensure themselves impunity and distribute power\u003C\/strong\u003E (No matter that Bukele himself started his political career with the FMLN only nine years ago).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EHis administration went as far as to refuse to commemorate the day of the Peace Accords in 2020 and 2021.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ESalvadoran human rights defender Celia Medrano said this interpretation is a mischaracterization. \u201cOf course we have to remember the victims. It was never said that the anniversary of the peace accords was to remember the protagonists,\u201d Medrano told El Faro English. \u201cThe peace accords were based on recognizing that we should never return to living a level of \u003Cstrong\u003Econfrontation and closure of political democratic spaces\u003C\/strong\u003E that led us to war.\u201d\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u201cAnd that\u2019s what they\u2019re doing now,\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E she added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=2000&ImageHeight=1333&ImageId=36921 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"El\u00edas Romero, 79, traveled to Cuscatl\u00e1n Park in San Salvador on the 30th anniversary of the accords and then walked to Barrios Plaza to commemorate the day that he says changed the course of the country's history. \"Achieving peace wasn't easy. After years of struggle and war, we need to respect the day and the people, family members, and friends that we lost in that era,\" he said, after lifting his hands during a minute of silence in memory of the victims and disappeared during the armed conflict. Photo: Carlos Barrera\/El Faro\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E El\u00edas Romero, 79, traveled to Cuscatl\u00e1n Park in San Salvador on the 30th anniversary of the accords and then walked to Barrios Plaza to commemorate the day that he says changed the course of the country's history. \"Achieving peace wasn't easy. After years of struggle and war, we need to respect the day and the people, family members, and friends that we lost in that era,\" he said, after lifting his hands during a minute of silence in memory of the victims and disappeared during the armed conflict. Photo: Carlos Barrera\/El Faro \u003Cdiv class=\"photographer text_italic rule--ss_l tint-text--idle\"\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp id=\"m_-2787941287659567845docs-internal-guid-f89f8db3-7fff-6644-80ec-ac426b6c14b2\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003EGeoff Thale, former president of the Washington Office of Latin America (WOLA), \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=dc1f5fe532&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Ddc1f5fe532%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw0US1A32UNIUdhXWwBYYSCP\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Etold\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E Prensa Comunitaria that the peace accords \u201cserved as a foundation so that in El Salvador there existed a system of control and political balance, a functional judicial system, and a political party system.\u201d\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cWhat Bukele seems to be doing is marginalizing the political opposition and \u003Cstrong\u003Eundoing the control systems that the peace accords created\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u201d he continued.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA New Opening for the Jesuit Massacre Case?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EMedrano says that Bukele has selectively supported transitional justice efforts when they serve a \u003Cstrong\u003Epolitical purpose to attack his adversaries\u003C\/strong\u003E. On Jan. 5, El Salvador\u2019s Constitutional Court ordered the reopening of the case for the 1989 murders of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=e24d0b7039&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3De24d0b7039%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw3_Gwk66bHvjWmqtR0J67iy\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Esix Jesuit priests\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, their housekeeper and her daughter. The decision came after Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=604d3cd697&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D604d3cd697%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw2FyIZu7Qqu_e-DIeRHLzOm\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Erequested\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E a revision of a previous decision to close the case in October 2020.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe involvement of former ARENA president \u003Cstrong\u003EAlfredo Cristiani, who has been named as a potential intellectual author\u003C\/strong\u003E or as accessory after the fact but never formally accused of any crime, could be used as justification to cancel the far-right party, said Medrano.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EBukele has also used the case to accuse the University of Central America (UCA), one of the institutions seeking to provide justice for victims for decades and now an often vocal critic of his government, of being soft on perpetrators of human rights abuses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cWhen it came down to it, Bukele backed the military in violation of every international law,\u201d Jo-Marie Burt, an expert on transitional justice and professor at George Mason University, told El Faro English.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp id=\"m_-2787941287659567845docs-internal-guid-bc1f3672-7fff-f342-4b53-d59d34f71a70\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003EDuring the last two years, Bukele has given the military its \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=b0a9e1b924&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Db0a9e1b924%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw28HaUBcJFAnHG8o1iCTpwv\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Ebiggest budget\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E since the end of the Peace Accords and \u003Cstrong\u003Epromised to double the amount of soldiers to 40,000\u003C\/strong\u003E within five years.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EA documentary for PBS Frontline that aired in November, which El Faro co-produced with ProPublica and Retro Report, details the historical challenges of bringing to justice the perpetrators of the El Mozote massacre, as well as the new ones. Watch the documentary \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=ca5724ee2b&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Dca5724ee2b%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw31h2C4j1jReyra9P-8WZHx\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EDetached from the political currents of the moment, in October a court closed El Salvador\u2019s \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=315eba7966&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D315eba7966%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw1BMsjLSHo_Eb7wtUToI-V0\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Efirst civil war-era case\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E in an unexpected way. Instead of issuing a prison sentence, the kidnapping case concluded with a letter of apology to the victim from one perpetrators, now 52. Then, the courtroom sat stunned as \u003Cstrong\u003Ethe victim and perpetrator wrapped their arms around each other\u003C\/strong\u003E and embraced.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s not just a symbolic act,\u201d \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=10f28201d9&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D10f28201d9%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw0P0h3J-SmkF671XZUlsXPE\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Ewrote\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E El Faro\u2019s Nelson Rauda. \u201cIt\u2019s the closing of a judicial process.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=2000&ImageHeight=1333&ImageId=36598 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"On July 13, 2016, the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber declared the Amnesty Law unconstitutional. Armando Dur\u00e1n fell victim to the guerrilla during the armed conflict and sought justice for his kidnapping following the Chamber's ruling. Five years after he pressed criminal charges, one of his agressors asked for forgiveness in the Juvenile Court in San Miguel. Photo: Nelson Rauda\/El Faro\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E On July 13, 2016, the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber declared the Amnesty Law unconstitutional. Armando Dur\u00e1n fell victim to the guerrilla during the armed conflict and sought justice for his kidnapping following the Chamber's ruling. Five years after he pressed criminal charges, one of his agressors asked for forgiveness in the Juvenile Court in San Miguel. Photo: Nelson Rauda\/El Faro \u003Cdiv class=\"photographer text_italic rule--ss_l tint-text--idle\"\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EArmando Dur\u00e1n, who was kidnapped for 37 days in 1987, thanked the judge. \u201cThe victims of the armed conflict \u003Cstrong\u003Edo not want revenge, only justice\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EHe also asked that the guerrilla commanders who masterminded the crime \u2014 who he alleges include former FMLN president Salvador S\u00e1nchez Cer\u00e9n currently in Nicaragua after fleeing corruption charges \u2014 be held criminally accountable, not just the person who carried it out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIsolated Advances in Guatemala\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn Guatemala, the battle for historical memory also fights to survive political tensions. A new \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=53ddf605dd&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D53ddf605dd%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw2yxB-RMc-nt9hVRjESWzNV\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Egenocide trial\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is expected to begin this year against two high-ranking military officers, Manuel Benedicto Lucas Garc\u00eda and Manuel Antonio Callejas. The case revolves around \u003Cstrong\u003Ethe killing of more than 1,700 Indigenous Maya people from 1978 to 1982\u003C\/strong\u003E in the Quich\u00e9 region of Guatemala. Charges were brought against them in August, but the trial\u2019s exact date has yet to be set.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EGuatemala, which \u003Cstrong\u003Esigned a peace agreement on Dec. 29, 1996\u003C\/strong\u003E, stood as a paragon in Central America over the past decade by lodging \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=0bfd1ca4e9&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D0bfd1ca4e9%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw28NY1trKPuY2s0mn9tc2lB\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Emajor convictions\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E against powerful politicians and members of the Armed Forces for abuses committed during the armed conflict. But in recent years, the country has faced similar grave attacks on judicial independence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EDuring a decades-long civil war, in which impoverished Indigenous groups were largely pitted against the ruling elite, the atrocities committed by Guatemala\u2019s military constituted genocide and were well documented. Even so, genocide denialism \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=f6bbef38b7&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Df6bbef38b7%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw22MdqbyjlBwq6fVzD9Y5Nz\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Eremains entrenched in the political far right\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 and \u003Cstrong\u003Emany of the perpetrators remained in power\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn 2013, general and coup president \u003Cstrong\u003EEfra\u00edn R\u00edos Montt was already convicted of genocide against the Maya Ixil people\u003C\/strong\u003E. Shortly after, the nation\u2019s highest court overturned the ruling on a technicality, but a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=6244cc5aac&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D6244cc5aac%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw0FX4AplXFp7E4ZsBzgQAuJ\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Eretrial\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E reached the same conclusion in 2018 after Rios Montt\u2019s death. Zury Rios, his daughter and a career politician, has positioned herself as an early frontrunner for the 2023 presidential elections despite a controversial constitutional prohibition of the office for the descendants of coup presidents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWhile new trials move forward in Guatemala, such as the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=4f6a003043&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D4f6a003043%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw2FyRSe9XIOyEWKKnX5gB4i\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Ecase\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003Eagainst five paramilitaries for the rape of 36 Mayan Achi women\u003C\/strong\u003E, actors within the justice system find other ways to stall progress.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn October, Attorney General \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=3d9a67bba6&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D3d9a67bba6%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw3yvwET0Mk-_ShnG0qVI5uP\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003EConsuelo Porras\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who was \u003Cstrong\u003Enamed to the \u2018Engel List\u2019 of corrupt Central American officials\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=d3a0d60a7e&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Dd3a0d60a7e%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw2sn7i9keT8GNyYKb4o_z3J\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Etransferred\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E experienced human rights prosecutor Hilda Pineda, who worked important cases such as the genocide case against R\u00edos Montt and the ongoing case of forced disappearances known as \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=2f56f28608&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D2f56f28608%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw12Ll4Yvx2lm-R3NCsOONqb\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003EDiario Militar\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (\u201cmilitary diary\u201d), and the newest genocide case opened in August.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EGuatemalan human rights leader Claudia Samayoa says that judicial slow-walking is a common tactic in Guatemala and El Salvador.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cI\u2019m afraid that they will start \u003Cstrong\u003Eusing these cases\u003C\/strong\u003E just to tell the international community that they are moving,\u201d Samayoa, head of Guatemala\u2019s \u200b\u200bHuman Rights Defenders Protection Unit (UDEFEGUA), told El Faro English, \u201cWhile in the present we have corruption, human trafficking and organized crime.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=2000&ImageHeight=1333&ImageId=36365 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"photographer text_italic rule--ss_l tint-text--idle\"\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe unit that Pineda led was in charge of the ongoing \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=1514dd329f&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3D1514dd329f%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw2HCOyHFSNMbC0FyDPV9dNZ\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Ecase Diario Militar\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (\u201cmilitary diary\u201d), in which 12 high-level military officers are accused of forced disappearance, kidnapping and torture of more than 180 perceived dissidents kept on \u003Cstrong\u003Ea secret military hitlist from 1983 to 1985\u003C\/strong\u003E.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cThe Diario Militar case is well-founded. You have survivors who recognize their torturers,\u201d leading Guatemalan human rights advocate Helen Mack \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=a1073f760c&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Da1073f760c%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw2xiFmad0LP3Ur1eIza64tp\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Etold El Faro in a July interview\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cAs for whether that will happen,\u201d she added, \u201cthe problem is cleansing a justice system that no longer respects prosecutorial autonomy.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EPineda\u2019s removal is part of a larger attack on independent prosecutors, according to Burt, who said she fears that Porras \u003Cstrong\u003Ewill move to disarm the whole human rights unit\u003C\/strong\u003E as she \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=af4b464c36&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Daf4b464c36%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331959000&usg=AOvVaw3sNr9ahGk1WuD3g87JBtsm\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Edid with the anti-corruption unit led by exiled prosecutor\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E Juan Francisco Sandoval.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cIn many cases, it\u2019s the same individuals who are involved in human rights abuses in the past and crimes in the present,\u201d Burt said. \u201cIt\u2019s a network that is engaging in all of these forms of cooptation to throw a sledgehammer into the independent justice process.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cThey don\u2019t want independent justice,\u201d she added. \u003Cstrong\u003E\u201cThey want a justice they can control.\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EA final note \u2014 Martin Toc, at the center of our last week's newsletter, announced Monday 17 that he will run for president of Guatemala in 2027. You may want to revisit \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=f5735a0348&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Df5735a0348%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331960000&usg=AOvVaw3ci2oCDC_6FSKDiGgTQJKd\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Ethe interview he granted to El Faro English\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EP\u200blease \u003Cstrong\u003Econsider funding our journalism, \u003C\/strong\u003Ewhich, as you know, has been the target of an espionage campaign, at\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=a822abdb775cca5db840e11e5&id=b8c36f049d&e=3e101df639\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/elfaro.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3Da822abdb775cca5db840e11e5%26id%3Db8c36f049d%26e%3D3e101df639&source=gmail&ust=1642603331960000&usg=AOvVaw0u33TWP4UDx2K_25eSPns3\"\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003Esupport.elfaro.net\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E"}