Guatemala convicted former dictator Efrain Rios Montt (Friday) allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced him to 80 years in prison, the former Latin American leaders, the first ever such a sentence handed down.
It was the state's first official recognition massacre occurred in the bloody, 36 years of civil war, the current president of the things that retired General Otto Perez Molina, he denied.
"He knows how everything is going, he did not stop, despite the power to stop it being carried out, said:" the presiding judge Yassmin Barrios. Rios Montt is the crime of committing a kind of genocide. "
The 86-year-old former general laughed with his lawyer and procedures, you can listen through headphones. The guilty verdict was announced, the outbreak of the crowded court cheering. Some women have lost their loved ones in the Holocaust, and began to cry.
Restore order, judges! "Cried Rios Montt cameramen and photographers swarmed after his verdict was announced.
A three-judge court judgment is issued, the trial of nearly two months, dozens of victims to testify terrorist atrocities.
The trial of the proceedings, calling for a moratorium for 12 days times annulled the first encounter ups and downs.
30 survivors and relatives of the victims to seek the Rios Montt bring punishment. Both sides, the trial may be an ethnic conflict, caused about 20 million deaths trauma is still trying to think of a turning point for international observers and the war in Guatemala.
Matthew KENNIS, Central America and Mexico Coordination Group, the chair of Amnesty International said: "This is an incredibly important step in justice and accountability in Guatemala Rios Montt was found guilty ... an important step for justice and accountability. "
Prosecutors say Rios Montt, must have knowledge of massacres of Mayan Indians, he ruled Guatemala from March 1982 to August 1983 at the height of the country's 36-year civil war. The three-judge panel is basically the end of the Holocaust to follow the same pattern, they have plans to, without the approval of the military command, led by Rios Montt things, it is impossible.
Rios Montt said he never knew or ordered the massacre, while in power. Co-defendant, Jose Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez, 68-year-old former general, who is the Rios Montt management staff in a senior member of the military leaders, was acquitted.
80-year sentence is somewhat symbolic, a maximum sentence of 50 years the fact that because of of Rios Montt age and Guatemala. His lawyer vowed to appeal against the judgment.
"This is an unjust verdict, we already know that they intend to convict him, General Rios Montt and even his suitcase packed," said defense lawyer Francis Pa Romo. "
Indians Mayan ethnic groups broke into song sentencing, singing "We only hope of human life, will not die."
"This is a judgment only, which makes the people of Guatemala for justice for the victims, justice Edgar Perez said," one of the groups of the Association of justice and reconciliation, initially brought criminal prosecution of the former dictator ten years before.
The trial of the proceedings, calling for a moratorium for 12 days times annulled the first encounter ups and downs.
30 survivors and relatives of the victims to seek the Rios Montt bring punishment. International observers and Guatemala both sides of the war, the trial may be in a country still wrestling with the trauma caused by the conflict, peace agreements, the end of 1996 was a turning point.
Dozens of victims of atrocities to testify. A former soldier accused President Perez Molina Order plunder and implementation, while serving in the military during Rios Montt's regime. Perez Molina said the testimony "lies."
The Ixil India Benjamin Geronimo, justice and reconciliation Association, told the court in closing arguments Thursday, said he survived the massacres and killings of the 256 members of his community were killed.
"I saw with my own eyes, I'm not going to lie to children, pregnant women and the elderly were killed, said:" Geronimo's, who spoke on behalf of the victims.
Rios Montt first to testify at his trial Thursday.
"I declare that he is innocent," Rios Montt told the three-judge court to many in the audience applauded. "I never intended or My goal is to destroy the population as a whole."
Rios Montt, March 23, 1982 coup, the seizure of power and domination, until his own just over a year after the overthrow. Prosecutors say in power, he is aware of, and thus responsible for Iqbal Sylvester Maya in the western highlands of Guatemala the Quiche department town of Gaspar of Chajul St. San Juan Cotzal, and Santa Maria Nebaj , subordinate slaughter of at least 1,771.
Part of the military offensive, a brutal, decades-long counterinsurgency the heart of the Maya, where the guerrillas based leftist uprising brought the Holocaust.
A United Nations Truth Commission, said state forces and related paramilitary groups are responsible for the killings and human rights violations, it recorded 93%, mainly dedicated to the indigenous Maya. However, until now, only low-or middle-level officials have been indicted war atrocities.
Established military documents by prosecutors and advocates for victims of human remains, most of which is a woman or a child victim's testimony and ballistic and forensic examination of thousands of green folder stuffed with their situation.
The court packed with indigenous, human rights and student groups as well as representatives of the former soldiers and the families of the victims.
Military experts for the victims testified that, indicating that the chain of command, the military chief of staff and other senior commanders, including Rios Montt has apparently stopped the massacre.
Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation to carry out more than 60 studies to determine from the evidence in the trial, the vast majority of victims are women or children suffered violent deaths of about 800 bodies.
Maya is considered to be internal enemies, because they are seen as lending support to the guerrillas, according to the indictment Rios Montt.
In Argentina, the former dictator Jorge Rafael Videla was convicted prisoners and abducted children killed during his reign, but he did not attempt to genocide.
 
 
 



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