For the first time in world history, a former head of state, Efrain Rios Montt who inflicted genocide in Guatemala in the early 1980s is brought to trial in front of his former people. It is also recognized by experts to be the only genocidal incident in the Western Hemisphere of the modern era. The beginning of the genocide of the Ixil Mayans began as rebel campaign. By the time there was a peace accord in 1996, 200,000 Guatemalans had perished from violence from the violence and civil war.
The trial also restarts talk of the United State's involvement with Montt during this time period. The Reagan administration involved themselves with Guatemala during the 1980s by believing that Montt's violence had decreased during his leadership and released the embargo on Guatemala. It has also be proven that the CIA was giving funds to Montt during the civil war. In the current trial, living victims are testifying to the violence during Montt's dictatorship. The trial can be presently be viewed through organizations websites, such as Center for Legal Action in Human Rights and also Association for Justice and Reconciliation Montt is being tried for genocide and also crimes against humanity. Not only is he being tried, but also the former chief of military Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez. It will be a tough trial to convict Montt because his direct involvement is not obvious from victim testimonies or any such evidence that is provided other than his role as the leader of Guatemala.
Brooke Reed
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/11/world/americas/guatemala-rios-montt-trial/index.html?hpt=wo_t5
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