For the first time ever a former head of state
(Efrain Rios Montt of Guatemala) has been found guilty of genocide for crimes
committed in the country itself. Under
Montt’s control 200,000 people were left dead and more than 45,000 disappeared
(primarily the Ixil Maya ethnic tribe). Montt
has been sentenced to 80 years in prison.
Descriptions of emotion in the court were as follows: “The courtroom erupted into cheers, tears and song
as the sentence was read for more than two hours. Many
held hands while others pressed their hands onto their headsets to listen in to
simultaneous translation in the Ixil language.” I was encouraged to hear of such a successful
use of a court system to address ethnic conflict. This is a historic moment in that it
represents the first time Guatamala had acknowledged that genocide occurred during
the nation’s 1960-1996 civil war. “The
state has now upheld the truth” said a human rights advocate through
tears. Please check out the article to read many more inspirational quotes and
the hopes that this trial has brought…honestly, to the world!
Erin Burneson
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