Latin America

Judi Lynn

(164,122 posts)

73. Agence France-Presse: Ex-Guatemalan Ruler Found Guilty of Genocide

Sat May 11, 2013, 05:49 AM

May 2013

Ex-Guatemalan Ruler Found Guilty of Genocide
By Agence France-Presse on 10:26 am May 11, 2013.

Guatemala City. Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt was found guilty of genocide and war crimes Friday in a landmark ruling stemming from massacres of indigenous people in his country’s long civil war.

Rios Montt thus became the first Latin American convicted of trying to exterminate an entire group of people, in a brief but particularly gruesome stretch of a war that started in 1960, dragged on for 36 years and left around 200,000 people dead or missing.

The 86-year-old was sentenced to 80 years in prison, although he vowed to appeal. He got 50 years for genocide and 30 years for war crimes.

“The defendant is responsible for masterminding the crime of genocide,” Judge Jazmin Barrios said. “The corresponding punishment must be imposed.” She said he was also guilty of war crimes.

The court, filled with victims and their relatives, erupted in applause and cheers.

More:
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/ex-guatemalan-ruler-found-guilty-of-genocide/

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Highlight:

Rios Montt Verdict Day. Sanchez statements. Verdict at 4PM Central today [View all] Catherina May 2013 OP

Now inside court of judge Flores who previously supported demand to shut down the trial Catherina May 2013 #1

Judge Flores is seated. Relates to complaints by Montt's defense attorneys Catherina May 2013 #2

Judge Carol Patricia Flores delivering decision Catherina May 2013 #3

No way! Chaos. With the verdict a few hours away, this judge rules for Rios Montt. Rolls back trial Catherina May 2013 #4

Centre for Human Rights Legal Action says this does not affect the 4pm ruling Catherina May 2013 #5

confusion as Judge Flores upholds her 4/18 ruling suspending trial however... Catherina May 2013 #6

Attorney General Claudia Paz y Paz stated that the Flores 4/18 judgment was illegal Catherina May 2013 #7

"We don't tolerate corruption, impunity, influence peddling" That IS a hot one! n/t Judi Lynn May 2013 #56

Judgment in Genocide Trial Expected Today at 4 pm Despite Pre-trial Judge�s Call for Annulment Catherina May 2013 #8

Guardian: Guatemala genocide trial: witnesses of atrocities tell their stories Catherina May 2013 #9

Perfectly focused, truthful comment. Thanks for including it. n/t Judi Lynn May 2013 #58

3:45PM Rios Montt enters the courtroom, sparse applause and shouts of 'asesino' Catherina May 2013 #10

....."I am innocent," R�os Montt tells court in genocide trial, breaking silence Judi Lynn May 2013 #86

Waiting, waiting... The courtroom is packed. 10 more minutes now... Catherina May 2013 #11

Thank you for the photos. People of so many generations came. n/t Judi Lynn May 2013 #85

Nazi supporter of Montt in courtroom again today Catherina May 2013 #12

Wow. Audacious, but honest when a rightest shows his colors. n/t Judi Lynn May 2013 #59

electric air of anticipation fills the air / Live video feed Catherina May 2013 #13

Judges enter to overwhelming applause Catherina May 2013 #14

"We're going to give a sentence based on the consciousness of the Guatemalan republic" Catherina May 2013 #15

Judge Barrios begins reading the sentence. Begins by reviewing the charges Catherina May 2013 #16

Barrios refers to Plan Victoria 82: The objective was to annul the civil population, Catherina May 2013 #17

Judge Barrios: Hunger, rape were strategies of control... We could see the pain of the victims Catherina May 2013 #18

From these entries, something we've heard used elsewhere: Judi Lynn May 2013 #60

use of sexual violence was a deliberate tactic with which to tear apart the social fabric. Catherina May 2013 #19

The judge is phenomenal. Hope they won't harm her for her courage. n/t Judi Lynn May 2013 #61

Me too. HUGE. "Trial has marked a turning point 4 rape survivors, breaking taboo of sexual violence" Catherina May 2013 #78

Unfathomable that anyone would engage in sexual violence. Judi Lynn May 2013 #80

All of them. You know what really kills me? "soldiers jailed 4 more than 6,000 years over massacre" Catherina May 2013 #88

For Dos Erres, which name is infamous all over the world, now. Judi Lynn May 2013 #95

Judge says this was done because they considered the Ixil subhuman Catherina May 2013 #20

You don't want to believe it, but it's true. Just like the U.S. South has been. Judi Lynn May 2013 #62

Jadge states RiosMontt was aware of plans, refers to his Sunday sermons Catherina May 2013 #21

"The Ixil women who testified about sexual violence here broke silence"... Catherina May 2013 #22

Information about this one and Plan Victoria Campaign 82 has been inaccessable Judi Lynn May 2013 #63

Judge highlights constant communication btwn military Catherina May 2013 #23

Message deleted by the DU Administrators Catherina May 2013 #24

"clandestine cemeteries, mental harm, transfer of children from one group to another" Catherina May 2013 #25

Judge: Rios Montt was aware of everything. He had the utmost authority to stop massacres Catherina May 2013 #26

Judge: "We believe the conduct expressed by Rios Montt is guilty of genocide Catherina May 2013 #27

Judge: JM Rodriguez not guilty of any charges (of genocide) Catherina May 2013 #28

Judge: Rios Montt guilty of genocide - 50 years in prison Catherina May 2013 #29

Rios Montt guilty of crimes against humanity - 30 years of prison for that Catherina May 2013 #30

hearing on May 13 at 830AM to establish reparations to the victims Catherina May 2013 #31

Rios Montt to prison right now. 80 total years in prison, non commutable Catherina May 2013 #32

Awesome naaman fletcher May 2013 #47

Congratuations to Guatemala & to the system which provided this brave judge. Judi Lynn May 2013 #54

You're welcome my friend Catherina May 2013 #57

Rios-Montt's daughter, Zuri absolutely doesn't seem likely to forget Judi Lynn May 2013 #72

Thank god. Guatemala owes thanks, respect to the prosecutor, the clean judges. Judi Lynn May 2013 #64

Cheers, cheers - "Yes there was genocide" Catherina May 2013 #33

loud boom near defense table. Rios Montt trying to leave the courtroom as if not guilty Catherina May 2013 #34

Judge Barrios may feel it necessary to leave Guatemala after this. Judi Lynn May 2013 #65

The courtroom is totally out of control. There are a lot of people and guns in here Catherina May 2013 #35

People telling at Press who seem to be shielding Rios Montt. Judge calls 4 security Catherina May 2013 #36

Judge Barrios: We are staying here until the police come. Press, please maintain order. Catherina May 2013 #37

WTF! Rios Montt already giving a phone interview. Catherina May 2013 #38

"This is an international political show" say Rios Montt Catherina May 2013 #39

Press has reformed a tight circle around Montt. authorities have arrived to remove him Catherina May 2013 #40

Courtroom singing "We only want to be human" Catherina May 2013 #41

These images are valuable accompanying the poem/song. Thank you. n/t Judi Lynn May 2013 #66

You're welcome with hugs. About Otto Rene Castillo, Guatemalan communist poet and revolutionary Catherina May 2013 #74

It's good his words, at least, survived... Judi Lynn May 2013 #81

Shouts against sentence amid song. Catherina May 2013 #42

At least a dozen national police enter... Gallery still singing 'aqu� solo queremos ser humanos' Catherina May 2013 #43

Public is now singing "Solo pido a d�os"... while waiting for Montt to be handed to police Catherina May 2013 #44

Overwhelming. Just seeing what your post said was so intense. Judi Lynn May 2013 #67

Powerful lyrics! Thanks for the link Catherina May 2013 #75

Ixiles cheer. Victory. Priests and traditional leaders hold staffs high Catherina May 2013 #45

�EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMAS SERA VENCIDO� Catherina May 2013 #46

She doesn't know it but she has admirers around the world by now. Judi Lynn May 2013 #68

R�os Montt is now being removed from the courtroom Catherina May 2013 #48

�All the people here applauding, tomorrow you... bow your heads, your tails between your legs." Catherina May 2013 #49

Rios Montt sent to VIP prison Catherina May 2013 #50

Nobel Prize Winner Rigoberta Menchu. Weeping with joy at verdict "For years they said I was lying." Catherina May 2013 #51

Wonderful. So good she got to see this. n/t Judi Lynn May 2013 #69

I will never ever forget how she was vilified. Even here on DU Catherina May 2013 #76

Exactly, Catherina, and it's still so damned dirty in my memory. Judi Lynn May 2013 #83

Found a photo to add to this post: Judi Lynn May 2013 #89

Pic: Ixil women were weeping after the verdict and sentence were delivered Catherina May 2013 #52

Fundacion Contra Terrorismo was filming Ixiles as they left court: threat/intimidation. Catherina May 2013 #53

The right-wing NEVER gives up, always try to terrorize good people. Judi Lynn May 2013 #70

One more thing. Happy Mother's Day Guatemalan Indigenous Women Catherina May 2013 #55

This information is totally credible. What a sickening shame. Judi Lynn May 2013 #71

Agence France-Presse: Ex-Guatemalan Ruler Found Guilty of Genocide Judi Lynn May 2013 #73

NYT: " As the general tried to walk out a side door..." Catherina May 2013 #77

Strange cluster of men standing behind Rios-Montt, isn't it? Judi Lynn May 2013 #84

I frankly fear for the judge, the plaintiff, and the witnesses now. and Allan Nairn... Catherina May 2013 #90

I believe it! Too much hatred, too much ego caught up in this, Judi Lynn May 2013 #94

Amazing news. limpyhobbler May 2013 #87

That yes! And not giving weapons to genocidal murderers now or ever again. Catherina May 2013 #91

More Photos from yestereday (graphic intense) Catherina May 2013 #79

These photos are priceless. Glad, also, for the Judge Flores photo, Judi Lynn May 2013 #93

Thanks for the thread! nt flamingdem May 2013 #82

It is, as always, my pleasure. And thank you for reading it Catherina May 2013 #92