Rios Montt Verdict Day. Sanchez statements. Verdict at 4PM Central today

[Catherina]

79. More Photos from yestereday (graphic intense)

For the first time in world history, a former head of state was not only tried for genocide and crimes against humanity in a national court, but found guilty of these charges. Former Guatemalan de facto head of state Jose Efrain Rios Montt, who ruled Guatemala from March 1982 to August 1983, was sentenced to 80 years of jail. Judge Jazmin Barrios declared that military scorched earth campaigns during that period systematically and repeatedly massacred the Ixil Mayan people and indiscriminate patterns of violence were shown. She concluded that Ríos Montt had both command authority and “full knowledge of what was happening and did nothing to stop it.”


Members of the Comité de Unidad Campesina (CUC) and Coordinación y Convergencia Nacional Maya Waqib ‘Kej hold a Mayan Ceremony outside the Supreme Court of Justice the morning before the final audience begins.


The courageous, courageous Judge Jazmin Barrios




Judge Carol Flores who tried to annul the trial and then, hours before a final verdict was given, tried to nullify all the testimony in Judge Barrios' proceedings



Ixil Mayan Indigenous authorities await sentencing.




1992 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu.


Family members and supporters of the accused clap and yell: “long live the glorious armed forces of Guatemala!”


The Press Swarm that caused such chaos at the end


Defense attorneys Cesar Calderon (left) and Francisco Palomo listen to the Judge Barrios’ verdict as if they don't have a care in the world.


Rios Montt reacts to the guilty verdict... 80 years in jail – 50 for genocide and 30 for crimes against humanity.


As Rios Montt was trying to leave the courtroom through a side door, protected by a swarm of journalists in the way, Judge Jazmin Barrios orders the apprehension of Rios Montt as she stands along with judges Patricia Bustamante (left) and Pablo Xitumul.


1992 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu (right) embraces an Ixil woman as the crowd reacts to the guilty verdict.


Human rights activist Marylena Bustamante holds a photo of her detained-disappeared brother Emil Bustamante. Emil was still seen alive in a military cell on March 23, 1982, the day the coup d’etat placed Rios Montt in power. Emil’s remains are yet to be found.


Benjamin Manuel Jeronimo, President of the wartime victims organization Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR), plaintiff organization in the case.


Reactions outside the courtroom.


Human rights activists Sandra Moran (left) and Lolita Chavez embrace.


Ixil women clap and dance in euphoric joy as the chant “we won! we beat him!”


Ana Lainez, indigenous mayor of Nebaj, raises her baton as the Ixil Mayan people exit the courtroom and march through the aptly called Plaza of the Human Rights.


Judge Barrios declared, “There cannot be peace without justice in Guatemala.” She reiterated that genocide has affected all Guatemalans and urged the Public Prosecutors office to investigate and indict others responsible for genocide.


Photos taken from http://www.mimundo.org/2013/05/11/2013-05-10-former-head-of-state-rios-montt-guilty-of-genocide/

Professionals wanting to license these for use, please contact James Rogriguez, a courageous, independent freelance photographer who uses his camera for justice.