Solidarity Letter with the families and plaintiffs of the Military Diary Case in Guatemala →

Seeking organizational and individual sign-ons!

Rights Action supports this call for organizational and individual sign-ons to a letter manifesting solidarity with the relatives, survivors and plaintiffs of the Military Diary Case.

On May 6, 2022, Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ordered the opening of the trial for the first nine accused, who will face charges for illegal detention, torture, forced disappearance, murder, extra-judicial execution, sexual violence, and crimes against humanity of at least 183 people between 1983 and 1985.

The accused have many links to right-wing organizations, private security companies, and corrupt actors, showing clearly that there is a connection between the clandestine criminal structures that operated during the Internal Armed Conflict and the structures that maintain corruption and impunity in the present.

Shortly after his ruling, Judge Galvez was threatened and later denounced by an extreme right-wing group and his judicial immunity is at stake.

As the case moves courageously and painstakingly forward, a central concern and demand is the guarantee of safety for the families, plaintiffs, lawyers, prosecutors, and judge of the case.

We hope that this international action of solidarity will be one more contribution to the visibility of the struggle that relatives and survivors have carried out for decades.

Sign-on Deadline
The signatures will be collected until August 28, 6pm PT/9pm ET, and then delivered to family members of the victims and plaintiffs, to the embassies of various countries including the US and Canada, and to the media in Guatemala and beyond.

Full text – Espanol & English: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bO_sPWZgpLrK0T70ImbYkJQAZxfMlcukKQTtsX5tU-Y/editSeeking organizational and individual sign-ons!

Rights Action supports this call for organizational and individual sign-ons to a letter manifesting solidarity with the relatives, survivors and plaintiffs of the Military Diary Case.

On May 6, 2022, Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ordered the opening of the trial for the first nine accused, who will face charges for illegal detention, torture, forced disappearance, murder, extra-judicial execution, sexual violence, and crimes against humanity of at least 183 people between 1983 and 1985.

The accused have many links to right-wing organizations, private security companies, and corrupt actors, showing clearly that there is a connection between the clandestine criminal structures that operated during the Internal Armed Conflict and the structures that maintain corruption and impunity in the present.

Shortly after his ruling, Judge Galvez was threatened and later denounced by an extreme right-wing group and his judicial immunity is at stake.

As the case moves courageously and painstakingly forward, a central concern and demand is the guarantee of safety for the families, plaintiffs, lawyers, prosecutors, and judge of the case.

We hope that this international action of solidarity will be one more contribution to the visibility of the struggle that relatives and survivors have carried out for decades.

Sign-on Deadline
The signatures will be collected until August 28, 6pm PT/9pm ET, and then delivered to family members of the victims and plaintiffs, to the embassies of various countries including the US and Canada, and to the media in Guatemala and beyond.

Full text – Espanol & English: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bO_sPWZgpLrK0T70ImbYkJQAZxfMlcukKQTtsX5tU-Y/edit

Background


Washington Post article
Guatemalan atrocities on trial in “Military Diary” case. Will former US gov’t officials & military testify as to what role the US played?
https://mailchi.mp/rightsaction/guatemalan-atrocities-on-trial-in-military-diary-case
The New Yorker article
Exposing endemic corruption of Guatemalan judiciary and government, staunch ‘democratic ally’ of US, Canada and “international community”
https://mailchi.mp/rightsaction/new-yorker-article-exposes-corruption-of-guatemalan-judiciary
Washington Post article
ICE War Crimes Center pursuing Guatemalan war criminals hiding in the U.S. that participated in the Chixoy Dam / Rio Negro massacres in Rabinal region
https://mailchi.mp/rightsaction/ice-war-crimes-center-pursuing-guatemalan-war-criminals

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