From February 1 to February 15, the intermediate phase of the Ixil Genocide case against the retired military officer Luis Enrique Mendoza García took place. Mendoza García was Chief of Military Operations (G3) under the Ríos Montt dictatorship between 1982 and 1983.

After verifying that there was reasonable doubt of Mendoza’s participation in genocide and crimes against humanity against the Maya Ixil population, Judge Silvia de León ordered to open a trial against Mendoza García.

Luis Enrique Mendoza García was first accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in 2011 along with Ríos Montt and other members of his Military High Command. Nevertheless, he remained a fugitive for seven years. He was arrested in 2019 after leaving a voting center in Salamá, Baja Verapaz during Guatemala’s general elections.

Flyer in colors black, and red, there is a drawing of Luis Enrique Mendoza Garcia on the Left. Full Translation of the text of the flyer in the rigth

Infographic explaining the timeline of the case and the charges against Mendoza García. Credit: CALDH. Translation below

GENOCIDE CASE against Luis Enrique Mendoza García

Chief of Operations (G3) of the General Staff of the Guatemalan Army during the dictatorship of Efraín Ríos Montt in 1982 – 1983.

He is being accused of genocide and crimes against humanity against the Maya Ixil people.

06/17/2011 Warrant for his arrest is issued. The accused flees.

06/16/2019 Luis Enrique Mendoza García is detained in Unión Barrios, Salamá, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala.

11/29/2019 He is indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity against the Maya Ixil people. He is ordered to remain in house arrest. The intermediate phase of the trial is scheduled for May 2021.

04/27/2021 Hearing to review measures of constraint as requested by the defendant. The judge adjusted measures of constraint to allow the defendant to move freely within the country for economic activity.

05/17/2021 The start of the intermediate phase is suspended and rescheduled for September of 2021.

09/09/2021 The start of the intermediate phase is suspended and rescheduled for October of 2021.

10/11/2021 The start of the intermediate phase is suspended and rescheduled for February 2022.

Intermediate phase hearing now scheduled for Tuesday February 1, 2022.

TWO PREVIOUS CONVICTION IN THIS CASE:

In this case there has been two previous convictions in 2013 and 2018, in which it was confirmed that genocide and crimes against humanity were comitted in Guatemala against the the Maya-Ixil people. In one of the convictions, Efrain Rios Montt was sentenced to 80 years in prison.