On a press conference on November 21, 2024, representatives from AJR ( Association for Justice and Reconciliation) and ODHAG (Human Rights Office of the Archbishop of Guatemala) demanded that the First Court of Appeals reject the defense’s dishonest attempt to throw out the genocide case and instead, act according to the truth, law, and justice and allow for the delivery of a historic verdict for survivors of genocide in Guatemala.

In the background a mural depicting the work of church members and martyrs during the internal armed conflict shows men in civilian clothes or priests doing various activities, playing music, making posters or preparing materials for mass. In the foreground on the left side you can see a flower arrangement, then there is a brown middle-aged man with his arms crossed and a red t-shirt. On the right side there is a middle-aged woman with curly hair, dressed in gray and with her hands intertwined./////Al fondo un mural que representa el trabajo de miembros y martires de la iglesia durante el conflcito armado interno se puede ver a hombrs vestidos de civil o curas hciendo diversas actividades, tocando musica, haciendo carteles o preparando matertiales para la misa. En primer plano de lado izquierdo se alcanza a ver un arreglo floral, despues se encuentra un hombre moreno de edad mediana con los brazos cruzados y una playera roja. del lado derecho se encuentra una mujer de edad mediana con cabbello rizado y esta vestida de gris y tiene sus manos entrelazadas

AJR and ODHAG representatives, during the press conference. Credits NISGUA

Benedicto Lucas Garcia’s defense, filed an injunction that has halted the trial, which was in its conclusion stage. Now, an Court of Appeals must decide between two possibilities: continue with the trial or stop and restart it. ODHAG’s lawyer, Mario Trejo, commented on the tactics the defense has used to try and block the trial from moving forwards. “They are trying not only to delay the process, they are trying to stop it completely.”

We invite you to listen to a blingual interview with AJR’s representative after the press conference.

 

Read the full press note in English below

The Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR) and the Office for Human Rights of the Archdiocese of Guatemala (ODHAG)

We are grateful for the show of solidarity and observation by national and international lawyers, judges, human rights institutions, universities and diplomatic representatives as we approach the sentencing of retired general Manuel Benedicto Lucas García in the Ixil Genocide case, which is now approaching its final phase.

We are all awaiting the resolution of the magistrates of the First Court of Appeals, Marco Tulio Pérez, Lemus, Jorge Emilio Morales Quezada y Miriam Regina Brolo Salazar. They have the power to resolve the complaint brought by the accused against the tribunal in one of two ways: favor the malicious litigation of the Public Criminal Defense, stopping the High Risk Tribunal A from completing its legal mandate to dictate this historic sentence of universal importance, or, act  according to the law, with objectivity and impartiality, rejecting this spurious complaint and guaranteeing judicial independence and the right of victims to justice after more than 40 years of impunity.

As plaintiffs, with the law behind us, we say to the people of Guatemala who lived during  those dark years of military repression, that we have presented definitive proof that shows there was a genocide and that the accused Manuel Benedicto Lucas García was directly responsible for these horrendous crimes.

We are certain we have dignified the memory of our loved ones during more than 98 public audiences over 7 months of debate,  in which the defense was completely unable to demonstrate the accused innocence, opting instead to disrupt their own conclusions to sabotage the sentencing. The general public can view on social media every audience, argument, scientific proof, expert witness, testimony, document and material that have been recorded for history and see that we have always told the truth and deserve justice.

Therefore, we say to the people of Guatemala that the judges and magistrates should act according to truth, the law, and justice and act to reject impunity and give our peoples the opportunity to advance towards the building of the long sought peace and reconciliation as that can only come from justice.

November 21, 2024