On this day, we, surviving victims and family members,remember the victims of the CREOMPAZ case. We light candles to keep the fire of hope to find all the missing persons, and for truth and justice for all the victims of this case and of the Internal Armed Conflict (CAI in its spanish acronym).

On this day, which is dedicated to remember, honor and dignify the victims, we see with concern and as an offense and a setback to human rights, the registration of candidates who represent impunity in the country. For example,Zury Rios is the daughter of Rios Montt, who wasconvicted of genocide. Shealso represents a policy of extermination which we strongly reject. The possibility of this candidacy is a clear constitutional violation, and an exclusion of other candidates.

In the justice system, attacks have been made against judges, and attempts have been made to limit cases of transitional justice. An example of this is that in the CREOMPAZ case, the sexual violence committed against women during the years of the CAI has been omitted.

A further offense to the victims is the so-called compensation that is given to the former military members, who are being overpaid for the service they performed during the CAI years, during the massacres and serious human rights violations committed by the State through the Guatemalan Army, with the people’s money. All this without the victims being fully compensated as is stipulated in the Peace Accords. Additionally we the victims, relatives and survivors can see that the State of Guatemala is killing us with the increases in the cost of the basic food basket. No longer with weapons, now they kill us with hunger.

However, despite all the onslaught against our people, we maintain the hope that someday we will find our missing and disappeared relatives, we will dignify them, as well as the other victims of the CAI and we will continue to demand JUSTICE!

WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE VICTIMS OF THE CREOMPAZ CASE AND THE INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICT.

February 25, 2023

Yooko Esik’b’al Collective

(In Q’eqchi’ means: We are looking for Them)