Military Zone 21 – CREOMPAZ
On January 6, 2016, 14 former military officers were arrested on charges of forced disappearance and crimes against humanity based on evidence uncovered at the CREOMPAZ military center in Cobán, Alta Verapaz. Now a United Nations peacekeeper training base, CREOMPAZ (Regional Training Command for Peacekeeping Operations) operated as a detention and clandestine execution center during Guatemala’s Internal Armed Conflict, when it was known as Military Zone 21. Between 2012 and 2015, the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG) carried out 14 exhumations at CREOMPAZ and found 558 human remains in fourteen graves, representing the largest known case of forced disappearance in Latin America.
Spanning crimes committed from 1981 – 1988, the Military Zone 21 (CREOMPAZ) case sets the record in Guatemala, not only for the number of disappeared victims, but also for the time span over which the crimes were committed. Among the high-ranking individuals indicted is Manuel Benedicto Lucas García, who served as former Army Chief of Staff during his brother’s 1978-1982 military dictatorship, and who is currently imprisoned for his role in crimes against humanity committed against the Molina Theissen family. The trial is an important step in the legal trajectory seeking justice for crimes against humanity and represents more than 30 years of hard work by survivor organizations.
In-depth NISGUA reports
The largest case of forced disappearance in Latin America
The same people who carried out genocide in Nebaj were the same who carried out genocide in Plan de Sánchez and throughout Baja and Alta Verapaz. It’s important that the high- ranking military command are tried for these crimes.
Latest from our blog
Pronunciamiento Público de los Pueblos Mam y Kiche’ del Departamento de Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Graham HuntEn una conferencia de prensa llevada a cabo en la Ciudad de Guatemala el 12 de julio del 2011, líderes comunitarios dieron lectura al siguiente:PRONUNCIAMIENTO PÚBLICO DE LOS PUEBLOS MAM Y KICHE' DEL DEPARTAMENTO [...]
Guatemala observes National Day Against Forced Disappearance
Graham HuntOn June 21, 2011, in different activities carried out in Guatemala City, family members of victims, activists and others gathered in honor of the more than 45,000 forcibly disappeared in Guatemala's 36-year civil war, [...]
Guatemala observa el Día Nacional Contra la Desaparición Forzada
Graham HuntEl 21 de junio del 2011, en distintas actividades realizadas en la Ciudad de Guatemala, familiares de las víctimas, activistas y otros se congregaron en honor a los más de 45,000 desaparecidos de la [...]
Una oportunidad histórica para la justicia guatemalteca
Graham Hunt Después de la captura del militar retirado General Héctor López Fuentes el viernes pasado, ayer una audiencia ligó formalmente el ex-Jefe Mayor del Ejército al proceso judicial para los crímenes de genocidio, deberes [...]
An historic opportunity for justice in Guatemala
After the arrest and capture of retired general Héctor López Fuentes on Friday, proceedings yesterday officially indicted former Army Chief of Staff for the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and forced disappearance. Representatives of [...]
General Héctor López Fuentes acusado de genocidio
General López Fuentes espera que se le dé inicio a su audiencia. Graham HuntEl 20 de junio del 2011, el General retirado Héctor Mario López Fuentes fue formalmente acusado de genocidio, crímenes de lesa humanidad [...]