Unofficial translation by the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA). You can find the original statement in Spanish further below.

Coalition of Ixil Organizations – COI

WITH THE ENERGY OF OUR IXIL GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDFATHERS, MAY 12, 2026, WE: FAMILY MEMBERS AND SURVIVORS OF THE INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICT, IXIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS UNITED UNDER THE COALITION OF IXIL ORGANIZATIONS (COI), DECLARE BEFORE THE PUBLIC:

1. Thirteen years have passed since the historic sentencing of former dictator José Efraín Ríos Montt to 80 years in prison for genocide and crimes against humanity against the Maya Ixil people, handed down by a High Impact Tribunal in Guatemala on May 10, 2013. This ruling confirmed that during the Internal Armed Conflict the national army committed atrocities classified as crimes against humanity. This sentence was the result of the struggles and demands of surviving family members, human rights organizations, Indigenous authorities, and individuals who contributed their expertise to achieve justice for these grave violations.

2. This trial holds deep meaning for the Maya Ixil people, allowing access to justice without distinction, class or rank discrimination, possible when the conditions, political will, and lack of bias on the part of the Guatemalan justice system exist. It also honors the memory of thousands of our loved ones who were victims throughout the entire period of the Internal Armed Conflict (1960–1996). According to the report of the Commission for Historical Clarification, during that period more than 200,000 deaths, 45,000 forced disappearances, and 559 massacres were recorded, among other atrocities.

3. Thirteen years after the verdict and 30 years after the signing of the Peace Accords, “Firm and Lasting Peace,” the path toward true justice continues. Considering this, we call upon:

3.1. The Guatemalan Justice System, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Human Rights Ombudsman, and other relevant institutions to continue pursuing the Ixil genocide case, the Benedicto Lucas García case, and other military officials implicated in crimes against humanity — ensuring these cases do not go unpunished. Justice is a fundamental pillar of a full democracy.

3.2. The government of Bernardo Arévalo to immediately implement the Reparation and Dignification Plan (PRD), presented on February 25, 2026, which seeks to guarantee justice, memory, and reparation for the victims and survivors of the Internal Armed Conflict. This plan must not remain mere good intentions, it must be put into concrete action as soon as possible.

3.3. The general population, and especially the Ixil people, to continue fighting for justice, combating impunity, and standing against corruption. We must not allow el pacto de corruptos (the pact of corrupt elites) to keep imposing itself — let us unite to reclaim democracy and build a more inclusive country that respects the rights of all peoples, as established in the Peace Accords.

Ixil Region, May 2026

Collective voice and action in defense of the rights of Indigenous peoples!