Unofficial translation by the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA). 

You can find the original statement in Spanish further below. // Puedes encontrar el comunicado original en español más abajo.

Coordinating Committee of Ixil Organizations  

With the energy of our grandmothers and grandfathers of the ka’va’l iq’: we–women and men, family members who have survived the internal armed conflict, Ixil organizations and human rights organizations, united in the Coordinating Committee of Ixil Organizations–send the following message to the national and international public:

  1. Another year has passed since the ruling that convicted General Efraín Ríos Montt of genocide, perpetrated during his de facto administration between 1982 to 1983. Ríos Montt’s conviction is a historic accomplishment for Guatemala, especially for the Maya Ixil people, because it meant justice for thousands of our Ixil brothers and sisters who were victims of state terrorism and the crimes against humanity committed by the military.
  2. The Maya Ixil community was one of the most affected by the criminal actions of the Guatemalan army under the command of the convicted General. According to the Historical Clarification Commission Report, during the Ríos Montt period, there are records of more than 300 massacres; hundreds of villages completely destroyed; thousands of people tortured; women raped; hundreds of disappeared children; destruction of the civilian population’s livelihoods; bombings and attacks; and thousands of families forcibly displaced. This is why the aforementioned Commission concluded that what took place was genocide.
  3. Over the course of the trial in 2013, we documented and proved 1,771 cases of Ixil people killed, raped, tortured, and disappeared. The testimony of surviving family members, together with specific information from genocide experts, made clear to the high-impact courts the horrific crimes committed during the Ríos Montt period. That is why the respective courts convicted the general of genocide against the Maya Ixil people. This is how justice is done, thanks to the struggle of surviving relatives who bravely gave their testimonies and participated in the process, as well as to all the organizations that supported and accompanied us unconditionally so that these relatives could have access to justice and obtain the genocide conviction.
  4. We urge the Guatemalan Justice System, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Human Rights Ombudsman to continue with the trial against the criminal Benedicto Lucas García and other members of the military. They need to understand that these serious human rights violations cannot go unpunished, out of respect for the memory of the victims.
  5. The Coordinating Committee of Ixil Organizations stands by the genocide conviction and will continue seeking justice for other cases involving criminals and human rights violators. Only through our efforts will we force the justice system to punish war criminals. In this spirit, we call on the Ixil People and all the peoples of Guatemala to continue fighting for justice, to combat impunity, and to fight corruption. Do not allow our present reality to be dominated by the Pact of the Corrupt. Let us all unite to rescue democracy and build a more inclusive country, one that respects the rights of all peoples as established by the peace accords.

Nebaj, 09 May, 2025.

Let us speak out and take collective action in defense of Indigenous Peoples’ rights!

White background with black text organize in 1 column. At the top of the image, a band of traditional Guatemalan weaving patterns.