(Spanish below)
On November, 28 The First Chamber of Appeals accepted an injuction filed by the defense of Manuel Benedicto Lucas García to disqualify the High Risk Crimes Court A, claiming that the Tribunal is unfit to continue the oral and public proceedings. This decision has derailed the trial after 99 days of oral and public hearings.
The AJR and ODHAG have criticized the Appeals Court’s decision, alleging ties to corruption and describing the resolution as a blatant effort to protect the accused while disregarding the victims’ rights.
Nevertheles, the AJR will continue their fight for justice despite facing racism, impunity and systemic legal obstruction. We invite you to read their press release
PRESS RELEASE
The Association for Justice and Reconciliation – AJR- and the Guatemalan Archbishop’s Office of Human Rights, -ODHAG-, to the national and international public opinion, declare:
Our repudiation and indignation at the illegal, unjust and shameful resolution issued today by the judges of the First Chamber of Appeals of High Risk Crimes, which accepted the spurious and false recusal presented by the Public Criminal Defense in the service of retired General Manuel Benedicto Lucas Garcia, in the trial for genocide, crimes against humanity and forced disappearance.
Magistrates Marco Tulio Pérez Lemus, Jorge Emilio Morales Quezada, presided by Magistrate Miriam Regina Brolo Salazar, with their resolution ordered that the High Risk Crimes Court A, stopped the final phase of the trial this they avoided the sentence that was about to be issued after 99 hearings where it was fully proven the commission of GENOCIDE AND THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEFENDANT in more than 19 serious massacres against children, pregnant women, and elderly, in addition to hundreds of other facts such as forced disappearance, torture and sexual violence, causing more than 1,800 victims.
The judges of the First Chamber of Appeals, with proven links to corrupt actors and impunity that we have already pointed out in previous notes, have issued a resolution without legal basis to directly benefit and guarantee impunity to the accused Lucas Garcia, whom we defeated in trial, seriously undermining the criminal process, more than 120 witnesses and elderly witnesses and against the entire body of evidence that demonstrated the genocide and the responsibility of General Manuel Benedicto Lucas García of committing genocide against the Maya Ixil people.
WE HAVE DEFEATED IN TRIAL ONE OF THE MOST BLOODTHIRSTY GENERALS THAT RECENT LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY HAS KNOWN, AND THE FEAR OF THE CONDEMNATORY SENTENCE MADE THEM ASK FOR THE FAVORS OF CORRUPT ACTORS AND IMPUNITY.
WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE ACHIEVE JUSTICE OR WE WILL TURN THIS COUNTRY INTO A PRISON, WHERE THE MEMORY OF THE PEOPLE WILL CONDEMN HIM WHEREVER HE GOES.
Guatemala City, November 28th, 2024
Magistrates Marco Tulio Pérez Lemus, Jorge Emilio Morales Quezada, and president Magistrate Miriam Regina Brolo Salazar giving their resolution. Picture: Verdad y Justicia
El 28 de noviembre la Sala Primera de Apelaciones aceptó un recurso interpuesto por la defensa de Manuel Benedicto Lucas García para recusar al Tribunal A, alegando que este es es incompetente para continuar con el juicio oral y público. Esta decisión ha desbaratado el juicio tras 99 días de debate oral y público.
La AJR y ODHAG han criticado la decisión de la Corte de Apelaciones, mencionando los vínculos con la corrupción y calificando la resolución como un flagrante esfuerzo por proteger a los acusados mientras se ignoran los derechos de las víctimas.
Sin embargo, la AJR continuará su lucha por la justicia a pesar del racismo, la impunidad y la obstrucción legal sistémica y se mantienen firmes en su exigencia de rendición de cuentas. Te invitamos a leer su comunicado de prensa
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