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

PRESS RELEASE

WE DEMAND THE FULFILLMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHT TO JUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE AND CRIMINALIZATION

Today, DECEMBER 10, 2025, on INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, the victims and survivors of the internal armed conflict, and social organizations dedicated to human rights, women, and youth declare:

The hearing to commence oral and public debate was scheduled for today against the ex-military official LUIS ENRIQUE MENDOZA GARCIA, charged with Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity against the Maya Ixil people, and it was suspended for the second time. Mendoza Garcia served as the Director of Operations of S-3 of the army general staff from March of 1982 to June of 1983, and was part of the general staff of the National Defense during the de facto government of Efraín Ríos Montt, who was found guilty of genocide in 2013. The debate has been rescheduled for April 27, 2026. We the aggrieved parties consider this an act of negligence on the part of the administrators of justice, as this seeks impunity for the accused and does not seek to clarify the truth.

Because of the above, we reject the delay of the start of this debate, as well as the grave setback of justice in cases that find retired military officials responsible for forced disappearance, genocide, sexual violence, and crimes against humanity.

We demand that the Attorney General and Human Rights Prosecutor’s office act in accordance with their mandate to investigate the perpetrators of serious crimes and offenses in order to guarantee the rights of the family members of victims who have sought justice for decades.

We demand that the State of Guatemala guarantee the Right to Memory, Truth, and Justice for the victims and survivors of the internal armed conflict in Guatemala. And we call on the competent authorities to act with responsibility and clarity in guaranteeing that this process advances with no further obstacles or delays.

Likewise, we recognize and stand in solidarity with the struggles of human rights defenders who have been criminalized for exercising the legitimate defense of human rights for all people in Guatemala.

YES THERE WAS A GENOCIDE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

JUSTICE FOR GENOCIDE

#DefendingRightsisLovingLife

Guatemala, December 10, 2025

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