photo: Reuters
For the time since the horrors of the Guatemalan civil war, a high ranking functionary has been convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide.
Former dictator Efrain Montt, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for genocide by the Guatemalan high court , and an additional 30 years for crimes against humanity.
He was accused, amongst other things of killing ethnic Mayans during his two year tenure, in 1982-83.
The court showed evidence that clearly detailed how the army under the command of then dictator Montt, had a plan to sistematically kill all Ixil ethnic people, because they were considered enemies of the state.
In total, almost 1,700 people were ordered killed.
The civil war in Guatemala lasted 36 years, beginning in 1960. It claimed almost a quarter of a million victims.
Almost all killings were found to have been executed by government or army personnel. They also were found to have tortured, raped and pillaged the villages of indigenous people.
The use of modern technology and DNA evidence was instrumental in securing this conviction.
Source :NPR 5.11.13
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