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From: Rights Action <info@rightsaction.org> To: info@rightsaction.org Subject: GUATEMALA: THROWING STONES AT A LEADER OF GENOCIDE Date: 18 Jun 2003 12:40:30 -0400 June 18, 2003 GUATEMALA: THROWING STONES AT A LEADER OF GENOCIDE === The article below describes a confrontation between Maya-Achi residents of Rabinal (department of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala) and politician-members of the ruling FRG party that occurred on the day that Achi massacre survivors were re-burying the remains for their loved ones who had been massacred during the years of genocide [1978-1983]. They had only recently completed the legal-forensic process of exhuming the mass graves. The President of the FRG ruling party in Guatemala is former General Efrain Rios Montt, who was one of two military leaders that oversaw and implemented the policies of massacres and genocide. GLOBAL BUSINESS AS USUAL During the years of genocide and repression, the regimes of Guatemala were supported militarily, politically and economically -- by the United States, other western nations, the World Bank (WB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and an endless number of western-based companies and banks. Today, the FRG headed by Rios Montt has full military, political and economic relations with the USA, Canada, western nations, the WB, IDB, and an endless number of western-based companies and banks. IMPUNITY This confrontation is to be understood in the context of historic and on-going impunity. Despite the documented repression and genocide [leaving over 200,000 mainly Mayan people killed and disappeared], next to no justice has been done in Guatemala. The ruling economic and military elites -empowered by their extensive relations with the international community-- continue to run the country as they have in the past with impunity. COURAGE Despite the impunity and on-going human rights violations [including economic exploitation], there are courageous and visionary groups across the country like ADIVIMA that are challenging the impunity at every step of the way. Over the next weeks, Rights Action will publish a series of articles about local and regional efforts to have justice done, despite the impunity of the national power holders and their international supporters. If you want on/ off this e-list, info@rightsaction.org. Please publish and circulate this information, citing source. === GUATEMALA: THROWING STONES AT A LEADER OF GENOCIDE by Annie Bird and Grahame Russell (Rights Action) On September 15, 1981, Rabinal (center of the Maya-Achi world in Guatemala) celebrated its biggest annual town fair. As villagers auctioned their cattle and children climbed into a Ferris wheel, the Guatemalan national army blocked all the exits from the town square and began massacring indiscriminately the fairgoers; even the Ferris wheel operator was killed. Witnesses estimate more than 1,000 people were killed that day and their bodies dumped into mass graves on the edge of town. This was the largest of dozens of massacres in the municipality of Rabinal that left more than 5,000 Maya-Achi dead, more than a quarter of the total local population at the time. Family members of the victims of the September 15 massacre recently exhumed the remains of some of the victims (with the support of the FAFG exhumation team), and planned to properly bury their loved ones on June 14, 2003. On June 2, ADIVIMA (Association for the Development of the Maya Achi Victims of Violence) began plans for the re-burial. They placed radio announcements and on June 9 got the required permit from the mayor. What is on-going impunity? This mayor is an active local leader of the FRG political party and a man personally accused of killing hundreds while he served as Military Commissioner during the years of repression and genocide. In spite of the surviving victims plans, on June 12 the FRG announced a political campaign visit to Rabinal for their Presidential candidate in the upcoming November elections, Efrian Rios Mott. Rios Mott was the military dictator of Guatemala during the second half of the scorched earth military campaign whose strategy was to massacre civilian, mostly Mayan villagers, including many whose remains were to be re-buried June 14. Rios Montt has been formally accused of genocide in two separate complaints, one in Guatemalan courts and another in Spain. His eligibility to run for president is in question because of a constitutional provision preventing those who came into power through a military coup from running for president. Though lower courts have rejected his candidacy, the Constitutional Court will make the final ruling. What is national and global impunity? Whether the courts rule in his favor or not, he remains the president of the ruling party and the most powerful politician in the country, maintaining a whole host of economic, political and military relations with western countries, international financial institutions and global companies and banks. On the day of the re-burial, more than 500 surviving victims gathered to carry the coffins to the cemetery. Outraged by the presence of Rios Montt in Rabinal they decided to carry the coffins to the FRG rally as a demonstration against the ongoing impunity enjoyed by the authors of genocide in Guatemala. Many accused war criminals, including Rios Montt and Rabinals mayor, form part of the FRG-controlled government, which dominates the executive branch and congress. Only 3 paramilitaries (PAC Patrullas de Autodefensa Civil) and 1 civilian Military Commissioner have been convicted for atrocities committed during the State sponsored genocide and repression in which more than 200,000 people were killed and disappeared. At the rally, approximately 2,000 people were gathered. The majority were former paramilitaries PAC the FRG brought in from the neighboring municipalities of Cubulco, San Jeronimo, Grandos and El Chol. They were rumored to be collecting the controversial State payment to former paramilitaries that the FRG government promised last year (for their services during the repression and genocide) and began disbursing recently during the electoral campaign. Few PAC from Rabinal were present, though many residents of the town center of Rabinal gathered to watch the rally. The victims, from outlying Rabinal villages, arrived and began shouting murderer, genocidist, and thief at the FRG congressional candidate for Baja Verapaz, former military officer Juan Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz responded by accusing the protesters of being manipulated by opposition parties and foreigners who steal babies. The latter is an accusation Guatemalan journalists and human rights organizations say is promoted by evangelical churches, former paramilitaries and right wing politicians which have spawned violence against tourists, including at least two mob murders. When an Associated Press photographer climbed onto the stage for better photos, Santa Cruz pushed or kicked him violently off the stage. The angered crowd, including townspeople from Rabinal who had gathered before the arrival of the victims, began throwing rocks at the stage and burning FRG banners. The stage was evacuated, but when the crowd began to disburse they saw another stage had been set up 100 meters away where Rios Montt and his vice presidential candidate, Edin Barrientos, were speaking. The crowd then proceeded to throw sticks, bottles and stones. Rios Montt was hit but not seriously injured. He was rushed off to the stage into a nearby car, where he was shuttled to Cubulco. In Cubulco, according to press reports, he promised the PAC a third payment for their services during the state sponsored genocide, but in response the PAC called him a liar and a thief. The surviving victims proceeded to the cemetery to bury their loved ones with Mayan and Christian ceremonies. The next day one activist with ADIVMA received a written death threat referring to the previous days incident. This is the latest in a constant stream of violence and threats directed against ADIVIMA members since they formed the organization in 1995. === WHAT YOU CAN DO? To support the efforts of community-based groups in Mexico and Central America, working for development, human rights and justice, you can make tax-charitable donations to Rights Action, in both Canada and the US. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN : Participating in educational delegations to in Mexico and Central America? Receiving our e-list and/or newsletter? Being a human rights accompanier in Mexico and Central America? info@rightsaction.org / 416-654-2074 / www.rightsaction.org RIGHTS ACTION With offices in Guatemala City, Washington DC, and Toronto, Rights Action is a tax charitable organization (Canada and the United States) that raises funds for over 50 community development & human rights projects in Southern Mexico, Central America (mainly Guatemala & Honduras) and Peru, and educates and advocates about global development and human rights issues. |