We Want Justice!

             

On March 2013, charges for genocide and crimes were convicted to former leader of Guatemala,Jose Efrian Rios Montt. He was found guilty on May 10, 2013, and was sentenced for 80 years in prison. This is the first time the people who were part of the genocide are being heard. NISGUA, a U.S human rights group in Guatemala, is working to remove amnesty and impunity for this case in order to bring justice. NISGUA is collecting petitions from all over the world so that Montt will go to prison and take responsibility for his crimes. This petitions will be sent to the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR), the Center for Human Rights Legal Action (CALDH), the U.S embassy in Guatemala and congressional representatives to get them to force the government of Guatemala to take action. Let's help them out! Here is a link to sign a petition:http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6497/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15694  


-Jamie Galarza

JOSE EFRIAN RIOS MONTT WHO?

This convicted man must be heard about! Jose Efrain Rios Montt was in power during
Guatemala's military regime in the 1980's and is known for defeating the country's guerillas. In order to defeat, many indigenous people like the Mayas and mestizo ladinos(European origin with mixed indigenous descent) were killed. 
This became a grand battle between the rebel groups and the government and one of the largest civil wars in Latin America with more than 200,000 people having been killed or disappeared. The government under Montt claimed they were just containing "communism". Fortunately, they were unable to cover up their footprints. Documents from the 1966 Accords of Firm and Durable Peace have found Rios Montt's regime responsible for massacres, rapes, as well as other human rights abuses.It is a chance to give voice to the victims and bring justice to their posterity.
Here is a link to a short documentary by Journey Picutres (uncovering mass graves):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMRUXOgvyUI&list=TLf6Qs2g2Y038YalH-D-ZCO7Wy6g97zjat    

- Aneta Piatek

Another interesting story: Kidnapped at a young age

A man finding out he was raised by strangers!? His so 'so- called' parents the enemies responsible for killing his mother and siblings less than a year ago (from the articles published- 2012) Oscar Ramirez Castaneda learned that he was kidnapped at the age of three and raised by a Guatemalan arm lieutenant.

Today, Castaneda living comfortably with his family in Massachusetts has been helping prosecutors in the case against "Kaibiles" unit. This unit was responsible for killing 250 inhabitants in the village of Dos Erres in 3 days. Fortunately, the United States granted Castaneda asylum only one day after Jorge Sosa was accused of being involved in the village's bloodshed. If Sosa is convicted he would need to return to Guatemala to serve a sentence only after serving on in the United States first.

From kidnapped child to victim of a government instructed massacre, Castaneda finally finds sanctuary from his family's perpetrators. With the newly achieved safe haven in the United States, Castaneda gains what is his family's lost their ability to remain in their home in peace. 
This first link focuses on the story
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/us-usa-guatemala-warcrimes-idUSBRE88N14120120924

This next link is from ProPublica with more primary comments from Castaneda:
http://www.propublica.org/article/guatemalan-massacre-survivor-wins-political-asylum-in-u.s

-Aneta Piatek
& Pics by Jamie Galarza