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Guatemala Accused of Protecting Genocide Perpetrators, Obstructing Justice
NISGUA
1/22/2008
Will the survivors of genocide in Guatemala ever know justice? If it's up to the Guatemalan Constitutional Court - the highest court in the land - they will not. But survivors' advocates around the world - including a tenacious judge in Spain - are not giving up so easily.
In July 2007, Spanish Judge Santiago Pedraz
court issued international arrest warrants and extradition orders
against several of Guatemala's former top military officials charged
with 
wartime crimes. However, the case was blocked
in December 2007 when the Guatemalan Constitutional Court ruled against the extradition and
arrests and freed the military officers from standing trial.
The Spanish National Court responded by accusing the Guatemalan judiciary of "discrediting" human rights and violating its international duty to sanction genocide. In light of the Guatemalan court's refusal to collaborate, Judge Pedraz is calling on Guatemalans living outside of Guatemala to provide testimony for the case. Groups of witnesses have begun to travel to Spain to file their testimonies.
Meanwhile, Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu has launched a case charging the judges of the Constitutional Court with racism.
(PHOTO: James Rodriguez / mimundo.org)
SEE THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION:
English:
Constitutional Court Verdict Consolidates Impunity in
Guatemala
Spanish court accuses Guatemala of protecting genocide
perpetrators
Guatemalan peace Nobelist sues judges for discrimination
Constitutional Court Refuses Extradition of Officers Accused of Genocide
Seeking
Justice Abroad: Spanish Courts Issue Arrest Warrants for the Butchers of
Guatemala
Spanish:
Comienzan a declarar en Espana los testigos del genocidio guatemalteco
El fallo de la Corte de Constitucionalidad consolida la impunidad en Guatemala - CAIG
El fallo de la Corte de Constitucionalidad consolida la impunidad en Guatemala - Martha Fonseca
Corte de Constitucionalidad Falla a Favor de Militares
Determinacion ejemplar de la Audiencia Nacional
espanola
Rigoberta Menchu acciona contra CC : Senala a magistrados de
obstaculizar la justicia
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