The proposed legislation would free dozens of military officials convicted of grave abuses and prohibit all future prosecutions of human rights crimes committed during the country’s 36-year internal armed conflict, which ended in 1996. A UN-sponsored truth commission found that Guatemalan security forces had committed hundreds of massacres of civilians during the conflict, including acts of genocide.
“The fight for justice in Guatemala has faced many obstacles over the years, but this amnesty for genocide might be the most brazen assault on the rule of law we’ve seen,” said Daniel Wilkinson, Americas managing director at Human Rights Watch. “If it approves this law, Congress will be violating Guatemala’s legal obligation to ensure justice for the worst atrocities and openly defying a binding order from the Inter-American Court.”
The proposed bill would amend the 1996 Law of National Reconciliation, which established that there would be no amnesty for genocide, torture, and forced disappearances. The Guatemalan Congress has already twice voted to advance the amnesty bill. A third and final vote is expected this week.
In a March 12 ruling, the Inter-American Court ordered Guatemala to shelve the proposed legislation. The ruling is legally binding on Guatemala.
