Menchú Tum releases open letter on impunity in Guatemala

Source: nobelwomensinitiative.org --- Friday, May 24, 2013
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court has overturned the historic ruling convicting former president Ríos Montt of genocide and crimes against humanity. While the ultimate effects of this ruling remain unclear, it is certain that this is an enormous setback for truth and justice in Guatemala . The Nobel Women’s Initiative is continuing to monitor the situation as survivors and human rights defenders remain under threat in the country. Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum released an openletter regarding the Constitutional Court’s decision on behalf of The Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation . An English translation of the openletter is below. LEARN MORE Read the original statement in Spanish on The Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation website. Ríos Montt Genocide Verdict Annulled, But Activists Ensure US-Backed Crimes Will Never Be Forgotten , Democracy Now!, 23 May 2013. Guatemala’s Constitutional Court Overturns Rios Montt Conviction and Sends Trial Back to April 19 , open Society Justice Initiative, 21 May 2013. openletter: The decision of Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, issued on May 20, 2013 – which annulled the guilty verdict issued by the Court for High-Risk Penal Sentences on the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity – damages the justice system in Guatemala and sets a harmful precedent confirming the hypothesis that in Guatemala IMPUNITY does not permit sentencing for the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity ...