Earlier this month eighteen
former military officials in Guatemala were arrested on charges
of genocide and crimes against humanity in one of the largest mass arrests
of military officers Latin America has ever seen. Twelve
of them were trained at the SOA.
The arrests are linked to two
cases in particular, both of which have gone before the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights. The first case concerns the operations
that occurred at the military base in Cobán. In 2012, exhumations by forensic
anthropologists led to the uncovering of at least 550
victims disappeared between 1981 and 1988. The second is for the
disappearance of Marco Antonio Molina Theissen, a 14-year-old boy disappeared
by the G-2 military intelligence forces on October 6, 1981.
The U.S. was deeply involved during the 36-year-long armed
conflict that marked Guatemala. Guatemalans continue their struggle to break
down the wall of impunity and the culture of silence and fear, and the steps
being taken by survivors to bring cases forward have been nothing short of
brave and courageous. SOA Watch maintains that in order for there to
truly be justice, those responsible in the U.S. for the training and funding
one of Latin America's most brutal conflicts must be held to account in any and
all courts applicable. The Congregation of St. Agnes supports SOA Watch, and
continues to cry out “Close the SOA!” You can help. Ask
your Representative to cosponsor HR 1232
Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act.
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