Rights Groups Press Guatemala for Answers Weeks After Eight Unarmed People Were Killed in Huité
Human Rights Watch and WOLA say the government owes families a clear account of the Sept. 27 killings in Zacapa, where the defense minister says Army jeeps seen on camera arrived only after the shooting.
See where this is ›HUITÉ, Guatemala —
Two international human rights groups are demanding that Guatemala's government explain the killing of eight unarmed people in the town of Huité, in the eastern department of Zacapa, on Sept. 27, Prensa Libre reported Nov. 6. The Guatemalan newspaper said the victims were killed by an unidentified armed group.
Juan Pappier, deputy director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch, said the facts “are serious and demand a clear and credible response from the Guatemalan government.” He called on the Public Ministry, led by Attorney General Gabriel García Luna, to investigate promptly, impartially and thoroughly.
Ana María Méndez, Central America director for the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), said the type of violence being recorded in Guatemala is “very alarming.” She said the case could involve extrajudicial executions or serious human rights violations, called the police response unacceptable, and said the government must answer to its citizens even though the case file is sealed.
See where this is ›According to Prensa Libre, a member of the armed group told National Civil Police officers in Huité that they were carrying out a “military operation.” Defense Minister Henry Sáenz has acknowledged that military-style J8 jeeps captured on security cameras belonged to the Defense Ministry, but he said the Army stayed outside the town's perimeter and arrived after the killings. The ministry has described the attack as a clash between organized crime groups; the newspaper said there is no evidence for that.
Sáenz has removed José Martínez Milián, chief of the Defense General Staff, and Edwin Constanza Hidalgo, commander of the Second Infantry Brigade in Zacapa. Former police director David Custodio Boteo told the paper that two officers who met the armed group pulled back to call for reinforcements and returned three hours later. Public Ministry spokeswoman Renata López said Oct. 30 that the case had been moved from the Zacapa district prosecutor's office to another office, but she did not know which one.
What we don't know yet: Prensa Libre did not name the victims, and no authority has said who the attackers were. The police have not explained why officers did not step in, and the Public Ministry has released no findings because the case is under seal. Watchman News has not independently confirmed the details.
