by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Four soldiers, who committed a massacre in 1982 in the town of Las Dos Erres, have recently been sentenced.  A Guatemalan court found all four guilty and each man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for each victim murdered.  The court placed the number of victims at 201 and additionally sentenced each of the four men to 30 years in prison, for crimes against humanity, sending each man to jail for 6,060 years. 

The four ex-soldiers, Manuel Pop Sun, Reyes Collin Gualip, Daniel Martínez Hernandez and Carlos Carías, were all members of an elite military force named the Kaibiles.  The men entered the town of Las Dos Erres in December of 1982 and over three days they questioned and killed men, women, children and the elderly of the village.  Victim’s bodies show evidence of torture and many of the women were raped.  Bodies of some victims were tossed down a village well.

The Kaibiles forces at the time were working to maintain the military rule of General Efraín Ríos Montt, in the face of many insurgent factions.  The village of Los Dos Erres was suspected of supporting and harboring left-wing guerillas.  Despite the court placing the number of victims at 201, local survivors and family members of victims claim that the true number killed is over 250. 

Back in 2001, then-President Alfonso Portillo acknowledged the government’s role in the massacre and awarded the families of victims a fund of $1.8 million.  Then in 2003, the Guatemalan government created the National Compensation Program (PNR) as a response to the 200,000 civilian deaths that occurred during the 36 year internal conflict.  Budget for the PNR stands at $40 million and the administration is working to resolve more than 98,000 complaints that have been filed.

The sentencing handed down on 3 August was the first effort by Guatemalan authorities to do more than set up monetary funding and to actually hold those responsible accountable for their actions.  Human rights groups applaud the effort as a solid first step but indicate that further action is needed. 

Sebastian Elgueta, a researcher for Amnesty International’s Central America division stated, “Although this ruling is a step forward in the fight against impunity in Guatemala, soldiers did not commit these crimes on their own initiative, and the authorities must bring to justice those all the way up the chain of command who planned and ordered the crimes.”

For more information, please see;

The Guatemala Times – Amnesty International: Guatemalan Former Soldiers Sentenced to 6,060 Years for Massacre – 4 August 2011

Jurist Legal News and Research – Guatemala Court Sentences Ex-Soldiers to Over 6,000 Years in Prison – 3 August 2011

Los Angeles Times – Human Rights Advocates Applaud Sentences in Guatemala Massacre – 3 August 2011

BBC News – Guatemala Dos Erres Massacre Soldiers Sentenced – 2 August 2011

Reuters News – Guatemala Sentences Four in Landmark Civil War Trial – 2 August 2011

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Recent events in the Northern Province of Salta have shocked the traveling community.  Questions regarding the safety of visiting Argentina are being raised as a predominant concern in the wake of two violent murders. 

The bodies of two French tourists were found near hiking trails in the San Lorenzo hills last Friday.  A couple from Chaco was walking in the area, when they stumbled upon the bodies in a ravine just off the trail.  The bodies were identified as Moumni Houdop and Cassandre Bouvier.  Both women were French citizens around 30 years old.

The women were shot execution style, one in the back of the head and the other in her back.  Their clothes were ripped and both bodies had lacerations on them.  One of the bodies showed signs of sexual abuse.  The women had arrived in Salta on July 11 and checked into a hostel where they intended to stay until July 19.  They were last seen at their hostel on the 16th of July.

Police authorities have stated the belief that the women were most likely held for a number of days before being murdered.  The inability to account for the two women’s whereabouts, for a number of days, and their backpacks remaining at the hostel indicate that a kidnapping is likely.  It was released that the bodies were found roughly 48 to 72 hours after being shot.

José Hinojosa, the policeman in charge of Salta police press releases, stated that roughly 80 officers immediately and thoroughly searched the crime scene for evidence but were hindered by the hilly terrain, approaching night and cold temperatures.  Forensic authorities have verified that DNA evidence was recovered from the bodies.  Tests are being run and it is possible that the results will point officers towards those who so viciously committed these murders. 

French authorities noted that they wanted “those who are responsible to be identified and tried.”  The governor of Salta, Juan Manuel Uturbey, promised that authorities were working to “clear up this appalling crime immediately.”  At this point, two suspects have been brought in for questioning but no arrests have been made.  So far, no motive for the murders has been revealed. 

For more information, please see:

 The Argentina Independent – Two French Tourists Murdered in Salta – 30 July 2011

 CNN World – Argentinian Authorities: 2 French Tourists ‘Viciously’ Killed – 31 July 2011

 France 24 – Two French Tourists Killed in Northern Argentina – 1 August 2011

 MercoPress – Argentine Police on the Track of Two French Tourist Packers Killed in Salta – 1 August 2011

CNN World – Argentinian Authorities Arrest Second Suspect in Tourist Murders – 3 August 2011

By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador – Directors and a former opinion editor of El Universo newspaper were sentenced to three years in prison on Thursday and are required to pay a $40 million dollar fine for an opinion article calling President Rafael Correa a dictator.

The article, which was published in February, accused President Correa of ordering his supporters to open fire at a hospital last September where he was being held hostage by the opposition party. President Correa called the negative press “baseless” and sued the newspaper for libel.

The day after the court ruling, El Universo published a quote from author Ayn Rand on a nearly blank front cover reading: “When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice, you may know that your society is doomed.”

According to the former opinion editor, Emilio Palacio, the lawsuit was meant to serve as an example to other journalists of the consequences that result from publishing anything critical of the Ecuadorian government. Palacio also believes the lawsuit was motivated by financial gain since he believes the award money will go straight into President Correa´s pockets.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, shared in El Universo´s outrage, stating that the decision constitutes a “major setback for free speech in Ecuador.” Reporters Without Borders, a France-based media watchdog, also accused the decision of being a contradiction to the freedom of expression laws set in place by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Alembert Vera, President Correa’s attorney, however, refuted the accusations and said the motivation behind the lawsuit was simply a “defense of honor” and that all the award money would go straight to the Yasuni-ITT environmental project. He plans to appeal the decision and seek the full $80 million dollars in damages he initially sought.

With international support behind them, El Universo´s lawyers are also appealing the decision, claiming that they were denied the ability to present evidence to support their case.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Ecuadorian paper reacts to libel ruling with nearly-empty front page – 22 July 2011

Univision – Ecuador libel case, jailing, draws worldwide criticism – 21 July 2011

The Wall Street Journal – Ecuador President Correa Wins Lawsuit Against El Universo Newspaper – 20 July 2011

CNN – Libel case pits Ecuador’s president against newspaper – 19 July 2011

By Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASILIA, Brazil– Preparations for hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics are in full swing.  As the Brazilian government works hard to improve the infrastructures of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro thousands are being forced out of their homes.

The communities that are bearing the brunt of these “urbanization” projects are Brazil’s poorest, the favelas.  In Rio de Janeiro, those living in the favelas in the Zona Norte (North Zone) and Zona Oueste (West Zone) are being relocated to make way for new roadways and new buildings.

Berenice Maria das Neves, a resident of one of the favelas leveled in Rio de Janeiro was forced out in late May.  She received a summons in the mail to appear at City Hall and once there was told her house had been condemned.  She was given a check for 8,000 reais (US $5000) as compensation and her home was a pile of rubble before she even returned from City Hall. 

She now faces the challenge of finding a new home, which will be quite the challenge as, “[w]hat use is 8,000 reais?  I’d need at least four times as much to find a house to buy” she says.

Carlos Nuzman, the chairman for the Rio Olympics organizing committee, points to the rehousing programs to justify these forced evictions.  The three programs; “Vila Nova Chocolatão,” “Growth Acceleration Program” and “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” center on the development of housing projects for low income families in the suburbs of the cities but the projects are far from the city center.  Those who do take up residence are forced to live 30 miles or more from where they work.

Human rights groups, monitoring the forced evictions in the favelas, are concerned.  Many express worries that this process is simply a ruse; that Brazil is using the World Cup and Olympics as an excuse to push the poor out of the city centers and free-up land for developers to make profits off of. 

A local councilor, Eliomar Coelho, said, “[t]his is a clear example of how the government treats the poor.  A big opportunity has been missed.  Instead of being better off as a result of the boom, these people will end up worse off.  It’s a complete violation of their human rights.”

Also disturbing, is the growing number of reports that the militia has taken advantage of the relocation situation.  These reports indicate that the militia is forcing newly relocated families out of their low-income houses and then putting the houses up for sale.

For more information, please see;

Global Issues –Brazil: More Community Input Needed In Relocation of Favelas – 5 July 2011

Prospect Journal of International Affairs at UCSD – Human Rights Abuses in Brazil’s Favelas in Preparation for World Cup and Olympics: Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo – July 2011

BBC News – Rio Olympics: Favela Poor Evicted as City Spruced Up – 30 June 2011

The Rio Times – Minha Casa, Minha Vida Phase Two – 21 June 2011

The Rio Times – Favelas Moved for World Cup and Olympics – 10 May 2011