Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt faces trial for genocide
Efrain Rios Montt came to power in a coup and oversaw some of Guatemala's most atrocious civil war crimes.
Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt speaks with the media after a judge placed him under house arrest, at the Supreme Court of Justice in Guatemala City on Thursday. Rios Montt appeared in court on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity as the Central American nation seeks to close files on a brutal 36-year civil war.
Jorge Dan Lopez/Reuters
鈥� A version of this post ran on the author's blog, centralamericanpolitics.blogspot.com. The views expressed are the author's own.
On Thursday, Efrain Rios Montt appeared in a Guatemalan court on genocide charges. During the hearing, the government presented evidence of over 100 incidents involving , 1,445 rapes, and the Guatemalans during his , according to the Washington Post, BBC, (in Spanish), and the LA Times.
Rios Montt did not speak during today's hearings, but it looks like he will be able to test his "I was never on the battlefield" defense. Tonight, judge听听determined that there is enough evidence to try Rios Montt on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. The prosecution wanted him incarcerated because of his potential for flight but the judge ruled that he can remain out on bail. He has now been placed under house arrest and will be watched by the Guatemalan National Civil Police (PNC).
A tremendous victory for the people of Guatemala and a continuation of what I believe has been a pretty remarkable听听of human rights advancement in the region.
鈥撯赌� Mike Allison is an associate professor in the 听and a member of theat the in Pennsylvania. 听You can follow his Central American Politics blog .