Forty years after surviving state violence, Maya Achi women return to court to demand justice, challenging a long legacy of impunity for crimes against humanity. Jo-Marie Burt, Paulo Estrada and Keily Colíndres write in NACLA Report about the long struggle… Read More ›
Paulo Estrada
Disassembling the Death Squad Dossier Case
Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada wrote in El Faro English on the further dismantling of the independent justice system and its effects on a particularly important historical case. For decades, survivors and the families of the victims of the Death Squad… Read More ›
The Distortion of Justice in Guatemala
A sham trial against a former anti-corruption prosecutor gets underway, while a judge gives an alleged war criminal a “get out of jail free” card. Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada write in WOLA about justice in Guatemala today. While a… Read More ›
Clandestine Structures in Guatemala Consummate Witch Hunt against Judge of “Death Squad Dossier” Case
Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada write in El Faro English on the resignation of Miguél Ángel Gálvez as Guatemalan High-Risk Judge, and his announcement of exile. Corrupt officials and war criminals sought to make an example out of Gálvez, as… Read More ›
Guatemalan Judge under Threat after Ordering Trial in 1980s “Death Squad Dossier” Case
Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada have written a powerful piece in El Faro on the ‘Death Squad Diary’ case (Diario Militar) moving through the Guatemala justice system. It also talks of the bravery of the families of the victims and… Read More ›
Imperfect Justice Is Still Justice for Wartime Rape Survivors in Guatemala
Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada write, in El Faro, on the recent verdicts in the Achí Women Case and what justice means for the surviving victims – perhaps justice but not closure. The piece describes disturbing examples of gendered violence… Read More ›
Hope amidst the darkness: Victims continue to press for justice for wartime atrocities in Guatemala
At the end of last year, Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada presented a commentary, in WOLA, on the challenges facing those seeking justice for crimes carried out during the internal armed conflict. Many successes have occurred but the state, including… Read More ›
Amnesty for War Crimes is Back on the Table
In the midst of attempts to block justice being carried out either with regard to corruption or historical crimes, particular powers are attempting to introduce, into law, amnesty for crimes against humanity and genocide. Jeff Abbott writes in The Progressive… Read More ›
The Future of War Crimes Prosecutions in Guatemala
The Open Society Justice Initiative is ending its monitoring of grave crimes trials in Guatemala through its International Justice Monitor website. This is the final post. Guatemala Solidarity Network wishes to thank OSJI for its contribution to the struggle for… Read More ›