PRESS RELEASE | MARCH 28th AND 29th, 2022

MILITARY DIARY CASE

THE INTERMEDIARY PHASE OF THE MILITARY DIARY CASE BEGINS
THE PROSECUTION RATIFIES ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS

DEFENDANTS FILED SEVERAL MOTIONS SEEKING TO SUSPEND THE HEARING

After resolving motions presented by the defendants, Judge Miguel Angel Cálvez opened the itermediary phase hearing in the Diario Militar Case against 9 of the defendants: José Daniel Monterroso Villagrán. Enrique Cifuentes de la Cruz. Rone Rene Lara, Jacobo Esdras Salan Sanchez. Edgar Corado Samayoa. Maco Antonio Gonzales Taracena, Juan Francisco Cifuentes Cano, Victor Augusto Vásquez Echeverria and Gustavo Adolfo Oliva Blanco.

Relatives of victims of the Military Diary case expressed their concern about the possibility that the intermediate stage of the case could be suspended due to motions made by the defense: however, Judge Galvez Judge Galvez, however, dismissed and resolved the motions filed.

Among the motions presented was the request that Gonzalez Taracena continue to attend the intermediate stage hearings virtually, due to their cancer diagnosis. Gálvez also pointed out “procedural disloyalty” of Edgar Virginio de León Sigüenza’s lawyers and found there had been an abandonment of his defense, given that two of the lawyers presented their resignations today. Sigüenza’s third lawyer delivered regrets on Friday, March 25. As a result, Gálvez suspended proceedings for De León Sigüenza and Eliseo Barrios Soto. The judge will certify these proceedings to the Honor Court of the Bar Association. Additionally, the necessary provisions were provided in the courtroom for the hearing impaired defendants to participate.

After midday, the judge considered postponing the hearing for the following day, due to the health of the defendants as they are currently hospitalized in the Military Medical Center. The Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office called attention to these practices to maliciously delay the trial and requested to start with the accusations clarify that the delay of the process has been due to the defense of the accused and not because of the Public Prosecutor’s Office or the court.

Judge Gálvez decided that González Taracena, Vásquez Echeverria, Cifuentes Cano, Oliva Blanco and Monterroso Villagran would leave the courtroom and their lawyers would remain, in order to finally begin the intermediate stage.

The Prosecutor’s Office began reading the accusation against José Daniel Monterroso Villagrán, former Sergeant DEM Clerk IV of the General Army Staff, for at least the forced disappearance and crimes humanity committed against Rubén Amílcar Farfán. The prosecutor continued with the accusation against Enrique Cifuentes de la Cruz, former Sergeant Major Cartography Specialist Reviewer II of the General Archive and Support Services to the General Staff of the Chief of State. He is accused of the forced disappearance of at least 9 people, crimes against humanity against at least 12 people, attempted murder of 1 person and the murder of 1 person.

The Prosecutor’s Office finished the day with the accusation against Rone René Lara, former Sergeant Major Specialist Vehicle Driver II of the Presidential General Staff. He is accused of attempted murder and crimes against humanity against at least Álvaro René Sosa Ramos.

Judge Galvez adjourned the hearing until Tuesday, March 29th at 8:30 AM.

TORTURE, CRUEL AND INHUMANE TREATMENT, ILLEGAL SEARCHES, AND DETENTIONS

On the second day of the Intermediary Phase of the Military Diary case, the Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office proceeded to read the accusations against the former police and military members. These included accusations against Jacobo Esdras Salán Sánchez, Edgar Corado Samayoa, Marco Antonio Conzález Taracena, Juan Francisco Cifuentes Cano, Victor Augusto Vásquez Echeverria and Gustavo Adolfo Oliva Blanco, most of which are being accused of committing crimes against humanity and forced disappearance.

The accusations read by the Prosecutor’s Office included cruel and inhumane treatments inflicted upon those ‘internal enemies’ registered in the Military Diary. This treatment included kicks, whippings, burns, being hung upsidedown by the feet, or the use of electroshocks during tactical interrogations. This treatment was performed by clandestine illegal structures in which the accused allegedly participated.

The accusations also highlighted gender-based violence against at least 28 women, including sexual violence. The Prosecutor’s Office pointed out that the victims of sexual violence included a 9-year-old girl and 4 pregnant women.

Among the victims mentioned today was Amancio Samuel Villatoro, whose remains were found in Military Zone 3 in Chimaltenango, where Infantry Colonel Vasquez Echeverria was the commander. In addition to the remains of Amancio Samuel Villatoro, 220 remains were exhumed from 53 graves. Six of the skeletons identified by DNA correspond to persons registered in the Diario Militar.

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that these clandestine and illegal structures used the category of “Internal Enemy” to coordinate and execute operations to surveil, control, persecute, search, kidnap, illegally detain, torture, extrajudicially execute, and forcibly disappear. The category of “Internal Enemy” included the non-combatant civilian population and even children, who were subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment during interrogations.

Judge Galvez adjourned the intermediary stage hearing, scheduling the next hearing for Wednesday, March 30th at 8:30 am.