PBI-Guatemala accompanies third day of hearings of former Defence Minister, decision on indictment expected tomorrow

On June 24, the Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project posted: “PBI accompanied the third session of the hearing of the first statement of the accused Marco Antonio González Taracena in the #CasoDiarioMilitar [Military Journal Case]. Today the defense of the ex-general and the plaintiffs have the words.”

Prensa Libre has reported: “González Taracena is accused of forced disappearance, crimes against the duties of humanity, murder and attempted murder.”

The families speak

Prensa Comunitaria reported on family members who spoke about relatives who had been disappeared as well as other testimonies brought forward.

Manuel Farhan said: “Our specific request, Mr. Judge, is that they tell us where they are, the time has come to assume that responsibility for Guatemalan families who have a detained-disappeared relative.”

And Paulo Estrada said: “My request is: I want to know what happened to each of the detainees-disappeared in the Diario Militar case, I do not speak only for myself, but for the families.”

Decision tomorrow

Emisoras Unidas reports: “González Taracena will know this Friday, June 25, if he will face a judicial process or not. This was decided [on June 24] by the judge of Higher Risk B, Miguel Ángel Gálvez, at the end of the third day of the hearing of the first statement that was developed against the former official.”

The hearing today took place at the Military Medical Center where González Taracena has been under medical care since May 28.

First six defendants

PBI-Guatemala also accompanied the seven days of hearings for the first six defendants in the Military Journal Case. On June 9, all six defendants were indicted for crimes against humanity, and five of them were indicted for forced disappearance. They all also stand accused of murder, attempted murder or both, for the killings.

Caso Diario Militar

Prensa Libre has explained: “These are former military personnel accused of having participated in the disappearance, torture and death of at least 183 people during the years 1983 to 1985, including trade union and student leaders.”

Human Rights Law Firm

PBI-Guatemala began to accompany BDH lawyer Édgar Pérez Archila in August 2010 due to several security incidents he had faced in relation to the high-profile judicial processes he was working on. At the end of 2013, PBI-Guatemala extended the accompaniment to the other lawyers of the BDH who work in high-profile trials to fight against impunity and in defending criminalized human rights defenders.