PRESS RELEASE 094
ALASKA CASE: EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING CHARGES UPHELD
Guatemala, December 3, 2012. Today, Judge Carol Patricia Flores Polanco of Court A of the First Criminal Instance for High-risk Matters ordered, in the case concerning the events of October 4, 2012 in Cumbre de Alaska (see background below), that extrajudicial killing charges be upheld against eight soldiers and a coronel of the Army of Guatemala.
The judge argued that the original circumstances that led the accused to be linked to proceedings on the aforementioned charges remained unchanged. Furthermore, Flores Polanco ruled to dismiss the request made by the defense to review the custody pending trial measure given to the accused, because of the risk that they may hinder efforts to obtain the truth.
BACKGROUND:
Eight soldiers and Coronel Juan Chiroy Sal—members of the Citizen Security Unit of the Army of Guatemala—were linked to proceedings for their alleged involvement in the extrajudicial killing of six protesters and the attempted extrajudicial killing of sixteen persons (who received firearm injuries) on October 4, 2012 in Cumbre de Alaska, Kilometer 169 of the Inter-American Highway. The army unit was sent to the scene to support the Special Police Forces in their efforts to disperse a demonstration blocking the Inter-American Highway.
On November 29, the defense of the accused requested that the charges be changed to manslaughter.
The Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) must conclude investigations by Friday, January 11, 2013 and present the conclusion (indictment) on Monday, January 14, 2013.
The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) supports the Public Prosecutor's Office in this case.
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