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Civil War Massacre: Retired Guatemalan Colonel Sentenced to 20 Years for Civil War Massacre
Retired Guatemalan colonel Juan Ovalle Salazar was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for his role in the massacre of 25 indigenous people nearly 40 years ago. Most of the victims of this massacre were children. Judge Walter Mazariegos, who handed down the sentence in a Guatemala City court, said eight other former members of the Central American country's military and civil defense had been acquitted.
Retired Guatemalan colonel Juan Ovalle Salazar was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for his role in the massacre of 25 indigenous people nearly 40 years ago. Most of the victims of this massacre were children.
Judge Walter Mazariegos, who handed down the sentence in a Guatemala City court, said eight other former members of the Central American country's military and civil defense had been acquitted.
Owle appeared in court but did not speak, and his attorney was unavailable for comment. He will have 10 days from September 5 to appeal against the sentence, the judge said.
The massacre of 25 Maya Achi people, including 17 children, took place on 29 July 1982 in Rancho Bejuco, a mountain village north of the capital. This happened during the 17-month rule of General Efrain Ríos Montt, the bloodiest period of the 36-year civil war.
