According to a report, a former general accused of ordering the murder of more than 1200 Ixil Maya people during Guatemala’s civil war is being tried from a prison hospital where he is serving a prior sentence for forced disappearance, rape and torture. Reportedly, Benedicto Garcia is charged with genocide crimes against humanity, it is alleged he planned and evecuted over 30 massacres, survivors said he killed babies and the elderly.
According to the report, the alleged crimes occurred between 1978-82 when Garcia’s brother was president of Guatemala, he denies the charges. Reportedly, a co-defendant died in 2020 and another was judged unfit to stand trial, he will face separate proceedings.
According to a report, the Ixil Maya people were the target of a genocide operation and systematic rape, forced displacement and hunger during the Guatemalan civil war. Reportedly, they were considered enemies of the state, an inferior race and were victims of racism.