closing of the Peace Archives Directorate

closing of the Peace Archives Directorate

Guatemala Human Rights Commission / USA
3321 12th Street NE Washington, DC 20017-4008
Tel: (202) 529-6599 www.ghrc-usa.org
28 de junio de 2012
Señor Otto Pérez Molina
Presidente de la República de Guatemala
Su despacho
Señor Presidente:
Expresamos nuestra profunda preocupación por el anuncio del Gobierno de Guatemala
de clausurar la Dirección del los Archivos de la Paz de la Secretaria de la Paz (SEPAZ),
y desarticular su equipo de investigación, efectivamente anulando sus proyectos de
publicaciones de informes históricos y de la memoria histórica y negando futuras
contribuciones a investigaciones criminales.
El trabajo de la Dirección del los Archivos de la Paz (DAP) ha sido integral en los
continuos esfuerzos para institucionalizar el proceso de paz y justicia transicional y ha
aportado grandes contribuciones al acceso público a la verdad y la memoria histórica.
Al desmantelar la entidad diseñada para supervisar y administrar la totalidad de los
documentos relacionados a las violaciones de derechos humanos cometidas durante el
conflicto armado interno, El Secretario Arenales Forno y el Presidente Pérez Molina
extinguirán una contribución invalorable a la preservación de la memoria histórica y al
cumplimiento de los Acuerdos de Paz, a la vez que obstaculizan los esfuerzos para
investigar al ejército por las violaciones atroces de derechos humanos y crímenes de
lesa humanidad.
Instamos al Gobierno de Guatemala a:
• Fortalecer, en vez de debilitar, la Dirección de los Archivos de la Paz y respetar su
papel importante en impulsar un proceso de justicia transicional;
• Restablecer la colaboración formal entre la DAP y el Ministerio Público
• Reincorporar cualquier trabajador cuyo contrato fue rescindido de forma ilegal;
• Explicar el destino de los archivos digitales administrados por la DAP y el del salón
de lectura;
• Clarificar y transparentar los planes para reestructurar la SEPAZ, el Programa
Nacional de Resarcimiento (PNR) y la Comisión Presidencial Coordinadora de la
Política del Ejecutivo en materia de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH).
Atentamente,
Kathryn
Kelsey
Ilyse
Erin
Jim
Johnson
Alford-Jones
Kramer
Osterhaus
Pilewski
DC
OR
DC
VA
PA
Deb
Allen
Pual Diek
Mary
Elizabeth
Friedman
Gundlach
Hoekstra
Wendeln
Bell
MD
NY
VA
OH
OH
Amanda
Laura
Evelyn
Jennifer
Evelise
Gretchen
Sylvia
Kistler
Espondaburu
Martinez
Whitlock
Espindola
May
Barnard
MA
MN
MD
MA
CA
CO
NY
David
Thomas
Amanda
Mary
Mary
Sara
Martha
Jerrold
Herb
Eileen
Matthew
Larry
Colleen
Randall
Dr John
Nicholas
Albyn
Victoria
Heidi
Jerold
Mary
Andrew
Shirley
Joan
Ann
Miriam
James
Vivian
Cecile
Tony
Barbara
Wyanne
Barb
Paulissa
Maryagnes
Kathy
Brigitte
Harold
David
Brenda
Stocker
Davies
Fulmer
Coenen
Johnson
Pitcher
Pierce
Foltz
Everett
Good
Zimmerman
Dressler
Rice
Keesler
Linstroth
Marritz
Jones
Steinitz
Rosales
Block
Seri
Winters
Nelson
Budd
Butwell
Barrios
Lucas
Schatz
Schueller
Hintze
Johnson
Sandler
Smith
Jirik
Lupien
Virag
Gynther
Hodes
Schmid
Metzler
IL
NM
WA
MN
NY
IL
IL
VA
OR
RI
FL
CO
NM
DC
FL
DC
OR
MA
MD
CA
CA
MD
MA
NY
KY
LA
OH
PA
MN
IL
VA
PE
MO
MN
NY
VA
FL
NY
NY
MA
Jeffrey
Jody
Jim
Mark
Emilie
Tom
James
Matus
Slocum
Stasheff
Deegan
McGee
Cordaro
Goldie
ThurstonHenry
Griswold
Mike and Judy Howden
Christine
Gregory
Mary
Harding
Mary
Smith
Gene
Brah
Melissa
Jacobsen
Rita
von Holtum
Garry
Sparks
Linda
Stilling
J. William
Harris
Adrian
Ventura
Gretchen
Begley
Marie
Des Jarlais
Estela
Garcia
Tom
Hudyma
Patrick
Eccles
Annette
Homiller
Joan
Aleshire
Charles
Askins
Catherine
King
Linda
Smith
Janel
Poche
Margaret
Greene
Sister Gladys
Schmitz
Carrie
Kemp
Mary
Davis
Francisco
Enriquez
David
Stoll
Nancye
Graeser
Alexandra
Roth
Rose
Conklin
Ryan
Alaniz
Ana
Miron
Estella
Hefti
Hilda
Wilcox
David
Brooks
Peggy
Kingman
Joseph
Blair
Andrew
MacPherson
DC
WI
PA
VA
VA
IL
BC
PA
WI
VA
DC
NY
WI
MN
MN
IL
MD
MA
MA
NY
WI
AZ
PA
IL
NC
VT
MD
IL
CO
DC
NS
MN
MN
VA
WI
VT
OH
VA
DC
CA
NY
TX
NY
NY
CA
VA
QC
Richard
Daisy
Lianne
Sister Alice
Joelyn
James
JoAnn
Benita
Elliot
Leonor
Francis
Paul
Leanor
Jacob
Marietta
John
Vincent
Ann
Nancy
Angelina
Diane
William
Moira
Virginia
Suzanne
John
Brian
Hermann
Laura
Dave
Margery
Steven
Lena
Heidy
Dionicio
Eliza
Mary Ann
Julie
Mary
Laura
Barbara and
Jim
Rita
Krushnic
Ventura
Moccia
Zachmann
Hayes
Carbone
Mark
Coffey, OSB
Roben
Orellana
Lenski
Manganiello
Blum
Carter
Hanus
Hien
Homolka
Kaufenberg
Bennett
Ruggai
Haines
Neill
Birss
Reed
Ruta
Lamperti
Atkinson
Klosius
Fanjoy
Rorick
Leach
Fick
Molin
Rodriguez
Barrales
Strode
Harwell
Levy
Naftzger
Willumsen
MA
IL
NH
MN
IL
MA
KY
IL
MD
OT
WA
VT
MD
MA
WI
WI
OT
MN
NM
DC
MN
IL
DC
VA
NY
VT
NB
OT
ON
CA
MA
ON
OT
CA
AB
MA
NY
VT
IL
PA
Janey
Jerry
Jose
Roxana
Anne
Emily
Eve
Dawn
Jos
Erin
Jerry
Minnie
Alane
Sandra
Wes
Muna
Lauri
Martha W D
Myra
Michael
Andrea
Ana Lucia
Kirsten
Clarone
Ingrid
Sara
Anne
Cecile
Pablo
Michelle
Arnaud
Amber
Romelia
Lenora
Valerie
William
Gabrielle
Chris
Sophie
Jeffrey
Skinner
McGahan
Rodriguez
Johnson
Aleshire
Lewis
Wright
Mahara
Postma
Treinen
Oster
Driver
Parsons
Wagner
Callender
Hijazi
Tanner
Bushnell
Mendoza
Peters
Wolper
Cuevas
Weld
Brill
Mazariegos
Kittleson
Manuel
Roeger
Molina
Fajkus
Deharte
Dryer
Johnson
Yarkie
Croft
Heck
Lupien
Morales
Baumgartner
Colledge
CA
MT
NY
DC
CA
BC
OT
BC
OT
MN
NC
LA
CA
OH
VA
VA
CA
CO
VA
ON
NY
OT
MA
WI
OT
IA
MD
TX
QC
TX
OH
CO
DC
AB
ON
NC
QC
CA
OT
NM
Dale
Nohner
IA
MN
Tessa
Patricia
OR
OT
George
Susan
Lydia
Gene
Gilson
Letendre
Pena
Guzman
AK
RI
CO
CT
Danae
David
Angela
Corinne
Matteson
Cortez
MichaudMastoras
Bowker
Reyes
Greenberg
QC
NY
MD
CA
Amanda
Judith
James
Mary
Mary
Kathryn
Jonathan
NB
PA
TX
KS
NE
MD
GA
Simon
Wildeman
Bohler
Hinde
Rooney
Hepburn
Mackereth
Eoloff
GranovskyLarsen
SK
Linda
Elizabeth
Lewise
Frances
Rebecca
Anne
Vivian
Consuelo
Ochoa de
Howard
Patricia
Corinthian
Diana
Sharon
Korla
John
Julie
Will
Gloria
Heidi
Lee
Marie
Judith
Nellie
Caryl
Leland
William
Joan
Jo-Marie
Eleanor
Leon
Vinnie
Sterling
Natalie
Susanne
Clemency
Dorothy
Joshua
Sylvia
Laura
Faye
Patrick
Phil
Sidney
Russ
Reggie
Sally
Hjort
Shine
Davis
Herrera
Hunter-Smith
Masters
Leary
Phillips
Durbin
Osborne
Erdmann
Bory
Russell
Liteky
Mitchell
Johnson
Chambers
Rose
Shalapin
Burt
Rooney
O'Connor
Molina
Pilette
Fedak
Jonas
Coggins
Loomer
MacLeod
Butcher
Doyle
Buttrick
Bonner
Miller
Hollander
Layne
Norton
Barron
DC
VT
IL
DC
IL
MN
MD
CA
MA
NY
WA
VA
MN
CA
DC
MA
CO
VA
IL
VA
MI
NY
OT
VA
CO
CA
MA
NS
VT
CA
BC
IL
CA
MO
IL
NY
OT
CA
Flor
Laurie
John
Co
Gemma
Shannon
Roberto
Dave
Fleur
Ashley
Max
Stephanie
Doug & Carol
Susan
Anne
Kathy
Aron
Elizabeth
Stephen
Moya
Annette
Ian
Frances
Joy
Yvan
Liisa
Tess
Don
Craig
Jeanne
Pierre
Elaine
Fred
Craig
Luis
Victor
Christine
Joan
Rocco
Hulm
Busch
Lamb
Patterson
Blacksten
Lemus
CA
OT
VA
OR
AZ
VA
OT
Walker
Romero de
Slowing
Rubin
Sutton
Flora
Freeman
Williams
Monge-Rosales
Bordenkircher
Adcock
P
Viatori
Spandl
Wingeier
Sheinfeld
Ortwerth
Siegenthaler
Lindblom
Hentges
Prescott
Atkinson
Marquis
MacDonald
Bramen
Massa
Belanger
North
Kleinhaus
Timmerman
Arceneaux
Gallo
LeBlanc
Folgar
Oliff
Adams
Gomez
Valle
Kearney
Bishop
NM
IA
CA
VA
IA
OT
MD
MI
TN
OT
MN
IA
MN
NC
CA
MO
MI
OT
MN
OT
VA
QC
NS
CT
CA
QC
ON
IL
WI
CA
MA
ON
NY
ON
WI
FL
CA
CA
ON
Susan
Patricia
Brian
Lucienne
Cyrus
Sam
Lynn
William
R. Matthew
John
MA
CA
WA
CA
MN
CA
WI
NH
BC
MO
Andrea
Mary
Susan
Marlyn
Marilyn
Turcotte
Vicki
Jill
Carol
Anita
Almodovar
Gontaryk
Sattler
galicia
Schafer
Line
Mattingly
Hamze
Newman
Hoffman
VA
PA
MI
NY
CA
QC
DC
MN
OR
BC
Harold (R H)
Emily
Edwin
Margaret
Arden
Randi
Philip
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Severino
Lydia
Kenneth
William
Redlich
Johnson
Huseby
O'Keefe
Bina
Burgess
Levy
Thomas
Wolferstan
Bell
GarrettGoodyear
Willard
Hernandez
Avery
Scott
Balderama
McManus
Guthrie
Redlich
Perez
Garvey
Kennon
Schomp
MA
MD
MD
NC
NY
CA
CA
NY
MA
WA
OK
AZ
PA
Lujan
Ayala
CA
CA
Judith
Jorge A.
Ann
Joanne
Jane
Maryfran
Erik
Bernadette
Sister
Maureen
Kay
Larry
Julia
Everardo
Pauline
Jorge
Bruce
John
Annette
James
William
Kruger
Escobar
Manicom
O'Connor
Piper
Barber
Schnabel
Lohse
OH
ON
NS
NC
KS
MI
CA
OR
Brent
Randolfo
Robert
Lisa
Noemi
Anonymous
Hayden
Jean
Rosales
Ortiz
Crunican
Neff
Brands
Pulitano
Dennis
Herrera
Martin
Roy
Powell
Hart
Kaszniak
Gardiner,
SSND
Long
MobleyOorthuys
Pereira
Mercatante
Munro
Perez-Lemus
VA
VA
OR
WA
CA
CA
DC
OT
OT
ON
DC
MO
AZ
Martha
Edgar
Derek
Janine
Ashleigh
Philip
Carissa
Elvira
Marie
Nancy
Amanda
Anne
Jackie
John
Ellie
Sister Anne
Marie
Natalie
Foltz
Warren
Lack
Martinez
Barrios
Feltner
Cabrera
Abt
Harris
Dworsky
Costello
Durbin
DC
WA
ME
CA
LA
MI
CA
CA
MA
TX
CA
MA
Harriet
David
Gabriela
Susan
Elsa
Marta
Robert
Nancy
Daniel
Carolina
Andrew
Charles
MD
IL
Gore
Sommer
OR
AB
NY
CO
CA
CO
CO
OH
Whelan
Voorhies
Aguilar
Cheever
Diaz
Hernandez
Charnoff
Sagstetter
Driscoll-Shaw
Castellanos
Kessel
Reilly
CA
VA
QC
MA
NY
ON
VA
MA
IL
OT
MA
CA
Kay
Patti
David
Mary Ellen
Greg
Blair
Sylvan
Pat
Sergio R.
Alma
Jason
Linda
Barbara
Bandell
MacRae
Davis
Kaluza
Huang-Dale
Voyvodic
Grey
Carlson
Reyes
Castro
Small
Coolen
Vernon
Molina
Ana Lucrecia
Theissen
Sarah
Pallas
Emma
Marshall
Theresa
Pendergraff
John
Welton
Roberta
Carney
Cynthia
Mochowski
Susan
Sunshine
Phyllis
Morales
Thomas
Hinsberg
Helene
Hannah
Melanie
Cooper-Leary
Kate
Moriarty
Johns Hopkins
Deborah Poole University
Dwight
Wagenius
Mary
Dean
Lucy
Henighan
Victor
Caxaj
Laurene
OBrien
Grahame
Blades
Marie-France Arismendi
Natalia
Yamrom
Laura
Lester
Karin
Rosemblatt
Meredith
Larson
Ron
Leitold
Rae
Kasan
Alison
Snow
Maria
Tolosa
Jing
Du
Michael
Harburg
Marilu
MacCarthy
Thomas
Gyori
CA
OR
KS
MN
ME
ON
OR
NY
NY
NV
QC
MA
CA
Matthew
Rhonda
Jon
Susanna
Margaret
Lyle
Rolf
Janet
Sivita
Richard
Elizabeth
Christine
Agnes
McGuire
Andrews
Anderholm
Place
Arnold
Priddy
Ratte
Creery
Justice
Clark
Harshaw
Sutton
Stipetich
CT
OT
CA
MA
WI
VA
ON
ON
ID
OH
CA
VA
WI
OT
GA
MA
IL
MD
NC
MA
WA
CO
MI
ON
NY
MO
Patricia
Trisha
Carole
Magdalena
Jennifer
Matt
Emma
Juliet
Jenny
Dora
Jeremy
Rebecca
Bridget
Ciotti
Lester
Marty
Kaluza
Trowbridge
Canfield
Hulse
Wilkinson
Dale
Nagy
Sanders
Kup
Brehen
KS
NC
QC
MN
VA
NY
NY
OT
IL
DC
NY
PA
NY
MD
MN
IL
TN
ON
NY
OT
ON
NY
MD
MD
MD
NS
VA
MD
OT
NV
WA
VA
IN
Robert
Bianca
Anne
Evi
Charlotta
Viviana
Stephan
Elyse
Joachim
kath
Megan
Anna
Matthias
Anna
Cynthia
Christine
Vanessa
Mary
Guillaume
Blanca
Cruickshank
De Grande
Osborne
Kostner
Pettersson
Gentry
Tschirren
Desjardins
de R
glatz
Whelan
Dechert
Fichtenbauer
Kohl
Benoist
Volgger
Gongora
Donagher
Colas
Vargas
NY
OT
OH
OT
OT
IL
OT
QC
OT
CO
CA
WY
OT
KS
OT
OT
OT
NY
SK
VA
Marinetta
Monica
Maria
Vic and Barby
Luz
Andrew
Archie
Scott
Sara
William
Liane
Harriet
Betty A. and
Peter J.
Gail
Tara
Tom
Ann Veronica
Ann Marie
Alise
Matt
Burton
Holly
Cyndi
Carrie
Bernadine
Melanie
Andrew
Julia
Laura
Manzar
Jerry
Norman
Frances
Nancy
Diane &
Richard
Kathy
Sandra
James
Cannito Hjort
Ibacache
Vides
Ulmer
Reyes
de Sousa
Gress
Pike
Maldonado
Russell
Casten
Mullaney
VA
NY
NY
CA
OT
AZ
TX
OR
VA
VA
IL
CO
Oscar
Marie
Christine
Stella
Diane Lopez
Stephen
Regina
Chris
Ralph
Jeffrey
Kelly
Eleanor
Cornejo
Alexandra
Kozobarich
Thuns
Hughes
Shanks
Murphy
Chapman
Armbruster
Maguire
Eplee
Grant
VA
OT
OH
OT
IL
AL
NY
ON
CA
CA
VA
ON
Michelozzi
Minnick
Herlocher
Dobie
Coyle
Coleman
Pemsler
Hernandez
Steck
Dranginis
Bradbury
Ruel-Flores
Wessel
Fox
Fandino
Sick
Avalos
Foroohar
Pendergast
Frank
FrainAguirre
Mikelsons
CA
VA
NY
ON
CA
IL
ID
CA
IL
CA
WI
IN
KS
AL
MD
VA
QC
CA
IL
CA
CO
IL
Pedro
Holly
Norma
Michael
John
Peter M.
Lenore
Kelley
Hannah
Lacey
Jacqueline
Chang
Rachael
Walter
Gloria
Amelia
Romelia
Maria
Jeannette
Waldtraut
Carolin
Clark
Conceicao
Chapman
Wyse
Peck
Reinke
Gubbels
Fenn
Ready
Auger
Noon
Monahan
Yi
Eplee
Sherwood
Van Sloun
MacRae
Gonzales
Colom
Bolli
Skerbisch
Zobel
Taylor
FL
GA
MA
UT
WA
BC
MA
MA
IL
MN
OT
CO
VA
CA
CO
CA
CA
FL
AB
OT
OT
MA
Klein
Howell
Luna
Walsh
CA
IL
CA
AZ
Rebecca
Karen
Paula
MacDonald
Fish
Williamson
NS
NS
MN
Comments
Mary Coenen
Matthew Zimmerman
Please do not let the Peace Archives be destroyed. This would add to what are
already many travesties of justice.
Viva justicia!
Leanor Blum
Justice cannot be done if the Peace Archives are closed.
John Hien
.....somebody is afraid of what has been or what will be found....
Sterling Pilette
Very upsetting news.
William Thomas
For truth, for justice, for human rights, preserve and strengthen the Peace
Archives Directorate.
Emily Willard
This is an absolutely backward action taken by the Guatemalan government in
the movement towards lasting peace and justice in Guatemalan society. Esta
es una accion absolutamente atrasada tomada por el gobierno de Guatemala en
el movimiento hacia una paz duradera y la justicia en la sociedad
guatemalteca.
Edwin Hernandez
la impunidad debe ser aclarada y los culpables deben pagar,para que esta
cadena de delincuencia tenga un paro.
Edgar Ayala
Cerrar el Archivo es un pacto con la impuniad!
Patti MacRae
Guatemala has a disturbing history of violence against many of its own
peoples and getting beyond this requires a concerted effort, only half
completed, of investigation and exposure, if not prosecution. Closing this
organization will not help this process.
Gail Minnick
Please do not close the Peace Archives. Justice, no matter how long it takes, is
healing. What are you afraid of?
Ann Veronica Coyle
I am appalled at the Guatemalan government's announcement of the
impending closure of the work of the Peace Archives Directorate of the Peace
Secretariat (SEPAZ). If this truly does occur, it will be one more confirmation
of the perception that the government of Guatemala continues to look the
other way in the face of the atrocities committed against the people of
Guatemala.
Cyndi Bradbury
Frances FrainAguirre
Please allow the office to remain open. It is the only bit of transparency in the
government. A signed peace agreement guaranteed the ongoing work of this
office.
Que lastima!
Pual Diek Hoekstra
Adrian Ventura
The U. S. must not concede to Latin American strongmen that they can move
further toward dictatorship. We appear to be doing that now.
no mas inpunidada
Margaret Greene
we must keep the peace archives directorate department
Alexandra Roth
This is an international shame. Do not do it.
Ingrid Mazariegos
Don't Close the Guatemalan Peace Archives! Do not go back! We must go
forward!!
Kathy Siegenthaler
We need to work together to stop the terrible abuse that ocurred in Guatemala
from taking place again and to bring justice for those guilty.
Victor Valle
Don't commit a genocide against indigenous memory.
Anita Hoffman
I feel it is this Directorate provides a very important function, supporting the
Indigenous people of Guatemala.The rest of the word is watching Guatemala.
Ashleigh Crunican
The difficult and important work to build peace must continue. Memories can
not be forgotten.
Noemi Perez-Lemus
please do not closed the Guatemala Peace Archives
Hayden Gore
The closure of the archive is another attempt by the Guatemalan government
to guarantee impunity for those who committed acts of genocide and crimes
against humanity during the internal armed conflict. Pressure must be exerted
to keep the archive open and keep justice moving forward.
Susan Cheever
The mayan population has suffered terrible losses and has been badly treated
for years. To start this process, then stop it, is an insult and another blow.
Elsa Diaz
Democracy is justice in all areas and for all. Dont stop the process of it.
Lyle Priddy
Please do not close the Guatemalan Peace Archives
Magdalena Kaluza
Please do not close the Guatemalan Peace Archives!
Jennifer Trowbridge
Anne Osborne
Governmental transparency and democratic justice will be undermined with
the closing of the Archives.
Please keep the Peace Archives open!
Kelley Ready
El orgullo de Guatemala era que despues de tanto años de asesinaciones y
violaciones de derechos humanos habia una fuerza a investigar estos eventos.
Pero con el clausura de la Direccion del los Archivos de la Paz de la
Secretaria de la Paz (SEPAZ) parece que hemos llegado a un punto donde el
proceso termina la justicia. ¡Que pena!