Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

Declassification of Military Documents

On June 20, 2011, President Alvaro Colom officially opened the new consultation room for the viewing of nearly 12,000 declassified government and military documents pertaining to the 36 year internal armed conflict that lasted from 1960 to 1996.

Colom announced on December 13th, 2010 that the documents would be released, after several government officials first became aware of the missing documents in 1998. He made a statement declaring that an investigation to find the missing documents was in place. However, he made no mention of controversial documents such as plans Sofia, Victoria, and Strength and Ixil, documenting some of the worst massacres and violence of the conflict. According to Brigade Army General Eduardo Morales Alvarez, an official from the Presidential Declassification of Military Archives, only 12,343 documents were found thus, 94.32 percent of documents are being released to the public. Officials also stated that 599 other documents (4.85 percent of the total) would remain only partially declassified leaving 0.83 percent of documents as “highly classified.” 55 of these documents remain in reserve because “they could diminish the ability of the army to operate and give organized crime free reign to commit illegal acts,” stated Alvarez.

The released documents have been digitized but citizens must send a request to view them. A similar procedure applies to view paper copies. With the opening of this archive, Guatemala is facing increased pressure to shed light on the 200,000 forcibly disappeared.

See Also:

http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/Gobierno-buscara-archivos-perdidos_0_389961015.html

http://www.s21.com.gt/nacionales/2010/12/13/ejercito-desclasifica-11641-archivos-militares

http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/politica/archivos-desclasifiicacion-militares-ejercito_0_502749916.html

 

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