(Vatican Radio) The former dictator of Guatemala, Efrain Rios Montt, professed his
innocence to charges of genocide and crimes against humanity close to the end of his
trial.
The 86-year-old former army general, who had launched a coup d'état
on March 23, 1982, and ruled by force for 16 months before being ousted, spoke for
more than an hour during his trial yesterday. He spoke convinced that his time in
office was dedicated to re-establishing order and maintaining it. His duty was clear
and he had followed it, he maintained.
Rios Montt is accused of genocide,
particularly against indigenous peoples, who the military accused of supporting left-wing
guerrillas. At least 1,771 members of the Maya Isil indigenous group were killeds
during his rule. Rios Montt denied directly ordering any killings during his time
as dictator.
In old age, he became a member of Congress. But this ended on
14 January 2012, he was indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity 12 days
later.
Guatemala's civil war lasted from 1960 to 1996. Rios Montt was but
a single chapter in this tragic history. Yet he is credited with launching a campaign
back then called “guns and beans” and is quoted as saying: "If you're with us, we'll
feed you; if you’re not, we'll kill you."