From Boing Boing:
Former Guatemalan dictator José Efraín Rios Montt was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity today at his trial in Guatemala City. He was immediately sentenced to 50 years imprisonment on the genocide charge, with an additional 30 years on the charge of crimes against humanity.
"The damage incurred is irreperable," said Judge Yasmin Barrios, reading the court's verdict to a packed courtroom. "As de facto president, it is logical that he had full knowledge of what was happening and he did nothing to stop it."
The 86-year-old former General and head of state was charged with the crimes over a counterinsurgency campaign in 1982-1983 that resulted in the deaths of 1,771 Maya Ixil.
It took far too long, but any time a genocidal murderer is brought to justice, it is a good day. It is especially heartening to see Guatemala prosecute Montt, instead of a foreign country like Spain or the International Court, because of the closure it brings to that country. Anyone know how many School of the Americas graduates have been convincted of crimes against humanity so far?
Best hopes for other international criminals answering for their crimes, American and otherwise. It is justice deferred, but justice all the same.