The Inter-American Court of Human Rights announced on Thursday that the government of Guatemala is accountable for the human rights violations linked to the disappearance of four Indigenous activists back in 1989.
The court’s ruling classified the individuals as “victims of forced disappearance at the hands of Guatemalan army personnel,” highlighting that the state failed to investigate, trial, or penalize those responsible for these acts.
In its decision, the court called upon the Guatemalan government to take appropriate measures to uncover the circumstances surrounding the victims’ disappearances and to ensure accountability for those implicated.
The individuals in question—Agapito Pérez Lucas, Nicolás Mateo, Macario Pú Chivalán, and Luis Ruiz Luis—had previously faced threats from government officials due to their activism for human rights, as stated by the court.
Their abduction occurred in April 1989, during the era of Vinicio Cerezo’s first civilian presidency following years of military rule, against the backdrop of a 36-year civil conflict that concluded in 1996.
A United Nations-sponsored truth commission concluded that the civil war resulted in more than 200,000 fatalities on both sides and around 45,000 cases of enforced disappearance.
Family members reported that the four men were part of the Runujel Junam Council of Ethnic Communities located in the Quiche region of western Guatemala. Due to ongoing threats and intimidation, the activists had relocated to the Suchitepequez region to work on a coffee plantation.
According to relatives, soldiers took the men from their sleeping quarters in barracks, with the abductions occurring a week apart.
The court’s ruling emphasized that the government should make efforts to locate the missing individuals and compensate their families. As of now, the whereabouts of the men remain unknown.
The Guatemalan government has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the ruling.
Amilcar Méndez, who was in charge of the council at the time of their abduction, indicated that he had attempted to engage with both President Cerezo and his successor, yet found no support from the government in the search for the missing men.
“This serves as a powerful signal to military leaders who have obstructed justice, perpetuating a state of impunity in Guatemala,” Méndez stated. He further called for recognition from Guatemalan judicial authorities that while domestic justice may be lacking, international channels remain open.
Méndez also urged current President Bernardo Arévalo to prioritize the rights of Indigenous communities in Guatemala.