Hundreds of people marched Friday through downtown Guatemala City to maintain pressure on prosecutors investigating the killing of a Roman Catholic bishop slain shortly after issuing a scathing report on army human-rights abuses.
About 500 people, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu, prayed and chanted for justice in a procession paying tribute to Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi, who was killed last April 26. Catholics and human-rights activists took part.
“We are here to strengthen our faith that Gerardi’s killing won’t go unpunished,” Menchu said. “There is no doubt this was a politically motivated crime.”
Gerardi was beaten to death two days after he presented an exhaustive report blaming the Guatemalan army for most of the atrocities committed during the country’s 36-year civil war.
Human-rights groups and church leaders have accused Guatemala’s security forces of being behind the killing and of stonewalling the subsequent investigation. The military and government deny any involvement in the murder.
Also Friday, the new judge in charge of the probe indefinitely postponed the testimony of two high-ranking military officers, saying she needs more time to study the case.
