Status of the Investigation in Guatemala Regarding the Murder of Anthropologist Myrna Mack

The United States takes note of the decision May 8, of a Guatemalan appeals court, to overturn the conviction of Army Colonel Juan Valencia, who was imprisoned for his involvement in the 1990 murder of the anthropologist Myrna Mack. We believe that Guatemalan authorities should continue to pursue justice in this case. Dr. Mack’s death was a tragedy for her family and those who knew her. It is also part of the legacy of the abuses committed during Guatemala’s civil war. While we respect the independence of Guatemala’s system of justice, its inability to punish those responsible for Dr. Mack’s murder after more than thirteen years is disappointing. The decision undermines the rule of law and the promise held out by the signing of the Guatemala Peace Accords to close a dark chapter in that country’s recent history.