55 134.1. Myrna Mack Chang was born in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, on October 24, 1949.37 She was an anthropologist who graduated in Social Science from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala; she obtained an advanced diploma in economic and social science at Victoria University of Manchester, England, and a Masters degree in social anthropology from the University of Durham, England;38 134.2. Myrna Mack Chang studied the phenomenon of internally displaced persons and of the Comunidades de Población en Resistencia (CPR) in Guatemala during the armed conflict. She was a founding member of the Asociación para el Avance de las Ciencias Sociales en Guatemala (AVANCSO), established in 1986 with the aim of conducting research on the causes and consequences of the displacement of rural indigenous communities, the living conditions of the victims of this phenomenon, and government policies toward the displaced population. Based on her research, Myrna Mack Chang reached the conclusion that the main cause of the internal displacements of the Guatemalan indigenous communities was the Army’s counterinsurgency program. She deemed the efforts of the Government to solve these problems “minimal,” and she criticized the Army’s policies toward the displaced population;39 134.3. for several days prior to the extra-legal execution and on dates that have not been determined, Myrna Mack Chang had been under surveillance and followed by a group of men, including Noel de Jesús Beteta Álvarez, who was the Sergeant Major Specialist of the group at the Security Section of the Presidential General Staff (EMP);40 134.4. on September 11, 1990, at approximately 20:00 hours, when she left her office at AVANCSO, located on 12th street and 12th avenue of Zone 1 in Guatemala City, Myrna Mack Chang was attacked by at least two persons. The victim died at the scene of the facts due to 27 cutting wounds to the neck, thorax and abdomen, caused by a “cutting and thrusting weapon,” which caused a “hypovolemic shock” and her death;41 37 Cf. birth certificate of Myrna Mack Chang (file with annexes to the brief with requests, pleadings and evidence submitted by the representatives of the next of kin of the victim, annex R-VI-1, leaf 2228). 38 Cf. curriculum vitae of Myrna Mack Chang and photocopies of the diplomas obtained at Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Durham (file with annexes to the brief with requests, pleadings and evidence submitted by the representatives of the next of kin of the victim, annex R-VI-4, leaves 2249 to 2252) (file with annexes to the application, annex 11, leaves 240 to 244). 39 Cf. sworn statements by Carmen de León-Escribano Schlotter and Clara Arenas Bianchi before a notary public on January 16, 2003; testimony of Monsignor Julio Cabrera Ovalle, Lucrecia Hernández Mack and Helen Mack Chang rendered before the Court on February 18 and 19, 2003; statement by Clara Arenas Bianchi before the Third Criminal Trial Court of first instance on August 24, 1992 (file with annexes to the application, annex 13, leaves 308 to 316); Asociación para el Avance de las Ciencias Sociales en Guatemala, “Política Institucional hacia el Desplazado Interno en Guatemala” of January, 1990, Cuaderno Nº 6, Guatemala (file with annexes to the application, annex 14, leaves 318 to 368); and report by the Comisión para el Esclarecimiento Histórico or Truth-Finding Committee, “Guatemala, memoria del silencio,” volume VI, pages 235 to 244 (file with annexes to the application, annex 42, leaves 788 to 793). 40 Cf. Ruling on appeal for review by the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala of February 9, 1994 (file with annexes to the application, annex 19, leaves 488 to 552); Judgment of the Third Criminal Trial Court of February 12, 1993 (file with annexes to the application, annex 17, leaves 402 to 451); report by the Proyecto Interdiocesano de Recuperación de la Memoria Histórica, “Guatemala: Nunca Más: los mecanismos del horror,” volume II, page 190.