25 proceeding56 in which 162 skeletons were exposed, and the deaths were registered in the Civil Registry of the Municipality of La Libertad, Petén, on April 14, 200057. However, on May 19, 2000, the Special Prosecutor for the Las Dos Erres Massacre (hereinafter “the Prosecutor”) requested the registration of the deaths of another 71 individuals identified who died in the massacre58, but the Criminal Court of First Instance of Petén decided to dismiss the request.59 87. On the other hand, on June 26, 1996, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested information from the Department of Defense60. On July 19, 1996, the representatives of FAMDEGUA expressed their concern over the lack of a response61. On October 7, 1996, the Secretary of Defense expressed that “as a consequence of the incineration of the documents from that time, there is no information available on this matter.”62 Likewise, on January 21, 1997, the aforementioned Secretary informed that the names of the members of the parties in charge of the military post of the village of Las Cruces could not be provided, on the grounds that there was no permanent military post, thus he only submitted a list of the arms used at that time63. Subsequently, on February 27, 1997, the Secretary of Defense informed that the military institution did not have any salary payroll sheets for the months of November and December 1982 corresponding to the officers posted in Petén64. On 56 Cf. Brief presented by the Special Prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office before the Criminal Court of First Instance of Petén on May 15, 2000. (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, pieces XV to XVII, appendix 31, fs. 4172 a 4185). 57 Cf. Brief presented by the Special Prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office before the Criminal Court of First Instance of Petén on May 17, 2000. (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, pieces XV to XVII, appendix 31, fs. 4186 a 4324). 58 Cf. Brief presented by the Special Prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, supra note 56. 59 Cf. Record of the Criminal Court of First Instance of Petén of May 22, 2000 (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, pieces XV to XVII, appendix 31, fs. 4326 a 4327). 60 The information requested was the following: “A) Names and last names of the Commander of the Military Base in Petén during the months of November and December, 1982, B) Names and last names of the current Commander of the Military Base of Petén, C) Names and last names of the Officers of the different posts located in said Department during the months of November and December, 1982, D) Names and last names of the current Officers in the different postings located in the Department of Petén to date, E) Names and last names of the Officer in charge of the posting of the village of “Las Cruces”, Municipality of La Libertad, Department of Petén during the months of November and December, 1982, F) Names and last names of the current Officer in charge of the posting of the village of “Las Cruces”, Municipality of La Libertad, Department of Petén, G) Names and last names, current position, and military base or posting where officer CARLOS MANUEL CARIAS, CARLOS CARIAS, or MANUEL CARIAS is located, and whether this Officer was on duty in Petén during the months of November and December, 1982, H) What knowledge and/or information did the High Command of the National Army have of the tragic events occurred in the village of “Las Cruces”, Municipality of La Libertad, Department of Petén, on December 7 and 8, 1982, I) What type of actions or investigations did the National Army perform, institutionally, to determine that occurred between December 7 and 8, 1982, in the village of “Las Cruces”, Municipality of La Libertad, Department of Petén.” Cf. Brief of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of June 26, 1996 (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, pieces VI to XIII, appendix 27, fs. 3720 a 3721). 61 Cf. Brief presented by FAMDEGUA to the Attorney General of the Republic on July 18, 1996 (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, piece VI to XIII, appendix 28, f. 3727). 62 Cf. Communication of the Department of Defense (Ministerio de la Defensa Nacional) of September 24, 1996. (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, piece VI to XIII, appendix 29, fs. 3784 a 3785). 63 Cf. Communication of the Department of Defense to the Fiscal Agent of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of January 21, 1997 (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, piece VI to XIII, appendix 29, f. 3789). 64 Cf. Communication of the Department of Defense to the Fiscal Agent of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of February 27, 1997 (Appendixes to the application, judicial file, piece VI to XIII, appendix 29, f. 3794).