20
planned, the Commander in charge of the Las Cabañas military detachment declared
that his superiors had not give him permission to authorize it29. The following day,
the legal representative of the Ministry of Defense stated that some of the legal
requirements for conducting the exhumation procedure had not been fulfilled and
also, that the Bámaca Velásquez Case had to be transferred to the jurisdiction of the
Commission for Historical Clarification, in accordance with declarations of the
President of the Republic30. On June 19, 1995, as a result of the appeal filed by
Colonel Julio Roberto Alpírez, the Second Criminal, Narco-Activity and Crimes against
the Environment Trial Court of Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango, suspended the
exhumation that was going to be conducted in Las Cabañas until the appeals court
had made a decision31.
89.
Between May and August 1995, Arango Escobar received pressure and
threats and attempts were made on his life because he was acting as special
prosecutor in the Bámaca Velásquez Case. In particular, he was followed, fired at in
his workplace and received telephone threats. On August 2, 1995, Arango Escobar
resigned from the position of special prosecutor in the case32.
90.
In February 1998, the new special prosecutor for the case, Shilvia Anabella
Jerez Romero, requested that an exhumation procedure be conducted in the Las
Cabañas military detachment. However, this procedure was not carried out33.
VII
EVIDENCE
A) DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
91.
The Commission presented documentation on:
a)
the practice of the detention and use of former guerrillas by the
Guatemalan Army34;
29
Cf. Forensic Anthropology Team. Preliminary Report. Forensic studies in the investigation
proceedings on the Efraín Bámaca Velásquez Case, Annex 40; testimony of Jennifer Harbury, given to the
Court on June 16, 1998; testimony of Julio Arango Escobar, given to the Court on June 17, 1998; and
testimony of Fernando Moscoso Moller, given to the Court on June 17, 1998.
30
Cf. Newspaper article, “Exhumation of Bámaca Velásquez suspended due to insufficient time”,
NOTIMEX, June 16, 1995, Annex 39; Forensic Anthropology Team. Preliminary Report. Forensic studies in
the investigation proceedings of the Efraín Bámaca Velásquez Case, Annex 40; testimony of Jennifer
Harbury, given to the Court on June 16, 1998; testimony of Julio Arango Escobar, given to the Court on
June 17, 1998; and testimony of Fernando Moscoso Moller, given to the Court on June 17, 1998.
31
Cf. Decision of June 19, 1995, of the Second Criminal, Narco-Activity and Crimes against the
Environment Trial Court, Annex 37; newspaper article, “Frustrado nuevo intento para exhumar cadáver de
Bámaca Velásquez”, Prensa Libre, July 7, 1995, Annex 41; and testimony of Julio Arango Escobar, given
to the Court on June 17, 1998.
32
Cf. Newspaper article, “El fiscal Arango Escobar se retira del caso Bámaca Velásquez”, Prensa
Libre, June 27, 1995, Annex 31; Report of the Ombudsman of June 27, 1995, Annex 32; bulletin of the
Guatemalan Human Rights Commission of June 24, 1995, Annex 33; newspaper article, “Arango se
excusa de seguir caso Bámaca Velásquez”, El Gráfico, August 2, 1995, Annex 34; testimony of Julio
Arango Escobar, given to the Court on June 17, 1998; and Report of the Commission for Historical
Clarification, Tome VII.
33
Cf. Testimony of Jennifer Harbury, given to the Court on June 16, 1998; testimony of Julio
Arango Escobar, given to the Court on June 17, 1998; and testimony of Fernando Moscoso Moller, given
to the Court on June 17, 1998.