Despite my recent crowing about the fact that Augusto Pinochet may very well face justice for his crimes, this article points out that for the powerful there is really no equal treatment under the law. A veritable rogues gallery of ex-leaders are facing charges in the comfort of their homes:
Efrain Rios Montt, the former dictator who presided over one of the bloodiest eras in Guatemalan history, has been under house arrest in the capital since early last year. He is accused of inciting a riot, and he is being investigated for genocide in the killings of thousands during a 1980s military campaign against Marxist rebels.
But several weeks ago, the retired general threw a grand bash for his daughter's wedding at his mansion in this colonial city at the foot of postcard-perfect volcanoes. Fine scotch flowed, and the guest list included both the U.S. ambassador and a member of the U.S. Congress, who happened to be the groom.
In a country where lawlessness has reigned, what message does this send about impunity? Clearly the wrong one. At least some of the public is outraged:
"Other people pay for their crimes in jail, so why does Rios Montt get to stay at home and throw parties?" said Jose Luis Quintanilla, 37, a vendor who sells used clothing on the streets of Guatemala City. "People are angry."
They should be angry. They should also be angry in Nicaragua where Arnoldo Alemán who has been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for, among other things, "he and his wife charged massive sums to government credit cards, including a $13,755 bill for the Ritz Carlton hotel in Bali and $68,506 for hotel expenses and handicrafts in India." Why is he not in jail? Health problems related to his obesity. Here's an idea: bariatric surgery. I'll let you be the judge, but it seems to me Alemán is a good candidate for it.
What's worse in Alemán's case is that even when he was in prison he served time "in a special section with extra comforts that included air conditioning, cable television and massages." Geez, I wish I could get government financed massages.
This is the good news bad news aspect of it all:
Despite the difficulties, Juan Luis Pons, another human rights activist, said criminal investigations of former Latin American leaders, including Rios Montt, constitute a "a small light giving people hope" that presidents are no longer above the law.
Still, he added, the sight of a former dictator under criminal investigation and house arrest hosting a wedding for 300 people, including an A-list of Guatemala's elite, "shows that justice is still politicized in Latin America."
As long as it remains politicized, then justice will truly be unjust.
Comments