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Amnesty – 1997

The Government submitted a draft National Reconciliation Act to Congress, which included amnesty for certain political and other crimes committed by URNG members, in keeping with the agreements.¹ Congress made the bill law on December 18. It gave “limited amnesty” to members of the Armed Forces and Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) for political crimes committed during the civil war, excluding acts of genocide, torture and disappearances.²

The Amnesty provision of the accord was implemented in 1996. Prosecution of those not covered by the Amnesty, however, was delayed.

1. “Seventh Report on Human Rights of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala,” United Nations General Assembly (A/52/330), September 10, 1997.
2. “Final Peace Accord,” Keesing’s Record of World Events Volume 42 (December 1996): 41406.