Guatemala's former military ruler has requested for amnesty from
genocide charges for the second time since appearing before a
judge last January. General Efrain Rios Montt is accused of
murdering more than 1,000 people during the country's civil war.
"Justice is important for us so that what happened is never
repeated. And it's also important to show respect for our
dignity and to show respect for human life." - Manuel Tay, the
leader of a local Guatemalan survivor's group His 17 months in
power from 1982 to 83 are believed to be one of the most brutal
periods of the war. Many Maya villages were targeted and their
residents massacred during government efforts to defeat leftist
rebels. Prosecutors argue that Guatemala's National
Reconciliation Law does not guarantee amnesty for those accused
of human rights abuses. But many in the army defend the tactics
of the 1980s as a necessary evil. Otto Perez Molina, Guatemala's
current president, is a former general who served under Rios
Montt. Earlier this month, the