June 25, 2003
Rios Montt spins history

Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | Ex-Guatemalan Dictator Denies Violations

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Human rights groups list Efrain Rios Montt among the most ruthless dictators in Latin American history, saying he directed a scorched-earth campaign that exterminated innocent Mayans while trying to weed out guerrilla forces during the height of a 36-year civil war.

But the retired brigadier general is pushing for a new image as he makes a third attempt to run for president. In an about-face, he says the government should punish those responsible for atrocities committed during Guatemala's 1960-96 civil war.

Yet while he supports the idea of high-ranking military officials facing justice, he says he won't go after them if elected and claims he did nothing wrong during his 18-month military government.``People want me to feel pained, remorseful and moved for these things that happened, and I feel bad because what really happened in Guatemala, those black pages of history, are going to be difficult to correct, cleanse and clarify,'' he says.

Posted by Dave at June 25, 2003 01:03 PM