Guatemala replaces its defence chief of staff and a brigade commander as the Huité inquiry continues
President Bernardo Arévalo confirmed on October 8 that Guatemala’s defence chief of staff and the commander of the Second Infantry Brigade in Zacapa were replaced after administrative proceedings over the September 27 events in Huité. The army’s report went to prosecutors, who now lead the inquiry. Responsibility for the eight reported deaths remains unresolved in the ongoing investigation.
Geopolitics··Midday
Arévalo replaces the defence chief of staff and a brigade commander
On October 8, President Bernardo Arévalo announced two changes at the top of Guatemala’s army, tied to the investigation into the September 27 events in Huité, a municipality in Zacapa department. Measures to facilitate the investigation accompanied the announcement.[1], [2]
Defence chief of staff José Giovani Martínez Milián and the commander of the Second Infantry Brigade in Zacapa were removed from their posts. The president linked the decisions to administrative processes arising from the incident, and Brigadier General Moisés Alexander López López became the new chief of staff. The army’s personnel announcement gave a different explanation: it said Martínez Milián would move to another post and described the change as part of ordinary institutional arrangements.[1]
The army report is with prosecutors and the unit stays confined
President Bernardo Arévalo said the defense ministry’s report on the events reached the executive that Thursday and was then forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office. Because the document forms part of a judicial investigation, he said, its details cannot be made public. He added that investigating possible criminal responsibility is the prosecutor’s task.[1]
The military unit involved remains confined at its facilities in Zacapa, and its weapons were made available to the authorities for forensic examination by prosecutors. Defence Minister Henry Sáenz said 107 military personnel of different ranks were put at the prosecutors’ disposal for the inquiry.[1]
A routine patrol and warning shots in the government’s account, responsibility unresolved
Sáenz said the soldiers were on a routine patrol on the day of the incident, heard gunfire and responded with warning shots to protect their lives. This is the government’s account; the investigation has reached no final finding.[1]
Crónica’s report puts the toll at eight deaths and says responsibility for the deaths remains unresolved. The inquiry has reached no judicial finding, and replacing commanders does not amount to a court ruling on guilt. Because the report is restricted, the full evidence is not publicly available.[1], [2]
