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The Dos Erres Fugitives

The massacre of 250 civilians in the jungle hamlet of Dos Erres in December 1982 stands as one of the worst atrocities in Guatemala's civil war. Over the past year, courts have convicted five Guatemalan army soldiers of related crimes. U.S. authorities are holding one suspect, former army Lt. Jorge Vinicio Sosa Orantes, in California on immigration charges. Prosecutors in Guatemala are looking for seven other ex-commandos accused of taking part in the massacre. | Related story »

 

Roberto Aníbal Rivera Martínez

Born: 8/24/1954
Last Known Residence: Guatemala City
Rank: Lieutenant
He allegedly commanded the unit that committed the Dos Erres massacre. He rose to the rank of colonel, holding senior posts in the defense ministry and presidential guard. When investigators in 2010 served an arrest warrant at his home in a military neighborhood, they discovered an escape tunnel.


César Adán Rosales Batres

Born: 6/11/1957
Last Known Residence: Guatemala City
Rank: Lieutenant
He had the third-highest seniority in the commando unit. Witnesses alleged that he was the first to rape a young girl during the raid on Dos Erres. The other officers chastised him and excluded him from a meeting that preceded the slaughter of the villagers at the town well, in which he allegedly took part.


Alfonso Bulux Vicente

Born: 1/13/1953
Last Known Residence: Retalhuleu
Rank: Sergeant
During the massacre, Bulux showed mercy on a family at an outlying home, letting them flee, according to testimony. But the testimony also places him among a group of commandos who interrogated villagers, hit them with a sledgehammer and dumped them into the town well. In government documents in 1999, he listed his profession as pilot.


Manuel Cupertino Montenegro Hernández

Born: 9/15/1956
Last Known Residence: Guatemala City
Rank: Sergeant
He served as the unit's radio operator, communicating with Army brass outside Dos Erres during the operation. He therefore could have information on the involvement and knowledge of senior officers. In 2008, he identified himself as a businessman, according to Guatemalan documents.


Mardoqueo Ortiz Morales

Born: 4/26/1962
Last Known Residence: Ayutla
Rank: Corporal
He has been identified by witnesses as one of the commandos who killed villagers at the well. More recently, he has worked as a businessman in the Petén region, where the Dos Erres massacre took place, according to Guatemalan investigators.


Cirilo Benjamín Caal AC

Born: 2/9/1949
Last Known Residence: Melchor de Mencos
Rank: Sergeant
He has been identified by witnesses as one of the commandos who killed villagers at the well. In 2007, he described himself as a farmer, according to Guatemalan government documents. He is also believed by Guatemalan investigators to have been involved in business in the Petén region in recent years.


Carlos Humberto Oliva Martínez

Born: 1/19/1954
Last Known Residence: Poptun
Rank: Sergeant
He has been identified as one of the commandos who killed villagers at the well. He is also believed to have dedicated himself to business activity in the Petén region in recent years.

Have Information? Need Help?
Anyone with information about foreign nationals suspected of human rights abuses or war crimes may call a Department of Homeland Security tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or fill out an online form. The toll-free number for confidential victim assistance is 1-866-872-4973. Tips may be provided anonymously.

Portrait of Sebastian Rotella

Sebastian Rotella

Sebastian Rotella is a reporter at ProPublica. An award-winning foreign correspondent and investigative reporter, Sebastian's coverage includes terrorism, intelligence and organized crime.

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