국제앰네스티는 과테말라 당국에 법외의 사형을 집행한 전 국무부 장관인 카를로스 비엘을 정의의 심판 앞에 서게 해야 한다고 전했다.
카를로스 비엘만은 지난 11월 23일 과테말라 당국이 신병인도를 위한 문서제출 기한을 넘김에 따라 스페인 당국으로부터 석방되었다.
국제앰네스티 세바스챤 엘구에타(Sebastian Elgueta) 중앙아메리카국 조사관은 “과테말라 정부는 전 장관을 조사하기 위해 신병인도를 요청해야 할 의무가 있다”며 그러나 과테말라 정부의 미지근한 태도로 인해 신병인도 요청기간이 지난 것은 매우 실망스럽다고 전했다.
전 장관은 지난 10월 13일 과테말라 검찰의 요청과 유엔소속기관의 지원를 받아 그를 전격 체포했다. 그리고 그의 마지막 신병인도 요청은 과테말라 정부의 손에 달려 있으며 그의 11월23일 요청이 지남에 따라 12월 13일 까지 요청을 완료해야 한다.
지난 18일 과테말라 헌법재판소는 비엘만이 충분한 법적 대리를 받지 못했다며 판결을 미루었고 이로 인해 그의 신병인도요청이 늦어졌다. 언론보도에 따르면 헌법재판소는 검찰 측이 발언을 전혀 듣지 않고 카를로스 비엘만의 법적대리인이 제출한 문서에만 근거해 이러한 결정을 내렸다고 한다. 
FORMER MINISTER ACCUSED OVER KILLINGS IN GUATEMALA MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
26 November 2010The Guatemalan authorities must ensure that a former Interior Minister allegedly involved in the extrajudicial execution of prisoners is brought to justice, Amnesty International said following his release in Spain.
Carlos Vielman was released by the Spanish authorities on 23 November, after Guatemala failed to meet a deadline for filing the proper documentation for his extradition.
“The Guatemalan state has a duty to follow through and make a formal request for an extradition so the former minister can be investigated in his country,” said Sebastian Elgueta, researcher on Central America for Amnesty International.
“It is very disappointing that a deadline to submit a request for the extradition of former minister Vielman came and went without the Guatemala state acting on such an important matter.”
The former minister was arrested on 13 October in Madrid following a judicial request by the Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office, supported by the UN-sponsored International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). His final extradition depends on a formal request by Guatemala.
Guatemala had until 23 November to present its extradition request while Carlos Vielman was detained. Now that he has been released Guatemala has until 13 December to formalize its extradition request. “It is imperative that Guatemala follows through with the extradition request,” said Sebastian Elgueta.
On 18 November the Guatemalan Constitutional Court ruled to temporarily suspend the extradition on the grounds that Carlos Vielman had been denied appropriate legal representation, something strongly contested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and CICIG.
According to reports, the Constitutional Court did not hear arguments from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and ruled only on the basis of the written submission of Carlos Vielman’s lawyers. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested an annulment of the Court’s decision. “A group of suspects is already in custody in Guatemala, pending their trial for the same crimes, and former Minister Carlos Vielman cannot be the exception,” said Sebastian Elgueta.
“As part of its international obligations, Spain has the responsibility to either grant the extradition request of Carlos Vielman to Guatemala, once all the procedures have been followed, or to investigate and, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, prosecute him in Spain – if for any reason the extradition request may not be granted.”
The Guatemalan Public Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against the former minister and 19 individuals, some of whom are in custody, for their alleged participation in the extrajudicial execution of prisoners in several Guatemalan jails. These actions have the support of the CICIG.
Former National Director of Police Erwin Sperisen, currently resident in Switzerland, and other former officials are being investigated over the killings of prisoners held at two prisons in Guatemala in 2005 and 2006.
Amnesty International said it takes no position on whether the suspects are responsible for these crimes and they are entitled to the presumption of innocence until and unless they have been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
