El Salvador judge reopens El Mozote massacre investigationOctober 3, 2016 - 15:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A judge in El Salvador has reopened an investigation into the 1981 El Mozote massacre - considered one of the worst atrocities in the civil war, BBC News reports. The judge accepted a request put forward by three human rights groups to re-open the case based on a Supreme Court ruling in July. The ruling overturned an amnesty for those who committed war crimes during the 1980 to 1992 conflict. Some 75,000 people died in the civil war, with many of the victims children. The July Supreme Court ruling declared the amnesty law, which was approved in 1993, unconstitutional. The court order opened to way for human rights violations by the military and rebels during the civil war to be prosecuted. Rights group said it meant the country could finally deal with its tragic past. The killings in and around El Mozote - some 200km (120 miles) from the capital, San Salvador - were part of a "systematic plan of repression" by the military during the civil war. Between 11 and 13 December, 1981, soldiers from a now-banned battalion, the Atlacatl, shot dead residents of El Mozote suspected of sympathising with left-wing rebels. Nearly half of the victims were children. Photo: EPA Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |