Guatemala Judge Denies Ex-Dictator's Amnesty Claim A former dictator's attempt to shield himself from genocide charges was denied on Thursday by a judge who ruled that an international treaty overrules an amnesty law passed in the wake of Guatemala's civil war. The decision in the case of Efrain Rios Montt appears to open the door to other genocide prosecutions related to the 36-year conflict in which 200,000 people were killed and scores of Indian villages were destroyed. Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ruled the amnesty law is invalid because of a 1949 international treaty against genocide that Guatemala signed long before the amnesty was declared. "There are crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity that have no statute of limitations, and for that reason there can be no amnesty decree," Galvez said. "In the wake of the First and Second World Wars, the international treaty against genocide was created in 1949, and Guatemala signed it," the judge said. In 1973, Guatemala included crimes against humanity in its domestic laws. For that reason, no amnesty can be declared. Edgar Perez, a lawyer representing the victims, said "this means that a fair trial is being held, because these are crimes of international importance." But defense lawyer Francisco Palomo said he would appeal: "This trial cannot be resolved in a lower court." "This is a long process, and the Constitutional Court (Guatemala's highest tribunal) will be the one to decide," Palomo said. Rios Montt took power in a 1982 coup and was toppled the following year. The charges relate to his alleged involvement in 1,771 deaths, 1,400 rights violations and the displacement of 29,000 indigenous Guatemalans. He was appealing charges filed in January by another judge, the first time a Latin American court had charged a former president with genocide. Rios Montt long had immunity from prosecution as a member of Congress, but that expired on Jan. 14. After that, the ex-dictator was ordered held under house arrest and had to post a $64,000 bond. When the charges were brought in January, Rios Montt told the court, "I understand what the prosecution is saying and I won't respond." He later added, "The point is to do justice, not vengeance." The former dictator was also told not to communicate with others accused in the case, which also involves retired Gens. Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez and Hector Mario Lopez Fuentes, the army chief of staff under Rios Montt. Both men are in their 80s and say poor health has kept them from court proceedings.