The Clinton Library had two sets of documents which discuss the cases of three Americans who were in Guatemala during a 36 year war—from 1960 through 1996—where U.S. government personnel, (the military, Special Forces and the CIA) participated. Many of those in the torture and death squads in Guatemala were trained at the School of the America’s in the U.S. These cases include Jennifer Harbury, a Harvard trained attorney whose husband was tortured and then murdered in Guatemala. Harbury attempted to get records from the U.S. government in order to find the location where her husband was being tortured in order to save his life. But the U.S. stalled and stonewalled her, until it was too late. She was later the target of threats and a smear campaign initiated by the U.S. government where in one instance the CIA exploited the release from a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request, where they intentionally left her name unredacted on documents that might harm or embarrass her.
The second case is that of Sister Dianna Ortiz, an American nun who was brutally tortured and raped by a Guatemalan Torture Squad with an American boss. The Clinton documents here give his full name. She survived her ordeal and came home, only to be smeared by the U.S. Government in order to cast doubt on U.S. involvement, and have White House officials refer to the one-hundred-eleven burns on her back as not a sign or torture but of “kinky lesbian sex”. Julia Lieblech wrote a wonderful article (the link is below), about her ordeal which calmly stated facts and well researched details.
And lastly the case of Michael Devine, an American who ran an inn in Guatemala, who was targeted to be brutally killed by a death squad, which also was overseen by American personnel. The Clinton White House documents below describe how they should ignore his wife’s requests for information.
Clinton White House Cables on Ortiz, Harbury and Devine cases. Set one.
Clinton White House Cables on Ortiz, Harbury and Devine cases. Set two.
Article on Sister Dianna Ortiz experience by Julia Lieblech.
Film created on Jennifer Harbury’s effort to receive information on the torture and death of her husband.
Michael Devine’s case, discussed by his wife.
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