Victims' Families Hopeful About 'Dirty War' Case

Relatives of people who died or disappeared during the 1971 Corpus Christi massacre are hoping that the Mexican Supreme Court reverses a judge's decision refusing to sign an arrest warrant for former President Luis Echeverria. Such a reversal will depend on the high court agreeing that genocide is a legitimate charge against Echeverria. Lower court Judge Julio Cesar Flores on Saturday rejected the arrest request for Echeverria and 11 others linked to the June 10, 1971, massacre. The judge said the statute of limitations on the alleged crimes had expired. Special Prosecutor Ignacio Carrillo Prieto was expected to file his appeal with the Supreme Court on Monday. At issue is the event 33 years ago when about 45 marchers, mostly students, were killed as they demonstrated for education reform in Mexico City. In charges filed Thursday night, Carrillo alleged that the ex-president, now 82, two Cabinet ministers and nine others were responsible for the killings. Echeverria was president from 1970 to 1976. [more]