Ex-Officials Face Charges in Massacre

A judge has ordered at least 12 former officials of the Chiapas state attorney general’s office arrested for allegedly failing to stop a massacre of 45 people last year, mostly women and children. The group is charged with dereliction of duty and abuse of authority in not acting on information about plans for the Dec. 22 massacre in Acteal, Chiapas, an official said. Pro-government paramilitary fighters have been blamed for the killings. All of those charged resigned their posts, and some apparently fled when tipped off that they would be arrested. More than 150 people, including several state police officers, have been charged or are under investigation in connection with the killings. In a related development, the government of Chiapas paid $3,910 to the relatives of each of the victims at a special ceremony. The damage payment for each victim was divided among surviving children and spouses, and Acteal residents who were wounded received between $1,110 and $2,790.