GUATEMALA CITY: Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt is expected to stand trial today on genocide charges, despite defense attempts to postpone the start of the historic proceedings. Rios Montt, 86, is accused of ordering the execution of 1,771 members of the indigenous Ixil Maya people in the Quiche region during his 1982-1983 regime.

The trial marks the first time genocide proceedings have been brought in relation to the 36-year civil war in Guatemala that ended in 1996, leaving an estimated 200,000 people dead, according to United Nations estimates.

The strongman was known for his “scorched earth” campaign against people the government claimed were leftist rebels but were often in fact members of indigenous Maya communities who were not involved in the conflict. The proceedings, expected to last several months, will see the summoning of 130 witnesses and some 100 experts. Retired general Jose Rodriguez, a former member of the military leadership, is to stand trial along with Rios Montt.