Dianna Ortiz, the Ursuline nun who vigiled and fasted in front of the White House for six weeks last spring to pressure the government to release the identity of her torturers (see "Death's Dance Broken," July-August 1996), has ended her participation in the investigation of her case.
After reliving her 1989 abduction and torture in several grueling interviews with the Justice Department, Ortiz announced her decision, writing, "Through my attempt to find out who was responsible for the event that blew my life apart, I became suspect. I became a criminal."
"I anticipate that my decision not to proceed forward with the criminal investigation will be viewed by government officials as an unwillingness to cooperate," Ortiz wrote. "So be it. I have stated my innocence time and time again. I can no longer defend it with my very life."
Dianna Ortiz continues to work for justice for the Guatemalan people and on her own healing. "I have not lost hope that some day the truth will be unearthed," she wrote.
Research for this article contributed by Sandy Maben.
Read the Full Article
