/* Written 9:40 PM Jun 12, 1990 by gsleicher in igc:reg.guatemala */ /* ---------- "Cerigua Briefs" ---------- */ CERIGUA WEEKLY BRIEFS, JUNE 4 - 10, 1990 Further Rounds in the Negotiation Process Representatives of nine political parties and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) met in El Escorial, Spain during the last days of May. The satisfaction declared by all sides who took part in the El Escorial accords has been echoed by both progressive and conservative sectors in Guatemala. The army and the agroexport oligarchy have predictably been the least enthusiastic. Defense Minister Juan Bolanos and UNAGRO (National Agricultural Association) director Roberto Cordon both said the insurgency must disarm itself before any further discussion takes place. How far they will be able to take this position is open to question. The Commission for National Reconciliation (CNR), in the words of its president Monsignor Rodolfo Quezada, recognizes that neither the Oslo nor the El Escorial accords signifies a cease-fire. The limitations accepted by the guerrillas pertain only to the electoral process, which began officially on June 8 and will continue for the rest of this year. The CNR has moved on to the next of the series of meetings agreed upon in Oslo, Norway in March. This time the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) will meet with members of private business sector. Victor Suarez, president of the Chamber of Industry, stated that he awaits the meeting with the insurgents in order to "raise several points" and considers that "its purpose is to obtain economic and social welfare for the Guatemalan population." Monsignor Quezada took a proposal to CACIF (Council of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations) and indicated that "if they accept, I will contact the URNG to see if the General Command agrees." Plans are moving ahead for the meeting, which could be held in Mexico, Costa Rica or in Guatemala itself, though this is not likely. Cordon, the agroexport magnate who declared that "if the URNG Command wants to talk with them (landowners), they must first put down their arms," added that he was speaking only for himself, and agreed with Suarez that the URNG-political parties talks had been beneficial. The government's position was also ambiguous. On one hand General Bolanos said that "talks between government and subversives will only take place when they (URNG) lay down their arms." On the other, President Vinicio Cerezo expressed his support for the CNR when Monsignor Quezada presented him with the document signed by the URNG and the parties in El Escorial. In Europe, meanwhile, Comandante Gaspar Ilom of the URNG was invited by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament to the opening of its parliamentary session in Brussels. The URNG was congratulated for the El Escorial Accords signed on June 1 and for its efforts towards a negotiated solution to the armed internal conflict in Guatemala. Speaking before one of the Parliament committees, Comandante Ilom requested that European governments monitor the human rights situation in Guatemala, because of the impunity enjoyed by repressive forces under Cerezo's civilian administration. He also acknowledged European economic aid to Central America, pointing out, however, that those funds do not always benefit the people. The insurgent leader stressed that the European community must adopt a more explicit position in support of Central American democratic and progressive sectors. GAM in its Sixth Year Six years ago on June 4, the Mutual Support Group for Relatives of the Detained/Disappeared (GAM) was founded by a group of women who met time after time during their visits to the city morgues, in search of their loved ones. A column in the daily El Grafico recalled how in 1984 "the Guatemalan security forces hunted down student and labor leaders, with the purpose of destroying popular organizations." The following year, the GAM itself lost two of its own leaders, who were kidnapped and murdered. Since that time, GAM has maintained protest actions including occupations of Guatemala's cathedral, Congressional building, National Palace, and most recently the International Red Cross. In evaluating their six years of work, however, GAM President Nineth de Garcia said that although they "have managed to save the lives of 18 people and to obtain the legal exhumation of several who had been kidnapped," their purpose has been basically frustrated by President Cerezo's refusal to investigate the cases of the detained-disappeared. The truth of Garcia's words was confirmed less than a week later, when Special Attorney for Human Rights Ramiro de Leon stated that "it is not wise to create a commission to investigate the whereabouts of disappeared persons, such as the one demanded by GAM." The fact that Guatemalan Vice President Roberto Carpio had made a commitment to GAM and to an International Red Cross representative to create the commission and personally oversee the investigations, was disregarded. De Leon's declaration that he "has the mechanisms to assist anyone who requires help" was apparently enough for the government. Vice President Carpio added, however, that "everyone consulted said they are afraid and don't want to cooperate." Murderers of CERJ Activist Acquitted The two military commissioners identified as the murderers of human rights activist Maria Mejia were acquitted of the charges because the judge in charge of the case considered the evidence against them insufficent. When two army agents broke into her home on the night of March 17, they opened fire on Mejia and her husband, Pablo Castro. She was killed instantly and he was left for dead. The Castro-Mejia family, members of CERJ (Runujel Junam Council of Ethnic Communities), had been persecuted by army officers and paramilitary agents for some time, because the sons refused to take part in the civil defense patrols, which according to the Constitution are voluntary. Members of the family who witnessed the crime, as well as Castro who survived the attack, positively identified the two military commissioners (also civil patrollers), who were taken into custody on May 18 to be tried for murder. A criminal court in the city of Santa Cruz del Quiche, however, declared this evidence insufficient and gave orders for them to be set free. This happened less than two weeks after they had been arrested. Guatemalan Doctor Discovers AIDS Vaccine Rodolfo Garcia Galo, a Guatemalan doctor, has discovered a vaccine to help in preventing the spread of AIDS, as well as any other illness affecting the blood. Garcia Galo was conducting research in a joint project with Harvard University doctors and technicians. The substance discovered, called "hemopur", supplements hemoglobin and has been tried successfully on a US doctor and nine patients from Holland and Switzerland. Further tests are being conducted on patients from Germany, Canada and Guatemala. Hemopur prevents AIDS from being contracted through transfusions, but does not cure those who have the disease. General Elections Called General elections were formally convoked on June 8 by the Guatemalan Supreme Electoral Tribunal, with the first round to be held on November 11 and the second on January 6, according to statements by Tribunal president Arturo Herbruger. The elections will be for president and vicepresident, 116 Congressional representatives, 20 Central American Parliament representatives, and for mayor in more than 300 municipal districts. The elections were called over a week late, due to discussions in Congress over possible reforms to the Election Laws. The only change, finally, was to increase the number of representatives to Congress. Guatemalan human rights activists presently on tour in the United States have stated that none of the presidential candidates have taken a strong stance regarding human rights in their campaigns, preferring to forget the past. URNG Military Actions Continue The Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) has reported intensive military actions during the past two weeks, especially in the northern province of Peten. A navy boat was sunk on the Pasion River, causing 21 casualties to government troops. In the northwestern province of Huehuetenango, the insurgents attacked a military convoy and destroyed an armored vehicle. In Dolores, Peten, two army companies trying to dislodge guerrillas from their positions came upon each other unknowingly and engaged in combat, each confusing the other her on PeaceNet.