/* Written 12:00 AM Jun 26, 1990 by gsleicher in igc:reg.guatemala */ /* ---------- "Cerigua Briefs" ---------- */ Cerigua Weekly Briefs, June 18 - 24, 1990 Guatemalan Army Says No to Cutback Salvadoran President Alfredo Cristiani correctly predicted that the armies of Guatemala and El Salvador would hardly be willing to reduce their forces. He was responding to a proposal by Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro, who came to the recent Central American presidential summit promoting general disarmament. After persistent questioning by journalists, army spokesman Colonel Luis Isaacs appeared on television and stated that each Central American country had its own problems and a generalized policy should not be applied. He also said that the people of Guatemala acknowledge the army's long-standing tradition of not only military prowess but also "civil service". When Foreign Minister Ariel Rivera gathered the diplomatic corps to inform them of the summit resolutions, he told them that it would not be possible to reduce the army. Finally, Defense Minister General Juan Bolanos said that, far from reducing them, the army will increase its forces. He explained that they should include one percent of the Guatemalan population, which is close to 9 million. This means the army should have 90,000 members, instead of the 60,000 it has at present. The proposal made by Chamorro and supported by Costa Rican President Rafael Calderon was not even included in the summit resolutions. Neither was any effort towards forming a block to confront the five countries' foreign debt collectively. US Secretary of State James Baker, who met with the presidents, offered an aid plan similar to the one applied in Eastern Europe. Canada, Japan and Western Europe would lend or donate funds which would be administered by the United States. The European Economic Community, however, already had its own proposal in process. Army Attempts to Kidnap CONAVIGUA Leaders Members of the army attempted to kidnap 15 leaders of the National Council of Widows of Guatemala (CONAVIGUA) in the northwestern province of Quiche, according to denouncements made to the press by members of that organization. On June 14, a group of soldiers arrived at the village of Pacoc, in Zacualpa, Quiche, accompanied by a Civil Defense Patrol (PAC) commander. They gave a list of names to assistant mayors Ramiro Rodriguez and Francisco Riz, and ordered them to help locate those on the list. When the assistant mayors refused, the soldiers threatened to "kidnap them along with the CONAVIGUA leaders." CONAVIGUA representative Fermina Lopez, who recently attended the National Conference "Guatemala in the 90s" in Washington DC, announced that former US president Jimmy Carter offered his support to help end "violence against popular organizations". Carter will come to Guatemala within the next few months to verify the increase in human rights violations. Lopez added that the Guatemalan delegates requested that Carter ask the Bush administration to cut military and economic aid to Guatemala. US Military Aid to Guatemala Cut by 70% The Appropriations Committee of the US Congress approved a cutback in military aid to Guatemala by 70%. Their decision was based on the State Department's report on the human rights situation in Guatemala during 1989, although violations are now five times greater than one year ago. Last year $9 million was allocated in non-lethal assistance. This amount has now been reduced to $2,887,000. The congressional representatives also stated that any further military or economic aid will depend on the progress in the investigation of the kidnapping and torture of Sister Diana Ortiz in November of 1989. The Ursuline sister gave a sworn statement accusing Guatemalan government security forces of the crimes. Other cases of human rights violations which concerned the committee were the murders of Salvadoran Social Democratic leader Hector Oqueli and Guatemalan lawyer Gilda Flores, the kidnapping and murder of San Carlos University students and the armed attack against Peace Brigades members, one of them a US citizen. Government Claims Oqueli Was Murdered by Friends Interior Minister General Carlos Morales declared that Salvadoran Social Democratic leader Hector Oqueli was turned over to his assassins by his own friends, according to investigations carried out by the government. Although he did not say who the friends were, the Interior Minister insisted that "foreigners" set up Oqueli and murdered both him and his companion. He added that Oqueli's family could help determine who the responsible parties were, and admitted that some Guatemalans were possibly involved. Hector Oqueli and Gilda Flores, a Guatemalan Social Democratic lawyer, were kidnapped in Guatemala City on January 12 while on their way to the airport. Their bodies were found several hours later. During the summit weekend, President Vinicio Cerezo presented his Salvadoran counterpart Cristiani with the results of the official investigation. The Socialist International, of which Oqueli was a high official, criticized and rejected the conclusions of the investigation. Several months ago, a similar explanation given by Morales regarding the kidnapping of Sister Diana Ortiz was termed as an outrage by Archbishop Prospero Penados. The General had claimed it was a case of self-kidnapping. President Cerezo and the Defense Minister at the time, Hector Gramajo, later withdrew Morales' statement and offered an apology. OAS Commission Reports on Human Rights The OAS Interamerican Commission on Human Rights presented its report on the human rights situation in Guatemala to the OAS General Assembly in Asuncion, Paraguay. The report states that terror has become a fact of daily life for Guatemalans. Each person protects himself as best as he can, for lack of any other guarantee of protection. The Commission said that this year has brought the most serious increase in human rights violations since Vinicio Cerezo took office. It stated that while the heads of state and army cannot be accused of committing the crimes directly, it is evident that once again they have proven to be ineffective in preventing, controlling, and punishing the grave violations. In fact, they cannot control their own security forces, some of which have apparently taken part in several crimes. Among the cases highlighted in the report are the San Carlos University students, Sister Diana Ortiz, Hector Oqueli and Hilda Flores, and Nicaraguan diplomat Jorge Vargas, murdered on a Guatemala City street in December of last year. The continued attacks against labor, student, and human rights organizations were also emphasized. Meanwhile, the Guatemalan daily El Grafico reported that in the first 18 days of June, 41 bodies found in the capital city area were buried without being identified first. The Special Attorney for Human Rights, Ramiro de Leon, said that he regretted the increase in violence, but that it would probably get worse, explaining that increased human rights violations are to be expected in an electoral year. More Death Threats Against Labor Leaders For the second time in less than two weeks, Guatemalan labor leaders denounced threats against their lives, while unidentified bodies showing signs of torture continued to appear daily in and around the capital city. Members of the executive committee of the National Financing Corporation Workers' Union reported that they began receiving threats several months ago. In the past week, however, they had a series of anonymous telephone calls reminding them that many bodies turn up in Guatemala City. A few days ago, a similar denouncement was made by leaders of the Social Christian-oriented Federation of Guatemalan Workers. June 21, National Day Against Forced Disappearances United Labor and Popular Action (UASP) called for an investigation of thousands of missing persons, the stabilization of the country's economy and an end to repression, while commemorating the National Day Against Forced Disappearances. Ten years ago on June 21st, government security forces surrounded the premises of the National Workers' Federation and kidnapped 27 labor leaders who were attending a meeting. They remain missing, and no explanation was ever given by the authorities. This date was later established by the popular and labor movement as the National Day Against Forced Disappearances. The families of the 27, as well as of thousands more, continue to demand the return of their loved ones alive. The Mutual Support Group for Relatives of the Detained- Disappeared led a huge march in Guatemala City last week to commemorate this day. Army Promotes Ecological Disaster The Guatemalan army promoted the deforestation of an area with intense guerrilla activity in the western province of San Marcos, according to one of the owners of the lands which were razed. Villagers of the Esquipulas Palo Gordo district in San Marcos informed the official Forest Department that in recent months, more than 20,000 trees had been cut down. One of the owners, Domingo Lopez, was taken into custody for questioning. According to Lopez, the military commander of the local garrison declared before some 75 people that the owners could chop down the whole mountain, because if they didn't, the army would. Esquipulas Palo Gordo, which means "fat tree", is frequently the scene of combat. It is a region from which guerrillas launch attacks against military patrols and installations. ***************** In the U.S. and Canada subscribe to Weekly Briefs by sending check or money order to: ANI PO Box 28481 Seattle, WA 98118 Subscription fees in the U.S. and Canada: $9 for 3 months, $18 for 6 months, $36 for one year. Elsewhere, contact: CERIGUA Apartado Postal 74206 CP 09080 Delegacion Itzapalapa Mexico, D.F. Telephone: 5102320 - FAX 5109061 - Telex (17) 64525 PeaceNet address: ni!cerinic Also please send us your comments and suggestions to the Seattle address or by email to gsleicher on PeaceNet.