/* Written 10:16 PM Oct 1, 1990 by cerisea in igc:reg.guatemala */ /* ---------- "Cerigua Briefs" ---------- */ CERIGUA WEEKLY BRIEFS: September 24 - 30, 1990 Religious Leaders and URNG Meet in Ecuador The necessity for direct talks as soon as possible between the government, the military and the armed insurgency in Guatemala was emphasized in a joint statement released after a three-day meeting in Ecuador between Guatemalan religious leaders and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG). The religious representatives expressed their support for the El Escorial Accord, signed by political parties and the URNG in late May. They emphasized the importance of the second and third points in the agreement which call for the participation of all political and social sectors in a process to reform the Constitution and government institutions. United Nations representative Francesc Vendrell, who attended the meeting in the Ecuadoran capital of Quito, said that it will be impossible to bring an end to the problems in Guatemala without solving the roots of the conflict. Religious participants affirmed that there is a severe social and economic crisis affecting the majority of Guatemalans. They stated that genuine peace in Guatemala will not be achieved without absolute respect for human rights. Commander Gaspar Ilom of the URNG leadership expressed his hope that whoever takes over the government after the November elections will respect the Oslo Accords, signed between the Commission for National Reconciliation (CNR) and the insurgency, and will adhere to the search for a political solution to the internal conflict. He added that the insurgency's position focuses on a national consensus among the political and social forces of the country, not on the elections. The joint statement signed on Wednesday urges all sectors in Guatemala to unite their efforts to find a solution to the national crisis. Representatives from the Bishops Conference, the Catholic association CONFREGUA, the Episcopal Church of Guatemala, the Permanent Assembly of Christian Groups, the Conference of Evangelical Churches (which includes various Protestant churches) and the Jewish Community signed the declaration. Members of the URNG leadership participating in the talks were Commander Gaspar Ilom, Commander Rolando Moran and Carlos Gonzalez. The meeting in Quito was the third in a series of talks mediated by the Commission for National Reconciliation. Future Talks with the URNG Planned Monsignor Rodolfo Quezada, president of the Commission for National Conciliation, confirmed on Wednesday that the armed opposition will meet in Mexico City on October 22-24 with popular organizations, labor unions, refugees and human rights organizations. The CNR President added that a future meeting is being planned between the URNG and representatives of production and service cooperatives, professional organizations, university administrations, small business entrepreneurs, and artists. The date and location for the meeting were not specified. Soldiers Used to Protect Superiors in Devine Case The arrest of four Guatemalan soldiers for the murder of U.S. citizen Michael Devine was confirmed on Wednesday by army spokesman Carlos Duran. The announcement was made one week after the Bush administration threatened to cut all military aid to Guatemala if those responsible for the slaying are not prosecuted. The information regarding the security force members implicated in the crime was reportedly provided by the U.S. embassy, which had carried out its own investigation, "parallel" to the government's investigation. Michael Devine was kidnapped in the Peten province on June 8. His body, bearing signs of torture, was found 12 hours later. His wife had apparently asked the Guatemalan army for protection following the murder, but later left the country with her children, on the advice of the U.S. embassy. The four soldiers in detention are members of a special counterintelligence unit under the control of the military high command. They atttended the army's Kaibil school for counterinsurgency training. On Thursday the leader of the Mutual Support Group for Families of the Disappeared (GAM) told the United Nations representative who is currently visiting Guatemala that the four low-ranking soldiers are being used to protect their superior officers. GAM President Nineth de Garcia told UN expert Christian Tomuschat that a military intelligence officer known as "Nito" Cabrera and Colonel Mario Garcia were involved in the Devine murder. Colonel Garcia had been commander of the Santa Elena military base until early September when he was dismissed. The vehicle used to kidnap Devine was assigned to the Santa Elena base, according to a private investigator's report which was confirmed by the U.S. embassy. President Cerezo said last week that the reason for his dismissal was to prevent interference in the murder investigation. Special Human Rights Attorney Ramiro de Leon said his office's investigation indicated participation in the murder by at least seven paid assassins who were obviously working for someone. On Thursday U.S. ambassador Thomas Stroock told the Guatemalan press that four members of the military and four civilians had direct responsibility in the killing. He said he had the names of those implicated in his office but could not remember them at the time he was interviewed. GAM President Garcia said that it is because of U.S. pressure that this case is receiving so much attention. She added that it is regrettable that only this case is investigated when the cases of more than 40,000 kidnapped and disappeared Guatemalans remain unopened. Government Receives U.S. Donation U.S. Ambassador Stroock met with President Cerezo on Thursday morning to deliver a $50 million package. This donation is part of a cooperative agreement that Cerezo signed with the United States in 1986. The money is designated to assist in the balance of payments and the foreign debt. UASP Speaks to the Elections Members of the Unity of Labor and Popular Action (UASP) expressed their "total lack of confidence in the electoral process" on Thursday. The organization representing the popular movement accused politicians of taking advantage of the severe economic conditions in their bid for votes while saying nothing about the powerful sectors who are responsible for creating these conditions. UASP said that not one of the thirteen presidential candidates challenges the injustices of the current system. Furthermore, the labor and popular organization questioned the candidates' intentions to follow through with the agreements reached in their meeting with the URNG in late May. The El Escorial Accord, signed by political parties and the armed opposition, calls for a National Constituent Assembly to be held in 1991 for the purpose of reviewing and revising the existing institutional and legal order. U.S.-sponsored Delegation Visits Guatemala A delegation of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) met with representatives of the Council of Ethnic Communities (CERJ) on Sunday, September 23, according to Monday's edition of El Grafico. Ex-governor of Arizona Bruce Babbitt, a member of the NDI delegation, said that the purpose of the visit is to observe the presidential candidates in the current electoral campaign and interview the popular sectors regarding the democratic process in the country. Babbitt added that a 30-member delegation, also sponsored by the National Democratic Institute, will be in Guatemala in November to observe the electoral process. UN Representative Confirms Army Abuse The United Nations representative investigating human rights violations in Guatemala confirmed on Tuesday that the army forced more than 80 people to leave their village of Amacchel in the Quiche province and relocated them to a government camp for repatriates. Christian Tomuschat traveled to the Nebaj district in Quiche to investigate the incident which had been denounced by the Council of Ethnic Communities (CERJ). The UN expert also met on Tuesday with members of the Guatemalan congressional human rights committee, headed by Oliverio Garcia. Garcia indicated that his committee has done very little to investigate the numerous cases of kidnappings and assassinations because no one dares to testify as witnesses. Government Backs Oslo Accords In a speech before the United Nations general assembly on Tuesday, Guatemalan Foreign Minister Ariel Rivera affirmed that the Commission for National Reconciliation had the full support of the government when it signed the Oslo Accords with the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) in March. The Accords set into motion a series of talks between ********* In the U.S. and Canada subscribe to Weekly Briefs byAlso please send us your comments and suggestions to the Seattle address or by email to cerisea on PeaceNet.