/* Written 10:19 PM  Feb 12, 1991 by cerisea in igc:reg.guatemala */
/* ---------- "Cerigua Briefs Feb 3-9" ---------- */
         CERIGUA WEEKLY BRIEFS, February 3 - 9, 1991

Report by United Nations Expert on Human Rights

"The people of Guatemala live in a state of fear.
Disappearances and murders occurred at a frightening level
during 1990..."  This is an excerpt from a report by
Christian Tomuschat, an independent expert named by the
United Nations to study the human rights situation in
Guatemala.  The report was circulated at the end of last week
in the 47th assembly of the UN Commission on Human Rights
which recently began in Geneva, Switzerland.

In his report Tomuschat said that the army is clearly an
independent center of power in Guatemala and does not have to
answer to the civilian government.  He added that the legal
position given to the army in articles 244 and 246 of the
national Constitution have actually contributed to this
independence.  He acknowledged that in many cases of human
rights violations there is only circumstantial evidence of
involvement by security forces, but emphasized that the
accusations made by victims and their families cannot be
regarded mere attempts to tarnish the security forces' image.
With respect to death squad activity, Tomuschat said it is
inconceivable that the armed forces cannot obtain sufficient
information to identify the groups and bring an end to their
criminal activities.

The UN expert said that civilians have been forced to carry
out military activities for the army, specifically through
the so-called voluntary civil self-defense committees.  He
verified receiving reports that the army has bombed and
shelled civilian populated areas, and has burned their homes
and crops and killed their livestock.

Human Rights Violations Denounced in Geneva

Denouncements of human rights violations in Guatemala began
this week before the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights meeting in Geneva.  The Commission's working group on
forced disappearances identified Guatemala as third among the
countries with the most disappearances.  In its report for
1990, the working group expressed concern over the impunity
with which human rights are violated in Guatemala as well as
concern for the threats directed at families and
organizations which investigate disappearances and work to
defend human rights.

In a speech before the Commission, the International Council
of Indian Treaties pointed to the examples in UN expert
Tomuschat's report as showing how the economic, political and
cultural rights of indigenous Guatemalans are violated.  The
Council stressed that from the perspective of the indigenous
people in Guatemala, the army operates as an occupation
force.  The Council is a non-governmental organization which
brings together indigenous groups from all over the western
hemisphere.

The Canadian Inter-Church Committee for Human Rights in Latin
America asked its government to immediately suspend all forms
of bilateral assistance to the Guatemalan government until
the human rights situation is significantly improved.  The
religious committee also asked the Canadian government to
work for the designation of a UN special expert to monitor
human rights in Guatemala, and also to pressure the
Guatemalan government to hold a meeting with the army and the
Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity.

Also this week, the United Representation of the Guatemalan
Opposition (RUOG) declared the need for a UN expert to
monitor the human rights situation in Guatemala, emphasizing
that merely appointing an advisor to the government is not
enough.  The RUOG document circulated at the UN Commission
stated that in view of the current situation in Guatemala, it
is impossible to give the Serrano government the benefit of
the doubt.  According to the RUOG, this was the course taken
during the Cerezo years, and it gave the army a "blank check"
to continue its repression.

Serrano Rejects Conditions for U.S. Military Aid

On Friday Serrano charged the U.S. government with
conditioning military aid on compliance with "certain
measures."  On radio news broadcasts Guatemalan Flash and
Patrullaje Informativo, Serrano reported receiving a document
from the U.S. government which explained that military aid
would be forthcoming if certain conditions were met by his
government.

Serrano said that he later received another note which
contended that the first message had been erroneously
written.  Serrano reacted strongly, however, and declared
that U.S. military aid would be rejected.  He insisted that
even though good relations with the United States are
desirable, the country has to maintain its dignity.  He
declined to specify the conditions proposed by the U.S.
government.

URNG Says Attack Was Not Aimed at Serrano

The Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) denied
this week that its forces staged an attack against President
Serrano.  The URNG reported that on January 30 its forces
fired on three military helicopters flying in a zone of
frequent combat between guerrilla forces and the army.
President Serrano was reportedly in one of the helicopters,
which was seriously damaged in the attack.

The URNG said the Bell Ranger helicopters were the same type
used by the army to attack the insurgency forces, and added
that the guerrillas routinely fire on military helicopters
which enter their zones of operation.  As reported in the
last Weekly Briefs, a government spokesman admitted that the
President's trip through the combat zone in Peten province
was ill-advised.  President Serrano and the others traveling
in the helicopter were not injured.

In its statement released to the press on Wednesday, the URNG
reaffirmed its desire to reach a political solution to the
internal armed conflict, and emphasized that no order was
given for an attack on Serrano.

URNG Celebrates Ninth Anniversary

February 7 marked the ninth anniversary for the Guatemalan
National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) since its founding in
1982.  On that date the Rebel Armed Forces (FAR), the
Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), the Organization of the
People in Arms (ORPA) and the Guatemalan Workers Party (PGT)
joined to form the URNG.  The Rebel Armed Forces also
celebrated its anniversary on Thursday, 28 years after its
founding in 1963.

In a paid statement published in Prensa Libre and El Grafico
this week, the URNG addressed current issues in the country
and especially, the newly-elected government.  The armed
opposition stated that the new government's principal
weaknesses are a lack of popular support and a coherent
program. The Serrano government represents the interests of
groups which are personified in key positions in the
President's cabinet, according to the URNG.  Because his
party has a minority in appointed government positions and in
the Congress, Serrano will have to govern through compromises
and deal-making.  The URNG charged that without a plan to
confront the national crisis, the tendency is to submit to
the wishes of the economically powerful sectors in Guatemala
and the neoliberal factions in the U.S. government.

U.S. Nun to Return to Guatemala to Denounce Crime

Sister Diana Marck has stated she is willing to return to
Guatemala to personally denounce government security forces
as those responsible for her kidnapping, torture and rape in
November 1989.  In a press conference on Thursday at the
Archbishop's palace, her superior in the Ursuline Order
confirmed that Sister Marck will return to Guatemala if the
government guarantees her personal safety.

The Ursuline Order has reportedly asked President Serrano to
form a commission and to name a government delegate to
investigate the crimes committed against the U.S. nun. Sister
Marck's attorney, Paul Soreff, said the new government has
shown little interest in forming the investigatory
commission.  However, Serrano had promised he would do so
before he was elected, according to Soreff. Former President
Cerezo had appointed a commission, but it never convened.  A
preliminary meeting of the commission has been scheduled for
February 25-27 in the hope that the government will have
named a representative by then.

While attending a retreat in Antigua in November 1989, Sister
Marck was kidnapped and taken to a clandestine jail where she
was tortured and raped by Guatemalan security forces.  She
had been living in Guatemala for two years and was working in
a parish in the Huehuetenango province.

Guerrilla Actions Reported

One of the country's two most important sugar refineries was
reportedly attacked by guerrilla forces on Sunday.  The
Conception refinery located in Escuintla province is owned by
the Herrera family, one of the main families in Guatemala's
oligarchy.  The report in the national press pointed out that
the attack took place just after Minister of the Economy
Richard Aitkenhead announced a sharp increase in the price of
sugar.  The newly-appointed minister directed a foundation of
sugar producers before accepting his new position.

A GUATEL telephone relay station in Tecpan, Chimaltenango was
seriously damaged by insurgency forces over the weekend,
according to the Minister of Communications.  GUATEL
authorities estimated it will take two months to repair the
damaged transmitters and tower, and explained that parts have
to be imported from Japan, Germany and the United States.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, insurgency
forces have destroyed sections of Guatemala's only petroleum
pipeline 14 times during the last month.  The 200 kilometer
pipeline transports petroleum from Rubelsanto oil wells in
Alta Verapaz province to the port of Santo Tomas de Castilla
on the Atlantic coast. The Ministry reported on Thursday that
the most recent attack was carried out two days before, and
added that it has not been possible to repair the pipeline
because of the presence of guerrilla forces in the area.

IGSS Strike to Continue

A strike by workers of the Guatemalan Social Security
Institute (IGSS) will continue at least until Monday,
according to a Guatemala Flash news broadcast on Saturday
morning.  Among the demands of the strike, which began
January 30, are job stability and a salary increase to
compensate for the lifting of price controls on basic goods.
Conflicting reports call into question the degree of support
for the strike.

Saturday's report said negotiations were at a deadlock.  IGSS
workers have blamed Minister of Labor Mario Solorzano for
failing to mediate the process successfully.  Ramon Arnoldo
Jacome Pinto, the secretary general of the IGGS workers
union, was attacked on February 4 outside his home and warned
not to participate in the strike.

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m the URNG.  The Rebel Armed Forces also
celebrated its