/* Written 10:09 PM  Mar 13, 1991 by cerisea in igc:reg.guatemala */
/* ---------- "Cerigua Briefs Mar 3 - 9" ---------- */
	  CERIGUA WEEKLY BRIEFS, MARCH 3 - 9, 1991

CONAVIGUA Commemorates Women's Day

Women organized to demand their rights and those of their children
gathered in front on the national palace on Friday to commemorate
International Women's Day. The National Council of Widows of
Guatemala (CONAVIGUA) called on President Serrano to guarantee the
freedom to organize, prosecute those responsible for violence and
comply with the peace agreements signed a year ago in Oslo,
Norway.

CONAVIGUA challenged the validity of Serrano's social pact and
expressed doubt that it would respond to the necessities of
Guatemalan women, especially those who are indigenous, displaced,
refugees or domestic workers. The women's organization said that
there are many women who watch their children die from
malnutrition and illness, and never find out what happens to their
kidnapped husbands.

CONAVIGUA sponsored a number of demonstrations this week to call
attention to the plight of Guatemalan women. Activities began on
Monday with a march by over a thousand women in the capital of
Totonicapan province.

Labor Groups Condition Their Participation

On Thursday 75% of the unions that make up the Guatemalan
Confederation of Labor Unity (CUSG) voted against participating in
the social pact promoted by President Serrano.  On the following
day the Central Federation of Guatemalan Workers (FECETRAG)
announced that its participation depends on government actions to
end massive layoffs of state workers, reinstate price controls and
end political violence. The same demands were made by the Labor
Federation of Banking and Insurance Workers (FESEBS), which added
that a pact has already been made between the government and
private enterprise, as demonstrated by the neoliberal economic
measures implemented since President Serrano took office.

Labor organizations including the Union of Syndicated Guatemalan
Workers (UNSITRAGUA), Federation of Guatemalan Workers (CGTG),
National Federation of State Workers' Unions (FENASTEG) have also
conditioned their participation on an end to government worker
layoffs and political violence.  On Wednesday UNSITRAGUA charged
that the Serrano government has shown no intention of resolving
the problems experienced by the majority of Guatemalans.  The
labor organization insisted that a broader spectrum of groups
should be invited to take part in the social pact, including
campesinos, refugees, the displaced and families of the
disappeared.

More Government Layoffs The Guatemalan Congress passed a
resolution on Wednesday condemning the recent dismissal of over
800 customs employees.  Prensa Libre reported that the legislators
wanted to send a message to the Serrano government that would
deter further massive layoffs.  According to the daily newspaper,
this is the first time in the current legislative session that
representatives from the National Centrist Union Party (UCN) and
Christian Democratic Party have joined forces to approve a
resolution.

The Federation of Guatemalan Workers (CGTG) pointed out that the
workers were laid off on the same day that President Serrano's
"social pact" was convened.  The Serrano government is seeking an
agreement with private enterprise, workers and cooperatives
regarding measures to stabilize the country's economy.  The CGTG
labor federation said it was considering withdrawing from the
social pact in response to the layoffs ordered by the government.

Government spokesperson Gonzalos Asturias said on Tuesday that the
800 workers were not government employees, but were employed by
private companies which provide customs service.  He said the
Treasury Police will assume the responsibilities previously
carried out by the fired workers.

The National Federation of State Workers' Unions (FENASTEG)
announced a "state of alert" on Thursday in response to the
continued threat of massive layoffs in government institutions.
Since Serrano took office, more than 3,000 state employees have
lost their jobs.

Resolution Passed in UN Commission

On Tuesday a resolution was passed in the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights which expressed deep concern over
increased violence and serious human rights violations in
Guatemala.  The Guatemalan government was urged to intensify its
efforts to require authorities and security forces to respect the
rights and fundamental liberties of the Guatemalan people.  The
Commission also encouraged the government to continue the dialogue
begun last year with the country's armed opposition.

The Canadian government said that although it joined the consensus
among other nations to limit intervention at this time to only
giving advisory services, it continues to maintain that the case
of Guatemala should be dealt with under the category of severe and
systematic human rights violations.

The International Federation of Human Rights rejected the
Commission's decision to keep Guatemala off the list of the worst
human rights offenders.  The international organization suggested
that countries which finance consultations of the Guatemalan
government demand "concrete results". It also proposed that
assistance be given not only to the government, but also to the
human rights organizations in Guatemala whose members "risk their
lives on a daily basis" in the defense of human rights.

An independent expert appointed by the United Nations will
continue to examine the human rights situation in Guatemala.  The
final point of the resolution specifies that the issue be reviewed
once again at the Commission's next assembly.

Threats by Civil Patrol Chiefs Denounced

The Council of Ethnic Communities (CERJ) reported that ten
campesino families from the village of Chunima in Chichicastenango
are being threatened by current and former leaders of rural civil
patrols.  The families have been forced to abandon their homes and
take refuge in the CERJ headquarters in Santa Cruz del Quiche.  In
mid-February three CERJ members from Chunima were attacked by
civil patrol chiefs, according to testimony by the only survivor
of the attack.

Violence Touches Many Walks of Life

Nineteen murders were reported in the Guatemalan press during the
first weekend of March.  Seven of the victims had been kidnapped
and tortured; eight were under the age of 20. The youngest victim
was 13-year-old Elias Villatoro whose body was found two days
after he was kidnapped.  Armed men broke into his house in the
province of Retalhuleu, murdered his 17-year-old brother and
kidnapped the younger Villatoro.

The personnel of a radio news broadcast from the Jutiapa province
received death threats by phone, according to a report on
Wednesday.  The director and a number of reporters associated with
the news program "Impacto Noticioso", which is broadcast over the
Tamazulapa radio station, were warned to take the program off the
air.

The president of an agricultural cooperative in Solola was found
dead on Thursday.  Pedro Garcia Chuc had reportedly been kidnapped
when he left his home days before.  The National Confederation of
Cooperatives (CONFECOOP) had denounced his kidnapping and the wave
of violence in the country which targets, among others, those who
promote development at the local level.

Bishop Reports Visit to Communities in Hiding

Monsignor Alvaro Ramazzini said on Friday that it was painful to
see the conditions of poverty in which the Communities of
Population in Resistance (CPR) are living.  The bishop fromthe San
Marcos province was a member of a delegation which visited some of
the communities surviving in hiding in the mountains of Quiche
last week.  Monsignor Ramazzini said the residents of these
communities live without sufficient food or clothing, and are
constantly on the move to escape army bombardments.  He added,
however, that the communities are organized to fight for their
dignity and their rights, and maintain hope for a better future
for their children.  The bishop said that the crisis experienced
by these communities should be resolved by the peace process
underway to end the country's internal armed conflict.

Military Actions Reported by URNG

The army's most important paratrooper base was attacked and
heavily damaged by guerrilla forces at the end of February,
according to a URNG combat report released this week.  The
insurgency reported causing 53 army casualties in the attack
against the Felipe Cruz base in Escuintla province.  In a battle
with paratroopers in the mountainous areas of the Volcan de Agua
in the same province, insurgency forces reported causing 10 other
causalties since the first of March.  Paratroopers are the most
specialized troops in the Guatemalan army.

Insurgency forces in the Nenton district of Huehuetenango province
attacked an army truck from the Las Palmas military quarters on
Wednesday.  The guerrillas confiscated rifles, ammunition and
military documents, and burned the truck.  In other actions during
the first part of this week, URNG forces reported causing 16 army
casualties in province of Peten, holding political meetings at
four plantations and a settlement in San Marcos province and
setting off bombs that distribute political flyers in the capital
city.  On Saturday the radio broadcast Guatemala Flash reported
that two army officers were killed in an insurgency attack as they
were traveling in Huehuetenango province.

Legal Aid for Street Kids

The Covenant House Association has announced the opening of a
Legal Assistance Office for Street Children in Guatemala City.
The project is intended to aid more than 5,000 homeless children
in the capital city.  Funding has been provided by the Canadian
International Development Agency.  The objectives are to provide
assistance in obtaining legal identification papers, help those
who have suffered abuse from authorities and educate the public
regarding the plight of the street children.

*****************

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