/* Written 10:20 PM Apr 30, 1991 by cerisea in igc:reg.guatemala */ /* ---------- "Cerigua Briefs April 21 - 27" ---------- */ CERIGUA WEEKLY BRIEFS, APRIL 21 - 27, 1991 First Phase of Negotiations Judged Successful The Guatemalan government and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) met this week for the first time since brief talks ended abruptly over three years ago. Statements characterizing the three-day meeting in Mexico City were consistently positive. Participants agreed that the talks were conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, flexibility and seriousness. URNG Commander Gaspar Ilom said the meeting has "opened the way for negotiations." Presidential secretary Manuel Conde said the government recognizes the need for profound and structural changes in the country. The meeting ended on Friday with an agreement on the procedures and topics of discussion for negotiations. The talks, originally scheduled to end on Thursday, continued the next day, after apparently reaching a deadlock during discussion of an agenda for future meetings. In the final meeting, a decision was made to define a general list of issues to be debated, instead of outlining a more detailed agenda. The talks were held in Hotel Casa Blanca in the central district of Mexico City. Opening and concluding statements by the participating delegations were televised in Guatemala. The next meeting between the government and the URNG is scheduled for sometime during the last two weeks of May, but the specific date and location have not been announced. Monsignor Rodolfo Quezada, the mediator for negotiations, clarified on Friday that "peace in Guatemala is not around the corner." He expressed optimism, however, that political agreements will be reached during the coming months. Agreements Reached for Negotiation Process The government and the URNG agreed to carry out a negotiation process to end the country's internal armed conflict and "bring about the reconciliation of all Guatemalans." Monsignor Rodolfo Quezada will continue as Mediator for the negotiations, which will be observed by United Nations representative Francesc Vendrell. The signed agreement confirmed a key role to be played by Monsignor Quezada in facilitating the process. The topics of discussion agreed upon were stated very generally. However, insurgency leader Gaspar Ilom said they reflect the country's serious problems which led to the armed resistance. Ilom said the topics provide an adequate guideline for reaching political agreements to resolve the country's armed conflict. The first eight topics are: 1) democratization and human rights, 2) strengthening of civilian power and defining the army's role in a democratic society, 3) identity and rights of indigenous peoples, 4) constitutional and electoral reforms, 5) social and economic aspects, 6) land situation, 7) relocation of the population uprooted by the armed conflict, and 8) incorporation of the URNG in the country's political activity. The last three topics are: 9) a definitive ceasefire, 10) a plan for implementing, fulfilling and verifying agreements and lastly, 11) a peace agreement and demobilization. Monsignor Quezada emphasized that the problems which caused the armed conflict to arise 30 years ago must be resolved before a ceasefire or the disbanding of guerrilla forces can be discussed. Issue of Demilitarization Clarified On Tuesday the head of the government delegation repeated his earlier statement that the elimination of the army would not be discussed during the negotiations. In response to the issue of "demilitarization" as proposed by the URNG, Presidential Secretary Manuel Conde said discussion should focus on demobilizing insurgency forces and then eliminating counterinsurgency operations. He added that civil defense patrols (PAC) could be dissolved since they are part of the counterinsurgency program. "When there is no longer an insurgency movement, there will be no reason for a counterinsurgency program to exist. Therefore, the PACs can become assistance committees." A clarificatin of the URNG's position was offered in an interview with Commander Pablo Monsanto granted to the news agency Notimex shortly after the talks ended. URNG Commander Monsanto said: "It is impossible to create a functional and participatory democracy in Guatemala without demilitarizing society." He explained that "when we speak of demilitarization, we are not asking that the army disappear. We are speaking of redefining the functions of the army in relation to the role that it should fulfill within the State." The army's intervention in the country's economy, in political matters and in government administration must be eliminated, according to the insurgency leader. He also referred to the violent methods of army recruitment in which "young men are taken prisoner" and the impunity with which the army operates. When Monsignor Quezada was asked on Friday if demilitarization was among the 11 topics agreed upon, he responded that some issues are "taboo" and have to be read between the lines. He said the topic which deals with civilian power and the functions of the army would offer broad possibilities for dialogue. Participants in URNG-Government Meeting Presidential Secretary Manuel Conde presided over the government delegation. It consisted of five top-level military officials and four civilians. All of the military officials have commanded army bases in areas where guerrilla forces operate; two of the officials have headed the military intelligence service. They are: General Edgar Godoy, Assistant Army Chief of Staff; General Jose Garcia, Commander of the Honor Guard Brigade; General Mario Enriquez, Commander of the military base in Playa Grande, Quiche; Colonel Julio Balconi, Commander of the Mariscal Zavala Brigade; and Colonel Marco Gonzalez, chief of the Mobile Military Police. Other members of the government delegation were Minister of Development Manolo Bendfeldt Alejos and two close presidential advisors, Ernesto Viteri and Luis Asensio. Amilcar Burgos, who is the government's representative on the National Reconciliation Commission, also signed the final document for the government. The URNG was represented by its General Command which includes Commanders Gaspar Ilom, Pablo Monsanto and Rolando Moran and the General Secretary of the Guatemalan Labor Party, Carlos Gonzalez. Also present were members of the URNG political-diplomatic team, including Miguel Angel Sandoval, Francisco Villagran and Luis Bekker. Monsignor Rodolfo Quezada, who is president of the National Reconciliation Commission (CNR) and of the Guatemalan Bishops Conference, acted as Mediator and Francesc Vendrell was present as the official United Nations representative. Other CNR members who participated in the talks were Monsignor Juan Gerardi representing the Catholic Church; Oliverio Garcia of the National Centrist Union Party, representing political parties; Teresa Bolanos de Zarco and Mario Permuth as notable citizens; and Luis Morales Chua as advisor. New Army Offensive Denied In an interview on the eve of the URNG-government meeting in Mexico City, URNG Commander Pablo Monsanto reported that the Guatemalan army was planning a large-scale military offensive to begin in less than two weeks. Commander Monsanto said that intelligence information received by the insurgency indicated that the army planned to launch an offensive called "Strength for Peace 1991" on May 6. The army offensive is in direct contradiction with government statements in support of peace, stated Monsanto. He expressed concern that the offensive is intended to obstruct the peace process underway. Army Chief of Staff Raul Bedoya Molina confirmed over the Guatemalan Flash radio broadcast on Thursday evening that the Guatemalan army supported the current negotiations with the insurgency and he denied that a new offensive was being planned. Interior Minister Resigns Government sources reported on Thursday that Colonel Ricardo Mendez resigned as Interior Minister for health reasons. The Guatemala Flash radio broadcast commented that his resignation was also prompted by insufficient government funds to confront the country's security problems and pressure exerted by certain sectors. He will be replaced in early May by Fernando Hurtado Prem, who was formerly Assistant Human Rights Ombudsman. Interior Vice Minister Salvador Polanco said on Friday that he would also be leaving his post, since he had been named by Colonel Mendez. Mendez is the second government minister to resign in the last three weeks. Ex-Finance Minister Irma Raquel Zelaya said she left her position because of death threats, the government's distressing economic situation and the job's negative effects on her health. Civil Patrollers Impede Arrest Hundreds of members of civil defense patrols prevented police from arresting two fellow patrollers in Chunima, Chichicastenango, Quiche, it was reported on Friday. Police were carrying out court orders to arrest Manuel Perebal and Manuel Leon Lares. The two patrollers have been charged with kidnapping, assault and harassment, according to the Patrullaje Informativo report. The police retreated without making the arrests when "hundreds of armed patrollers" started arriving in Chunima. An Americas Watch report issued on April 14 (see Weekly Briefs, April 14 - 20) said that Perebal has been charged with the October 1990 kidnapping-murder of Sebastian Velasquez. It also reported that both Perebal and Leon Lares have been charged with the February 1991 murders of Juan Perebal Xirum and Manuel Perebal Morales and with stoning and beating demonstrators from the Mutual Support Group of Families of the Disappeared (GAM) on March 2, 1990. All three murder victims were members of the Runujel Junam Council of Ethnic Communities (CERJ). Last week Assistant Human Rights Ombudsman Cesar Alvarez ordered that police carry out arrest warrants issued on 16 current and former civil patrollers. Kidnap Attempt of CERJ President Denounced Amnesty International (AI) of Germany appealed to President Serrano this week to protect the lives of members of the Runujel Junam Council of Ethnic Communities (CERJ) and its president, Amilcar Mendez. The organization expressed its profound concern over the attempt to kidnap the CERJ president in Guatemala City on April 15. In a paid ad in Prensa Libre on Friday, AI of Germany asked for a progress update on investigations into three recent murders of CERJ members. The human rights organization also asked for an explanation of why arrest warrants against those responsible have not been carried out. (AI referred to the same cases mentioned in the previous note on civil patrollers). Actions Against IGSS Strikers Continue The Notisiete television news broadcast reported on Friday evening that the firing of workers who participated in the February strike at Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) medical facilities has begun. A third member of the IGSS ad hoc strike committee, Maria del Carmen Menendez, was arrested this week, according to a fellow committee member. Two other union leaders, Victor Alvarado and Edgar Ovalle, were arrested last week. Counter Celebrations of 500 Year Anniversary The first event in Guatemala in commemoration of the "500 Years of Indigenous and Popular Resistance" campaign took place on Wednesday. Rosalina Tuyuc of the National Council of Widows of Guatemala (CONAVIGUA) said the purpose of the event was to discuss alternative activities to counter festivities planned by the government to celebrate the 500- year old "discovery of America." Representatives of indigenous groups, unionists, students, lawyers, womens' groups and the human rights ombudsman's office met in the capital city. Serrano Government Seeks Improved Relations with U.S. Guatemalan Foreign Minister Alvaro Arzu will travel to Washington, D.C. next week for the purpose of improving relations with the U.S. government, according to Monday's edition of Prensa Libre. The trip was announced by the government days after the U.S. House Subcommittee on Western Hemispheric Affairs recommended severe restrictions on military and economic aid to Guatemala. The foreign minister said the initiative was unfair and would punish the country for past events. (See the last issue of Weekly Briefs for more information on the subcommittee recommendation.) In related news, the appointment of a new Guatemalan ambassador to the United States was announced this week. Juan Jose Caso Fanjul, one of the three directors of the weekly magazine Cronica, will be the new ambassador. Monday's Notisiete news broadcast commented that the appointment is intended to help improve relations with the Bush administration. ***************** 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 Also please send us your comments and suggestions to the Seattle address or by email to cerisea on PeaceNet.