/* Written 9:54 PM May 14, 1991 by cerisea in igc:reg.guatemala */ /* ---------- "Cerigua Briefs May 5 - 11" ---------- */ CERIGUA WEEKLY BRIEFS, MAY 5 - 11, 1991 New Army Offensive Begins The Guatemalan army announced the launching of a new offensive in the Alta Verapaz province on Wednesday, May 8. The objective is to wipe out guerrilla camps in the area, according to a military high command spokesman quoted in Thursday's Prensa Libre. Numerous troops from military zones in the northern part of the country are being deployed, and are equipped with armored tanks and vehicles. News of a planned armed offensive was first heard two weeks ago from a leader of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG). Commander Pablo Monsanto said the insurgency's intelligence sources had revealed that an army offensive called "Strength for Peace 1991" was scheduled for May 6. It would begin only two weeks after peace negotiations opened between the Guatemalan government and the URNG. Army Chief of Staff Raul Bedoya Molina denied at the time that an offensive was being planned. Bond Issue Provokes Debate A treasury bond issue to bail the government out of its current economic crisis was the source of heated debate this week. The Finance Minister proposed an emergency bond issue to raise 700 million quetzales ($140 million). Public employees and private businessmen who earn more than 36,000 quetzales ($7,000) annually would be required to finance the bonds. After opposition was expressed in Congress, primarily from the Christian Democratic (DC) and National Centrist Union (UCN) parties, President Serrano accused legislators of accepting bribes from businessmen who oppose the issue. Christian Democrats in Congress say they oppose the bond issue because it is inflationary and avoids confronting the true causes of the government's financial problems. They say the government's only recourse is to have the courage to reform tax laws. UCN legislators propose that the bonds be financed by those who earn 75,000 quetzales ($15,000 dollars) or more annually. The Bank of Guatemala announced on Tuesday that it will not approve a single loan to the government if the bond issue is not approved. Government Public Relations Secretary Gonzalo Asturias said on Friday that 100 public projects will be suspended if the emergency bond issue is not approved by the Congress. The projects include the construction of health centers, schools, and highways, and renovations of hospitals and medical clinics. Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses told Congress the bond issue would cause them to go bankrupt and increase unemployment. The Council of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF) said on Saturday that it considers the bond issue the least damaging and ill-fated of economic measures proposed to rescue the government from its present crisis. However, CACIF conditioned its support on the government's fulfillment of certain conditions. These include prosecuting those linked to corruption during the Cerezo government, ending existing corruption, putting fiscal legislation in order and implementing a clear medium and long-range economic policy. Various economic factors demonstrate the seriousness of the government's current economic crisis. Credit lines with international lending institutions remain closed and there is no significant revenue generated through taxes. The government is operating with a negative trade balance for the fifth year in a row (a higher level of imports than exports). The government's budget deficit is currently estimated at $400 million. As of four months ago, the government has been unable to pay even the interest on the foreign debt. Radio broadcast Guatemala Flash reported on Saturday that the Bank of Guatemala is negotiating loans with Mexico, Venezuela and the United States to raise $220 million. The money would be used for payments to the International Development Bank and the World Bank so that international credit lines would be reopened. Intermediary Commission Eliminated by Government The Guatemalan government has reportedly disbanded the Intermediary Commission created to negotiate the return of more than 43,000 refugees living in Mexico. The refugees' Permanent Commissions of Representatives issued a statement on Wednesday to protest the government action. The Permanent Commissions had established the mediating body to assist in the dialogue with the Guatemalan government and army. The refugees have defined six conditions for their safe return. The refugees' representatives said the government has shown it is unwilling to seek a solution to the refugee situation. Furthermore, the unilateral action by the government demonstrates a lack of respect and democracy. The representatives asked the Guatemalan people and the international community to support them in calling for the continuation of the Intermediary Commission. A source quoted in the Mexican daily Excelsior on May 5 said the Guatemalan government wants to dialogue directly with the refugees. The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the government's intention is to identify the refugees who want to return in order to verify that "guerrilla collaborators" are not among them. The same source reported that Carmen Rosa de Leon was removed as director of the Special Commission to Aid Repatriates (CEAR) because of "ideological incompatibility." De Leon had been president of the government body until February when she was renamed as director and the nation's Vice President, Gustavo Espina, became CEAR president. Members who have served on the Intermediary Commission are Monsignor Rodolfo Quezada, Bishop Jorge Mario Avila, Human Rights Ombudsman Ramiro de Leon, Roberto Rodriguez of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), Anantonia Reyes and Toribio Pineda of the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission and Julio Mendizabal, Secretary of the National Reconciliation Commission (CNR). Diplomatic Missions to U.S. and Canada The government sent a commission to Washington, D.C., reportedly to speak with U.S. Congressional representatives in an attempt to avoid suspension of economic aid. Tuesday's Prensa Libre reported that the Guatemalan Ambassador to the United States, Juan Caso Fanjul, and businessmen Edgar Heinemann and Bernardo Newman were representing the government on the diplomatic mission. Vice President Espina said the commission will communicate the good will of the Serrano government to consolidate guarantees of respect for human rights and to resolve the country's armed conflict. Espina emphasized that all assistance is welcome, as long as it does not have conditions attached. Later in the week it was announced that another diplomatic team will travel to Washington, D.C. and Ontario, Canada. Congressional President Catalina Soberanis of the Christian Democratic party will head the multi-party legislative delegation. Other members are Carlos Valle of the National Advancement Party (PAN), Araceli Conde of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Jorge Canale of the National Centrist Union Party (UCN). Friday's Guatemala Flash reported that the legislators will request support from their counterparts in the United States and Canada for the peace process and for government projects in Guatemala. This will be the third diplomatic mission to the United States since a resolution was passed in the House Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs to severely restrict economic and military aid. (See Weekly Briefs, April 14 - 20.) Foreign Minister Alvaro Arzu was in Washington, D.C., last week. U.S. Congress Sends a Message Members of the U.S. Congress have sent letters to President Serrano expressing their deep concern over human rights violations in Guatemala, according to Monday's edition of the Mexican daily Excelsior. The Guatemalan government was urgedto punish those responsible for recent murders of human rights activists which have been documented by Americas Watch. Members of the House Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs warned they will oppose economic assistance to the Serrano government if the violations continue. The representatives cited cases of murders of campesinos and members of the Runujel Junam Council of Ethnic Communities (CERJ) which have gone unpunished. U.S. senators urged Serrano to ensure that participation in civil defense patrols is truly voluntary. The letters were signed by Representatives Robert Torricelle, Stephen Solarz, Jaime Fuster, Gerry Studds, Sam Gejderson, Ted Weis, Peter Kosmayer and Eliot Engel; and by Senators Alan Cranston, Edward Kennedy, Wendell Ford, James Jeffords, Brock Adams, Paul Wellstone and Tom Harkin. Update on Peace Negotiations The next meeting between the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) and the Guatemalan government will take place in Mexico, announced Foreign Minister Alvaro Arzu on Monday. The date for the next step of negotiations is to take place later this month, but has not been officially confirmed. Mario Permuth of the National Reconciliation Commission said the meeting will focus on the first topic of discussion agreed upon--democratization and human rights. Army spokesperson Homero Garcia confirmed that additional army officers will be attending the next meeting since defense issues will be discussed. He said the army officers are representing the government, emphasizing that the army as an institution is not negotiating with the URNG. State Workers Push for Wage Increase Leaders of government employees' unions occupied the premises of the National Congress for several hours on Wednesday. The National Federation of State Workers' Unions (FENASTEG) received a commitment from Christian Democratic and National Centrist Union (UCN) legislators to support its demand for a wage increase for state workers and an end to repression of labor unions. Congressional committees will reportedly begin to analyze FENASTEG's demands next Monday. The federation of state workers' unions had announced last week that a series of actions would begin on Wednesday to pressure the government for a monthly wage increase of 300 quetzales ($60). Members of FENASTEG's advisory council have received threatening telephone calls, according to reports on Monday. The union leaders were warned that they "had better watch every move they make." Phantom Revolutionary Group Appears The supposed appearance of a new armed revolutionary group was immediately discounted by government and army spokespersons. On Wednesday Prensa Libre printed a statement by the New Guatemalan Revolutionary Movement (NMRG) which claims to have been operating for several months. The alledged new group criticizes the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) for agreeing to negotiate with the government and the army. It proposes physically doing away with the army and its civilian accomplices as well as Congressional representatives and those within the government and private enterprise who are guilty of corruption. Former Interior Minister Juan Rodil said the announcement was aimed at upsetting negotiations between the government and the URNG. He said it could be a scheme devised by the extreme right wing or by members of the army who do not want to see agreements reached between leaders of the insurgency and the army. Correction: Last week's edition included incorrect information taken from press reports regarding Dinora Perez, who was murdered in Guatemala City on April 29. Despite her young age, Perez had been involved for many years in the grassroots and labor movement. She was a leader of the Private Employees Union (SEP) and participated in the formation of the Union of Syndicated Guatemalan Workers (UNSITRAGUA). She was also a founding member of the Olaf Palme Labor Union Training School. She was associated with the political organization Guatemala United, formed by a group which separated from the Social Democratic Party (PSD). She ran as a candidate for the Christian Democratic (DC) party in the last elections, not the Popular Alliance-5 as reported, after an election alliance was made between Guatemala United and the DC. She directed the women's organization "Maria Chinchilla," which was founded by Guatemala United, not a public high school of the same name as had been reported. ***************** 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 ItzapalapaMexico, 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.