/* Written 9:21 PM Sep 23, 1991 by cerisea in igc:reg.guatemala */ /* ---------- "Cerigua Weekly Briefs" ---------- */ CERIGUA WEEKLY BRIEFS, SEPTEMBER 15 - 21, 1991 Fourth Round of Peace Talks Continues The fourth round of peace talks between the Guatemalan government, the army, and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) began in Mexico City on Friday, September 20. At press time for the Weekly Briefs, the government delegation was continuing to study the URNG proposal to resolve the human rights situation in Guatemala. Miguel Angel Sandoval, member of the insurgency's political- diplomatic team, said progress in the negotiations would depend on the government's political will. Bishop Rodolfo Quezada, mediator for the talks, said the government's response would determine whether an agreement on human rights would be reached. The URNG proposal includes a number of considerations followed by concrete steps to be implemented. Sandoval said there are considerable differences of opinion between the government and the URNG over the first section alone. The concrete measures proposed by the URNG were not disclosed to the press, however it was reported that some of the measures are to be implemented immediately, and others are for the short and medium term. In a statement published in the daily El Grafico on September 20, the URNG specified that it would propose mechanisms to end impunity, make amends for wrongs suffered by the population, and promote the creation of institutions to guarantee respect for human rights. Bishop Quezada said human rights is the most important topic in the negotiations, because the lives of Guatemalans are at stake. Quezada added that the objective of the negotiations is not only to seek a political solution to the armed conflict, but also to implement bold, urgent measures to solve the country's problems. Quezada expressed his satisfaction over receiving support from Pope John Paul II for his role as mediator in the talks. He said members of the National Reconciliation Commission are receiving death threats from ultraright groups opposed to the talks, but added that the threats have become a "normal" aspect of their work. When the round of talks opened, Colonel Marco Gonzalez Taracena, chief of military intelligence and member of the government delegation, said there is optimism for the outcome of the negotiations because Guatemala needs to live in peace. Manuel Conde, head of the government delegation, said the government is attacking the problem of impunity in the country, but it is a gradual process in which all sectors of society must participate. URNG Commander Gaspar Ilom said progress cannot be made indemocratizing the country and working for peace as long as the forces responsible for the repression continue to operate and remain immune to punishment. The URNG has rejected the army's claim that insurgency activity must end before human rights violations will cease. The URNG insists that the repression existed before the insurgency began operating, and in fact is one of the causes of the armed conflict. In the eight months since Serrano took office, government forces have continued to torture, disappear and murder with absolute impunity, according to a report by Americas Watch cited by the Guatemala Flash newscast on August 14. Sectors Ask to Participate in Peace Process Non-governmental organizations which met with the URNG during 1990 are asking for the opportunity to participate directly in the ongoing peace process. The Guatemalan society should not be left out of the negotiations because the results will not reflect a genuine national consensus without their participation, the groups stated. Representatives of labor and grassroots groups, cooperatives, the university community, shantytown dwellers, and small and medium-sized business owners who met with the URNG in Metepec and Atlixco, Mexico, in October 1990 placed a paid ad in Prensa Libre on the first day of the current round of talks. The groups asked Bishop Quezada and the National Reconciliation Commission to convoke meetings between the government and sectors which participated in the process initiated by the Oslo Accord in March 1990. They also asked that mechanisms be found to incorporate these sectors in the ongoing peace process. Government Covering Up Cholera Epidemic Two bishops of the Guatemalan Bishops Conference accused the government of trying to hide the seriousness of the cholera epidemic. "The government is not concerned that the people are unawareof how the epidemic has spread. Though we hope this is not the case, it appears there is a policy to hide the truth about the progress of this deadly illness," said Bishop Fernando Gamalero. Bishops Gamalero and Alvaro Ramazzini of the Conference's health mission said the number of persons affected by cholera is much higher than Health Ministry figures. Bishop Gamalero called the cover-up "immoral" because it leads the people to believe everything is under control and they can stop taking preventive measures. Health Minister Miguel Montepeque said on September 18 that only 16 persons were receiving hospital treatment for cholera in the entire country. Two hundred cases have been reported in past weeks, added Montepeque, but they were treated and sent home. The Health Ministry has acknowledged two deaths caused by the epidemic. Bishop of San Marcos AlvaroRamazzini said the following day, however, that in the San Marcos province alone, 328 persons have fallen ill with cholera and eight have died. On September 9 Prensa Libre reported 102 persons ill and one dead in La Barrita and the Notisiete newscast reported 100 persons ill and one dead in El Chico; both areas are in the Retalhuleu province. In other news, the Health Ministry reported that over 7,000 persons, mostly in the southern coast region, have contracted dengue since January. Fumigations for the mosquito-carriers have been stepped up since the detection of a fatal strain of dengue which causes hemorrhaging. Vice Ministers of Health Removed The two Vice Ministers of Health were fired by presidential order this week. Unofficial sources say Serrano ordered their dismissal because too much information about the spread of cholera was being released. The two vice ministers said they learned through press reports that they had been dismissed, and asked Serrano to publicly explain the reasons. Vice Minister Espina responded that a public disclosure would not be made since such appointments are strictly confidential. Health Minister Montepeque threatened to resign from his post because he was not consulted on the dismissals; he added that the president's office has offered the Health Ministry little support. Earthquake in Guatemala An earthquake in the early morning hours of September 18 left at least 25 persons dead, over 100 injured and as many disappeared, and destroyed 1,500 homes in Guatemala. The Patrullaje Informativo radio newscast said late in the week that the actual number of persons killed or injured remained unknown, since there was still a lack of information from remote areas of the countryside. The earthquake, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, affected primarily the provinces of Chimaltenango, Suchitepequez, Solola, and Escuintla. The Pochuta district of Chimaltenango was hardest hit. Eighty-five percent of the homes in the area were destroyed, leaving more than a thousand families homeless. The area was without telephone communication and road access due to the destruction of a bridge on the main road. Torrential rains following the earthquake washed out sections of the highway between Pochuta and Patulul. Five workers clearing debris from the highway were killed and fifteen others were missing. Patrullaje Informative reported on September 21 that tremors were still occurring in the area, and residents feared the Madre Vieja River would overflow from the continuous rainfall. In the Solola province landslides have blocked a number ofroads around Lake Atitlan, forcing residents to walk miles to get around the affected areas. An estimated two to three months will be necessary to clear the highway to San Lucas Tolima. Electricity Crisis to Worsen The Chamber of Industry reported nearly 100 million quetzales ($20 million) in losses to the country's industries due to electricity rationing which began on September 1. The government has ignored proposals by private enterprise to solve the current energy crisis, charged Vice President Luis Reyes of the Council of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF). Minister of Energy Juan Miron said this week that inflation will become uncontrollable if the crisis is not resolved immediately. Minister Miron said the consequences will be severe, and predicted that unemployment and prices of basic goods will skyrocket. Rationing of electricity will continue until December, the electric company director announced on September 17. He added that another increase in electricity rates is still open for discussion. The 47% increase which went into effect this month is only half of the proposed 95% increase. President Serrano, however, assured there would not be another increase, according to Guatemala Flash radio report the following day. More Clandestine Graves Unearthed Five bodies were exhumed from two more clandestine graves discovered in Chontala, Quiche. The diggings by a team of Guatemalan and internatinoal forensics experts began again this week. They were suspended last month after area residents and the forensics team received threats from civil patrollers. A total of 27 bodies have now been recovered in the Chontala area. More than 100 clandestine cemeteries are located in the highland region, according to the National Council of Widows of Guatemala (CONAVIGUA) and the Mutual Support Group for Relatives of the Disappeared (GAM). Foreign Minister Resigns Alvaro Arzu resigned as Foreign Minister on Saturday, September 21, the Guatemala Flash newscast reported. The announcement came amid controversy over the Guatemalan government's recognition of Belize's independence. Sources say Arzu and his party, the National Advancement Party (PAN), were excluded from recent negotiations to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arzu openly opposed Serrano's proposed trip to Belize for the country's celebration of ten years of independence from Great Britain.Arzu threatened to resign if Serrano made the trip, according to National Centrist Union Party (UCN) legislator Edmond Mulet. After widespread criticism, the trip was postponed. Arzu was presidential candidate for the right-wing PAN party in elections last November. He was appointed as foreign minister after an alliance between PAN and Serrano's Solidarity Action Movement (MAS) party was made. Gramajo Ignores U.S. Court Order The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York reported this week that General Hector Gramajo failed to respond to court orders related to two lawsuits filed against him. The former Guatemalan defense minister was ordered to provide his current address to a U.S. federal court by September 18. By declining to respond or refute the charges in the time period defined by the courts, Gramajo "legally" accepted the charges against him, according to CCR lawyer Beth Stephens. Warning to Tourists The Great Britain government put out a travel advisory for its citizens who wish to travel to Guatemala. Authorities recommend that every precaution be taken, especially in tourist areas. Attacks by common criminals and combat between army and guerrilla forces may present dangers for travelers in Guatemala, according to the advisory. ***************** 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: $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.