NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/9604

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Guatemala Human Rights Update Dec 21, 1992
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/** reg.guatemala: 138.0 **/
** Topic: Human Rights UPDATE  Dec 21,1992 **
** Written  6:27 pm  Dec 22, 1992 by ghrc in cdp:reg.guatemala **
                 GHRC/USA Human Rights Update*
                    PEACENET Version #51
                    December 21, 1992

CASE UPDATES

CAMPESINOS OF CAJOLA ACCEPT FINCA  In a press conference,
campesinos (farmers or peasants) of Cajola said they were willing
to accept "32 Caballos" finca (ranch or plantation), located in
Retalhuleu.  The campesinos said negotiations had not yet begun,
and the sale price of the finca, which must be reasonable and
within the means of the campesinos, would have to be considered.
The campesinos also asked that the members of their community,
who have been living for the past five months along the highway
and in the assembly hall of the University of San Carlos in
Guatemala City (see Peacenet Update #47), be moved immediately
and given adequate shelter and humanitarian aid.
     The International Committee of Worker Solidarity (CISO)
denounced the "inhumane" conditions the Mam indigenous community
from Cajola have been subjected to during the past five months.
"In the group of 450 people there are senior citizens and
pregnant women living without a roof, without water, without
toilets, and they depend on the good will of the public to eat,"
CISO stated.
     The international organization asked the Serrano
administration to solve quickly the land problem of the
campesinos, who were evicted from the Pampas de Horizante finca
in July.  CISO said that until their land situation is resolved,
the government should provide housing, food, and services to the
campesinos.  CISO also said the United Nations would be informed
of the situation.

NEW SENTENCE REQUESTED IN DEVINE CASE  The Public Ministry is
waiting for an answer from the Court of Appeals, which is acting
as a military court, in respect to the appeal the Public Ministry
filed in the trial of twelve soldiers accused of abducting and
assassinating U.S. citizen Michael Devine in 1989.  The Public
Ministry appealed the sentence passed by a military tribunal in
the first court, acquitting Cavalry Captain Hugo Roberto
Contreras Alvarado, Francisco Solv l Santay, Pablo Lajuj, Ismael
Andrs Morente, Benjam!n Punti Peruch, and Fabi n Arevalo de la
Cruz of the murder and abduction charges.  Army soldiers Daniel
Tol"n Rodr!guez, Joaqu!n Alfaro Avelar, Oliverio Orellana Valdez,
Tiburcio Hern ndez y Hern ndez, and Rafael Tiul Tucul received a
thirty-year, incommutable sentence.

RIGHTS OF DETAINED CERJ MEMBERS VIOLATED  According to Human
Rights Procurator Ramiro de Le"n Carpio, soldiers of the military
zone of Santa Cruz, El Quich violated the fundamental rights of
Juan Ren Gonz lez and Alberto Calvo Gonz lez, who were detained
in October and accused of planning to distribute propaganda for
the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG). (See Peacenet
Update #43.)
     The Human Rights Procurator said in a resolution on the case
that Calvo Gonz lez was threatened and coerced into adhering to
his first statement against Amilcar Mndez (made with no
interpreter present) in which he said Mndez had given him a
pamphlet bomb.  There is no evidence against Juan Ren Gonzalez,
who, like Calvo, is still in prison.  De Le"n Carpio asked the
Minister of Defense to investigate and find the names of the
soldiers who violated the rights of the accused and to establish
responsibility in the case.

PUBLIC MINISTRY ASKS FOR RELEASE OF SOLDIERS ACCUSED OF MASSACRE
The Public Ministry's request for the acquittal of the three
soldiers accused of executing four members of the Hern ndez
family in June in Ciudad Vieja, Sacatepequez (see Peacenet Update
#25) has been characterized as unprecedented in the history of
the organization.  Mar!a Lorenzo Hern ndez Hern ndez, the mother
of Silvia Garc!a Hern ndez, an eight-year-old who survived the
massacre but was left paralyzed, asked that the three men accused
-- Rosalio Sey Schoc, Gilberto Gonz lez, and Gilberto Flores
Hern ndez -- receive the death penalty.  The defense attorneys of
the accused have requested that the men be acquitted, but the
attorneys have not brought forth the proof of innocence.  The
child who survived has not been questioned yet, and her testimony
will carry great weight in the trial.

EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS

MARTHA JUDIT PAIZ was shot to death on December 12 by
unidentified individuals on 31st Avenue B and 10th Street, Zone
7, Centroamerica colony, Guatemala City.

CAMPESINO FAMILY ATTACKED  On December 15, at 7:30 P.M.
unidentified individuals threw an explosive into the house of a
campesino family in San Francisco, El Rodeo, San Marcos.  MARIA
DE JESUS CHAVEZ LOPEZ (60), RICARDO MATIAS MIRANDA (32), FENIO
LOPEZ ESTEBAN (35), LILIAN LOPEZ MIRANDA (13), and JUAN LOPEZ
MIRANDA (11) were killed.  AURA MARINA MIRANDA CHAVEZ (35),
AGAPITO MIRANDA RAMOS (65), MARIA MAGDALENA CINTO LOPEZ (20)
EUGENIO LOPEZ MIRANDA (7), CLARISA MIRANDA CINTO (3), AND ELVIRA
JUDITH LOPEZ Y LOPEZ (7) were injured.

Farmer DEMETRIO DONIS ARREDONDO (56) was shot to death by
unidentified individuals on December 15 in Riachuelo, Nueva Santa
Rosa, Santa Rosa.  The assassins came to his house, and without a
word, they shot him in front of his wife and children.

UNIDENTIFIED BODIES

The body of ONE UNIDENTIFIED MALE was found on December 14 near
kilometer 259 of the highway on the Mexican border, in Catarina,
San Marcos.  The victim had been shot and strangled.

On December 14, the body of ONE UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE was found
strangled on 2nd Avenue 2-30, Zone 3 of Malacatan, San Marcos.

OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

CPRS IN EL PETN EXPECT ATTACK  The Communities of Population in
Resistance (CPRs) of El Petn report that since the beginning of
December, Pilatus war planes have been making low-altitude
flights over El Petn.  The CPRs also reported that artillery
helicopters have been making nighttime flights to pinpoint the
communities.  CPR members interpret these actions as an obvious
sign that the army is preparing an offensive against their
communities.
     In their communique, the CPRs of El Petn express their
solidarity with the CPRs of the Ixc n, which have been the
targets increased repression since late November (see Peacenet
Update #49).  The CPRs of El Petn say they are holding Defense
Minister Jose Domingo Garc!a Samayoa responsible for the
repression against the CPRs and have asked the international
community to denounce the repression of the civilian communities.
They also asked the Church and popular organizations to support
them and requested that Human Rights Procurator Ramiro de Le"n
Carpio  initiate an investigation into the recent, serious abuses
against the CPRs.

CPRS REJECT ARMY STATEMENTS  In a press conference, delegates of
the CPRs said the army has insisted that the CPRs are the
political arm of the URNG and has thus justified the bombing and
strafing of the CPRs, as well as new repressive actions.  The
CPRs denounced the most recent attacks, which occurred on
November 29 and 30 (see Peacenet Update #49).  They also reported
that the army and the PACs have detained campesinos, accusing
them of being guerrillas, and made them turn themselves in at the
military barracks.

SERRANO CONTINUES ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS  In a recent speech,
President Serrano accused members of the Guatemalan press of
lacking respect for State institutions and their representatives
and of offending his dignity, honor, and fundamental values.
These statements, along with declarations against the press that
Serrano made in Panama, added to the disagreements between the
President and journalists.
     The National Council for the Defense of Journalists' Human
Rights (CNDDHP) in a press release refuted Serrano's accusations,
saying the government, not the press, was the primary
"destabilizer" of the country, with its mistaken, violent, and
provocative policies and attitudes.

GUATEMALAN JOURNALIST GOES INTO EXILE  Because of death threats
he had received for his work as a journalist, AXEL COCON and his
wife and children left Guatemala for Canada.

CURFEW CONTINUES IN EL QUICH  Residents of El Quich reported
that the 6:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. curfew established by the civil
defense patrols (PACs) continues in rural towns.  Residents
reporting the curfew said it "flagrantly violates the right of
free movement of people who are supposedly living in a
democracy."

MAN SHOT AND INJURED  On December 15, ELADIO ANTONIO RODAS (27)
was shot ten times by unidentified individuals in a vehicle in
Nueva Concepci"n, Esquintla.  Rodas was seriously injured and was
taken to the social security hospital in Tiquisate, Escuintla.

OTHER INFORMATION

LEADER OF USAP TO STAND TRIAL  The governor of the department of
Guatemala, Colonel Francisco Gordillo, stated that Roberto
Monterrosa, the leader of the Unity of Labor and Popular Action
(UASP) would be tried on charges relating to a December 10
demonstration organized by the UASP in which hooded individuals
smeared an army car and public buildings with paint.  Army
spokesman Captain Alberto Yon said the armed forces were
gathering evidence to go before the court and ask that legal
action be taken against those responsible for damaging army
vehicles and for provoking military members who were casually
passing by the demonstration.
     The Mutual Support Group for the Relatives of the
Disappeared (GAM) responded to the army's statements in a
communique, saying that "persons not involved in the popular
movement painted the cars using our acronyms to discredit us and
afterwards fled."  GAM added that it hoped this incident would
not be followed by unnecessary consequences and denied any
accusation related to the incident or any other illegal act.

MORE REMAINS OF BODIES DISCOVERED IN EL QUICH  At the end of
November, an excavation team exhumed an additional seven remains
of bodies from five clandestine graves in Tunaj , Zacualpa, El
Quich (see Peacenet Update #48).  The forensic team confirmed
that remains most recently found were buried in March 1983.

IMF CONDITIONS CREDITS TO GUATEMALA  Raul Villatoro, the vice
minister of Energy and Mines, reported that the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) would give credits to Guatemala only if the
government deregulates the price of fuel.  Villatoro's statements
caused a strong reaction among legislators, who said that if the
price of fuel increases, there will be riots in Guatemala.

INCREASE IN BUS FARE POSSIBLE   With the termination of the urban
transport subsidy in Guatemala City, members of the Urban
Transport Coalition expressed their intention to increase urban
bus fare.  The Association of University Students (AEU) of the
University of San Carlos and other labor and popular
organizations asked the government to extend the subsidy so that
there would be no increase, since an increase in fares would
exacerbate the poverty of the Guatemalan people.

AIRPLANE FACTORY TO OPEN IN GUATEMALA  December 13 marked the
opening of the first airplane factory in Guatemala.  The Minister
of the Economy reported that "the new policies toward open
markets, the capacity of the work force, the aid of the
Foundation for the Development of Guatemala, and Glasair Aircraft
Company, Inc. were the main factors in founding the new factory."
What plane parts will be made in Guatemala or what type of planes
will be produced is still unknown.

FAMILIES IN GUATEMALA CITY URGE IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSING PROJECT
The Committee of Squatters, composed of 1550 families who, having
no land of their own, formed seventeen communities near the
railroad tracks (on the land extending from Zone 7 to sector 4,
Ciudad Real, Zone 12 of Guatemala City) have demanded the
implementation of a housing project called Santa Faz-BANVI.  The
project would allocate a minimum of 90 percent of the lots in
Santa Faz to meet the needs of the families occupying the right
side of the Guatemalan Railroad (FEGUA) tracks, from Zone 12 to
Zone 17.  The project was not implemented in April 1990, when the
accord was signed, and families living in the settlements are
afraid they will be evicted as a consequence of the imminent
privatization of FEGUA.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS PROTEST  On December 11 a large number of
road construction workers marched in Guatemala City to protest
the government's violations of the Collective Work Pact and the
fact that a highway project in El Petn was assigned to a foreign
company.  The workers threatened to strike if there is no
response to their demands.

NUMEROUS SHOOTINGS IN GUATEMALA CITY  According to members of the
Guatemalan press, during the second weekend in December, fifteen
people were shot by unidentified individuals in separate
incidents in Guatemala City.  The information is insufficient to
determine whether the shootings were linked to common crime or
were politically motivated.

TWO KILLED BY SOLDIER  Alberto Garc!a and Antonio Anselmo Vidal
were killed when soldier Audilio Gonz lez Urias activated a
grenade.  Miguel Angel Morales, Aroldo Geronimo Blanco, and Jose
Tul Morales were injured.  According to the army's report, the
incident occurred in Puerto San Jose, Escuintla, when  Gonz les
Urias was interrupted as he was committing a common crime.

REPORT CONFIRMS FLAGRANT ABUSES IN GUATEMALA  A Human Rights
Watch report stated that, in 1992, flagrant human rights abuses
occurred in Guatemala, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, the Dominican
Republic, and Haiti.  According to the report, "The human rights
situation remained bleak in Guatemala in 1992, with selective
assassinations, disappearances, and torture of those detained by
the security forces."

NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES DIALOGUE IN OSLO  The Norwegian
parliament met with Guatemalan peace talks mediator Monsignor
Quezada Toru$o, Guatemalan Labor Minister, Mario Solorzano
Mart!nez, and URNG commandant Rolando Moran to suggest a 1993
meeting in Oslo between the government and the URNG.  The
Norwegian government said the purpose of the meeting would be to
invite the parties "to continue the negotiations in Oslo next
year."


The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA monitors the human
rights situation in Guatemala and provides information to various
constituencies in the United States and to a limited extent
abroad.  Information in the Guatemala Human Rights Update is
compiled from a variety of international sources including: the
Comisi"n de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala/Mexico (Guatemalan
Human Rights Commission/Mexico), Americas Watch, Amnesty
International and Inforpress.  Information is also gathered from
reports and alerts from groups in Guatemala including: the
Archbishop's Human Rights Office, the Council of Ethnic
Communities Runujel Junam (CERJ), labor unions, the University
Students Association (AEU), the Conference of Religious of
Guatemala (CONFREGUA) and the Mutual Support Group of Relatives
of the Disappeared (GAM).

* Every two weeks, two PEACENET Updates are combined to form the
Guatemala Human Rights UPDATE, which is mailed first class to
organizations and individuals requesting it.  That publication
includes all the information in the PEACENET versions--with
infrequent addenda and corrections--and a list of suggested
actions.  To subscribe to the Guatemala Human Rights Update send
$30 (yearly subscription) to GHRC/USA at: 3321 12th Street NE,
Washington DC, 20017.  Or call [phone] or fax (202) 526-
4611 for more information.

** End of text from cdp:reg.guatemala **