NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/10352

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Guatemala: Refugee Update Jan 24
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/** reg.guatemala: 160.0 **/
** Topic: Refugee Update Jan 24 **
** Written  1:25 pm  Jan 24, 1993 by cwands in cdp:reg.guatemala **
NATIONAL COORDINATING OFFICE ON
REFUGEES AND DISPLACED OF
GUATEMALA
(NCOORD)

January 24, 1993

Dear Friends,
     The following information indicates that the first
Voluntary, Organized and Collective Return of the Guatemalan
refugees continues to have numerous obstacles and dangers while
they continue enroute to their destination in the Ixcan jungle.
We ask that you note the recomendations on page 2 and stay in
touch with us as to certain changes and urgent actions.

     Thank you again for all of your work.

Curt Wands
NCOORD

______________________________________________________________________________
National Coordinating Office On Refugees and Displaced of Guatemala (NCOORD)
59 E. Van Buren St., Suite 1400
Chicago, IL., 60605, U.S.A.
Tel: [phone]      Fax: [phone] email: PEACENET; cwands

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

THE FIRST RETURN OF THE GUATEMALAN REFUGEES
UPDATE from Mexican NGO  -  JANUARY 23, 1993

     As the caravan left Huehuetenango this morning for Guatemala
City, it left in the middle of the news breaking that the
negotiations between the Permanent Commissions and the Guatemalan
Government have broken down completely due to the announcements
by the Commissions that the Guatemalan Army had soldiers
infiltrated in the reception center at Huehuetenango and were
among the official government contingent receiving the refugees
back to Guatemala. The government has demanded that the
Commissions retract their statement, but they have refused to do
so, citing as proof two men they had detained who have admitted
being low level officials in the military garrison at
Huehuetenango: Juan Carlos Gutierrez and Luis Antonio Cruz. The
two were detained by the refugees themselves in the reception
center and were released early this morning. News reports state
that the Huehuetenango Army garrison has assumed "full
responsibility" for the actions of the soldiers.
     According to news reports in the Mexican press, there is
more evidence that the accusations of the refugees are true. The
"Grupo Internacional de Amigos del Retorno" (GRICAR), which is
made up of the embassies of Mexico, Canada, Sweden and France,
along with the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
and The World Council of Churches, confirmed that at least four
members of the Guatemalan National Commission of Aid to the
Refugees (CEAR) are officials of medium or high rank in the Army.
Among them are members of Guatemalan Intelligence (G-2) and
another of Special Services (G-5). The president of CEAR, Sergio
Molliendo, stated that, "it is totally false that there are
soldiers in the concentration camp (sic). Much less in CEAR. This
accusation bothers us a great deal." He added that under these
conditions CEAR, "will not be able to guarantee the security of
the convoy" of the returnees.
     A spokesman for the Permanent Commissions stated that, "Even
though the dialogue has been interrupted, nothing has changed. We
will continue our journey." This same spokesman stated that CEAR
conditioned its return to the negotiations if the Permanent
Commissions would retract its statements. He stated, "We are not
going to do this. The Army began this game when the Defense
Minister (General Jose Domingo Garcia Samayoa) stated that there
were various guerrillas infiltrated among the refugees. If he
retracts what HE said, maybe we will reconsider."  The
representative of the PC also said that given the attitude of
CEAR, there is concern that some kind of provocation could happen
on the rest of the journey, which other international observers
have worried about as well.
     Observers note that now that CEAR has removed itself from
the negotiations, the caravan is in a much more delicate
position, with its protection depending exclusively on the
international attention being given it, along with the presence
of the 300 or so non-governmental organizations which make up the
Forum on Accompaniment. It is thought that the first part of the
journey would be less risky, given that the caravan is passing
along the major highways of the country and will have rest stops
in medium-size towns, including, of course, Guatemala City
itself. In Guatemala City various marches and fiestas are planned
to welcome the refugees back home, and then the caravan leaves
Monday morning, the 25th for Coban, the capital of Alta Verapaz.
This is where things may become more risky in that the zones
where the refugees are returning are still in conflict between
the URNG and the Army.  Many parts of the road are totally
depopulated, and if that weren't enough, the road itself is often
unpaved and muddy, making for what Bishop Jorge Avila of the
"Instancia Mediadora" has called, "a little less than something
of a nightmare."

Recommendations: (5:00 pm Mexico City)

     1. At this writing, we know the caravan has left
Huehuetenango without incident, but that is all we know at this
point. Given the above news, however, concerning the breakdown of
ongoing dialogue between CEAR and the Permanent Commissions, it
is clearly ESSENTIAL that the international community remain on
alert throughout the rest of the return process, AND ESPECIALLY
UPON ARRIVAL IN POLIGONO 14. Given the very primitive conditions
which prevail there, it will be necessary that the international
attention which has been focused on the return process continue
as the people arrive and prepare to rebuild their communities and
their lives together in the Ixcan.

     2. In our last request for action, we sent out fax numbers
of the Guatemalan officials where concerns could be directed
given the problems encountered in Huehuetenango. Now that CEAR
has pulled out of the dialogue, the Guatemalan government should
be pressured to return to the negotiations. It should also be
pressured to remove military officials from CEAR, supposedly a
civilian organization, and cease infiltrating the caravan with
members of the G-2 and G-5 sections.  These Mexican news reports
are very disconcerting, especially given that they provide
supporting statements by the diplomatic, NGO and Church-sponsored
group "GRICAR" to what the Permanent Commissions have reported.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

SPECIAL ATTENTION      FROM THE PERMANENT COMMISSIONS

Report Number 2 / Date January 21, 1993

     At dawn this morning, the General Coordinating Team of the
Caravan met.  This includes those responsable for the buses and
the leaders of organizations of various sectors of the returnees.
The objective was to inform everyone of the situation on the
first day of the return and to plan our next actions.

     A communique was elablorated in a denouncement called "In
Less than 24 Hours of the Return, Our Rights Have Been Violated".
This contained information about incidents which occurred from
the moment we crossed the border at La Mesilla, and included the
material conditions which the returnees found if the CEAR camp.

     At 9:00am, the Permanent Commissions held a press conference
in the presence of about 30 national and international
journalists.  The communique was distributed to the press and
sent to the office in the capital, to inform them and to promote
its distribution.

     The situation was explained to the returnees also and they
were invited to be ready for any forms of pressure which was
necessary to apply.  A meeting was request from, and then held,
with the Mediating Agency and GRICAR, whose members were very
angry because of the communique.

     Mons. Avila called the Permanent Commissions "political
schemers ("politiqueros") and "not very serious".  The same
sentiment was expressed by the First Secretary of the Swedish
Embassy and member of GRICAR, Mr. Fruhling.  Mons. Avila accused
the Permanent Commission of "violating once again" the Accords.
He called them liars for saying things which were lacking in
truth, and for not using the mechanisms of the Mediating Agency
before using public denouncements.  He threatened to withdraw
because "you political schemers can't be worked with".  In
reality they used words which were very irrespectful and abusive
toward the Permanent Commissions.

     The Permanent Commissions reiterated what had been
denounced, and even invited the Mediating Agency to verify what
had been stated, beginning with the fact that there are still
serveral military tents set up.  The Permanent Commissions
requested respect and for the Mediating Agency to effecitvely
fulfill its role as a mediator and not as intervenors or
participant in the problems or differences.  This reduced the
agressiveness of the Mediating Agency's presentation, and they
accepted what was being suggested for them to do.  Anantonia
Reyes of Guatemalan Human Rights Commission formed part of this
entire position.

     Last night, 1,000 returnees had to sleep in the hallways of
the reception center of the CEAR.  Many of the civilian canvas
and plastic tents which CEAR had provided had huge holes and did
not protct against the cold and elements.  There have been many
irregularities with the food.  Sixty people had no breakfast
today, and part of the food which was distributed was rotten.
More than 200 people slept heaped on one another under a circus
tent.  There is discontent among the refugees because of this,
although the motivation is high.  The organizations of the
returnees, especially of Mama Maquin (ed.: the women's
organization) are playing an important role in the morale of the
people.  They have named teams to motivate and excite the people.
OPODEHGUA (ed.: ?) has installed an office and has begun to work
on communiques and denouncements.

     The anger of the functionaries mentioned is notable, and
CEAR has threatened to withdraw from the return process, which
would impede the support in transportation (the buses of COMAR)
and the operative presence of the UNHCR.  Mr. Marsicovetere of
the CEAR has said tha the CEAR will not accept "to forget this
and start off with a new bill".  They were especially disturbed
by the expression of the danger that the CEAR center could be
converted into a "concentration camp", if they continue to oppose
the entrance and departure of the returnees.  As to the question
in the communique about what the CEAR is doing with the fonds for
the return, Marsicovetere and Mollinedo threatened to bring the
Permanent Commissions to court, stating they are not crooks.  The
Permanent Commissions are in agreement to go to court to resolve
this problem.

     There has been a Follow-Up Commission (for the Caravan)
formed by two members of the Permanent Commissions, CEAR, the
UNHCR, the Mediating Agency and GRICAR.

     What were evidently soldiers dressed in civilian clothing,
and in the short sleeve shirts of CEAR, were distributing caps,
with the wording "Welcome" on them, to the returnees.

     Rigoberta Menchu has been coming for periods to the
reception center of the CEAR.  The children told her that they
wanted balls to play with.  She asked them, Who will you request
them from, the UNHCR or CEAR?  All of the children responded, the
UNHCR!!  Rigoberta said to them, Yes you certainly are clear.

     As a last minute report, we are informing you of the
"capture" by the returnees of two soldiers who had entered into
the reception center and were following two female returnees.
They were held by members of the Permanent Commissions and
presented to the UNHCR and the Mediating Agency.  At this moment
(8:00 pm) they are detain in the reception center by CEAR.  This
will be denounced tomorrow, after we deliver a copy of the
denouncement to the Mediating Agency.

     As of the release of the denouncement, the doors to the
reception center were opened.  They (CEAR) agreed that tonight,
groups of returnees would sleep in the LaSalle high school and
the "Centro Campesino" and return to the CEAR center tomorrow.

Permanent Commissions
8:00 pm
** End of text from cdp:reg.guatemala **