STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ON GUATEMALA BEFORE HPSCI 25 JULY

Created: 7/26/1995

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Statement by Director of Central Intelligence

on

Guatemala

Before HPSCI5 and SSCI5 (Read by Jeffrey H. Smith, General Counsel)

I have reviewed the CIA Inspector General's report on intelligence activities in Guatemala, dated IS July. ommend the Inspector General for this work. m not pleased to read criticism of any part of the Agency, butave said before, when we have done something right, we should be proud; when we have done something wrong, we must acknowledge mistakes and act promptly to correct them.

The Inspector General's investigation found no evidence that any employee of the Central Intelligence Agency was involved in the tnurder of Michael DeVine or the disappearance of Efrain Bamaca. Furthermore, the investigation found no evidence of any violation of law by any CIA employee. Reports that persons with whom the CIA had contact were involved in that murder or disappearance were found to be seriously flawed.

The investigation concluded that the CIA was performing its mission in Guatemala in accord with legitimate intelligence requirements set by US Government policy makers

BHWSE UTLSEPllli

for information concerning hunar. rights issues; the status of the insurgency; and narcotics trafficking. These Agency-activities were conducted under well-established Executive branch guidelines and congressionaliy approved programs. Xn order to acquire the needed intelligence, the Agency had Co associate with individuals in Guatemala who had direct knowledge about those issues.

When Che Agency accjuired information alleging chat persons with whom it had had contact may have been involved in Che deach of Michael DeVine, ic referred che information co Che Deparcmenc of Justice. The Agency took these actions because of Che serious nature of these allegations. We now know chac Che credibility of che allegations is questionable. That being said, when serious allegacions such as these are made, and are not on their face frivolous, the prudent course is co refer Chem to DoJ.

The Inspector General's report raises concerns about che Agency's conduce in several areasincluding Congressional NoCificacion. Ambassadorial Notification, Selection of Chiefs

Reporting Responsibility, Human Rights Reporting Analytical Functions, Directorate of operations' Records System and Accountability.

1 report to you todayill take in response to these recommendations. ish to emphasize that these are initial decisions. Final action that may go further than the Inspector General recommendations in some areas must await consultations with my CIA and State Department colleagues.ave made all of my decisions, including any disciplinary measures.illinal report to you.

I will diacuss the Inspector General's recommendations in the order in which they are presented in the report.

Congressional Notification. The Inspector General concludes that, in the past, there has been an institutional predisposition at CIA against sharing information with Congress. Let me assure youave taken and will continue to take steps to ensure chat Oversight Committees are fully and currently informed of all intelligence activities.

I will shortly issue new, detailed guidelines and will be taking other measures, along the lines recommended by the Inspector General to ensure that we keep Congress fully and currently informed. These new guidelines will build onelieve have been recent significant improvements in the notification process. lso intend to adopt the Inspector General's recemmendation that each Deputy Director and head of independent officeuarterly review to determine

whether all employees under cheic direction have reported to the Oversight Committees-

Ambassadorial Kotification. The Inspector General found chat the Chiefs of Station did not keep the Ambassadors appropriately informed.

I intend to issue new guidance concerning Che responsibilities of the Chief of Station to keep the

Ambassador informed.

will consult with Secretary

State Christopher on this matter.

Selection of Chiefs of Station. The Inspector General rccorrenends revising criteria (or the selection of chiefs of station.

I shall instruct the CIA Executive Director toew set of standards for the process of selecting Chiefs of Station and to ensure that the new policy is followed. The managers we have abroad must be fully aware of all their reporting responsibilities.

Collection and Reporting Reaponsibillty. The Inspector General found that some station reporting on information from human assets was not reliable, clear, and accurate.

Accurate reporting is fundamental co che success of che intelligence process. Regulations cannot solve this problem. Only management; accencion in day Co day operations can ensure reliability. xpecc and require no less.

Human Rights Reporting. The Inspector General recommends that the CIA develop procedure* to ensure compliance with our established standards for reporting information relating co human righcs abuses. When chese abuses are uncovered, both headquarters and scations must ensure boch that che reporting is fully assessed and appropriate action is taken.

I had previously asked the General Counsel co review our internal procedures for assessing and acting on assets who may have violated human rights or US law.

These procedures are especially necessary because che nose desirable pecencial assets frequently have serious problems

We do noc condone any accions chac may violace US criminal law. and we will continue Co report, such information to che FBI and the Department of Justice, as we did in chis case.

Analytical Punctlons. gree with che Inspector General thac Directorate of Intelligence analyses should have

inceraccion will serve to strengthen the intelligence product. As pare of che new parcnership program between che Direccorates of Operacions and Intelligence, analysts have been given improved access,o believe -here are occasions when greater access is warranted. Guatemalalear example where even greacer access would have been helpful. xpect the new Deputy Director of Operacions and the Deputy Director of Intelligence co work to remove

remaining Darriers. The Directorate of Intelligence must also continue its emphasis on improved analytic tradecraft to ensure that major conclusions are supportedtrong evidentiary base.

Do Records System. One of the most important findings in the Inspector General report is the weakness noted in the Directorate of operations records system.

r am directing the CIA Executive Director toajor investment program to modernize Directorate of Operations records keeping and to involve Counterintelligence fully In this effort.

Accountability. The Inspector General has made recommendations to me concerning accountability of specific Agency employees. ave asked the Executive Director, General Counsel and the Chief of Staff to review these recommendations and report their findings to me.

These changes will improve the CIA. The Inspector General Report does not criticize the heart of the intelligence community's mission and functions, which continue to be essential for the Nation and to reflect the dedication and skill of its employees.

Original document.

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