RE THE TWO MOST CELEBRATED HUMAN RIGHTS CASES AT PLAY IN GUATEMA

Created: 12/1/1994

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

THEANDVELASQUEZ CASES; THE TWO HOST CELEBRATED HUMAN RIGHTS CASES AT PLAY IN CUATEMALA TODAY. ANOTHER HUMAN RIGHTS CASE OF NOTE INVOLVES0 KILLING OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST MYRNA oMORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS CASE INCLUDE THE SUPREME COURT'S CONFIRMATION OF THE TWENTY-FIVE YEAR SENTENCE CIVEN TO THEORMER GOVERNMENT SECURITY OFFICIAL. THE COURT ALSO LEFT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OPEN AGAINST SENIOR HILITARY OFFICERS WHO ARE LARGELY VIEWED AS THE INTELLECTUAL AUTHORS OF THE MURDER.

40 THE THRUST OF CURRENT USC EFFORTS IN GUATEMALA IS TO PRESSURE BOTH ARMY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO PURSUE IN GOOD FAITH THE RESOLUTION OF PENDING HUMAN RIGHTS CASES SUCH AS DEVINE AND BAHACA. PRESIDENT (foDEAND GUATEMALAN MILITARY OFFICIALS HAVE TAKEN DELIBERATE STEPS TO EFFECT REFORM WITHIN RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS IN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE HUMAN RICHTS VIOLATIONS AND ENDACTICES SANCTIONED IN THE PAST. STATEMENT REGARDINC "CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ON BEHALF OF THE MILITARI" MOST LIKELY REFERSHE POLICY OF FORCED RECRUITMENT BY THEXTRA-JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE MILITARY-SUPPORTED CIVIL DEFENSE PATROLS (PACS). THESE TWO ISSUES HAVE BEEN THE FOCUS OF MUCH PUBLIC DEBATE. PRESENTLY, PROGRAMS OF FORCED RECRUITMENT ARE NO LONCER ACTIVE. HOWEVER, PAC ACTIVITIES HAVE YET TO BE FULLY CONTROLLED DUE TO THEIR UTILITY TO THE

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OUTLYING AREAS WHERE THERE IS VERY LITTLE OR NO MILITARY 'PRESENCE.

fSB THE THIRTY PLUS YEAR INSURGENCY CONTINUES WHEREBY BOTH GUATEMALAN NATIONAL REVOLUTIONARY UNION (URNG) INSURGENTS AND GUATEMALAN ARMY PERSONNEL SUFFER CASUALTIES ON AN ALMOST WEEKLY BASIS. ESULT. PRESSURE FROM HARDLINE ARMY PERSONNEL WHO OPPOSE URNG AND INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS AT THE ONGOING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS LEND SUPPORT TO THE ARMY LEADERSHIP'S POSITION OF NOT REVEALING POSSIBLY DAMAGING DETAILS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CASES IN QUESTION, WHICH IN TURN WOULD AID THE URNG AIH TO DISCREDIT THE ARMY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP REALIZES IT MUST CONTINUE REFORM EFFORTS, COME TO TERMS WITH THE URNG AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND MORE EFFECTIVELY TURN FOCUS TOWARDSOST-INSURGENCY GUATEMALAN ARMY. THE URNG LEADERSHIP BASED IN MEXICO HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN CONVEYING THEIR POSITION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND USINC THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUEEGOTIATIONS PLOY. AS OF LATE HOWEVER, UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS HAVE CRITICIZED THE URNG LEADERSHIP FOR REBUFFING RECENT GOOD FAITH EFFORTS ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT PEACE COMMISSION.

H IH SUM, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED BY BOTH THE GUATEMALAN SECURITY FORCES AND JRNG CROUPS. IN THE CURRENT POLITICALLY CHARGED ENVIRONMENT, THE ARMY WILL, IN ALL PROBABILITY, NEVER ALLOW FULL DISCLOSURE OF SELECTED HUMAN RICHTS CASES. IN THEIR EYES, THIS-WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO ALL OUT INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OF THE INSTITUTION AND EVENTUALLY, ITS DEMISE. STATION WELCOMES FURTHER HQS CLARIFICATION OH THESE