23-July-2002
Human Rights
The human rights situation in Guatemala has been rapidly deteriorating in Guatemala since the beginning of this year. That´s not too surprising, considering that the political party currently in control is headed by a man like Rios Montt. (see article from June 25, 2002)
As I have said before, news is difficult to come by here in Chahal, but I will share with you what I know. Keep in mind that there are certainly many more incidents which I am unaware of.
-A worker from a prominent human rights organization, The Menchu Foundation, was assasinated.
-A worker of the national Forest Institute who was investigating illegal logging was assasinated.
-A man, his two sons, and his nephew were killed by plantation guards while collecting firewood. The guards fled.
-Threats have been made against employees of the legal department of the Catholic archbishop´s office. The office works on cases involving human rights, including bringing to justice members of the military and government responsible for murders, etc.
-Threats were against the families of anthropologists unearthing mass grave sites. The evidence recovered could possibly have been used in court against members of the military. The anthropologists have fled.
-False accusations were made against a human rights worker in El Quiche, designed to force him to flee. Fortunately for him, he was in the police station reporting a stolen wallet at the time he was supposedly involved in a hit-and-run. (Sounds like the Spirit at work, to me.)
-Thousands of former PAC members (paramilitary responsible for carrying out many assasinations and threatening the population during the war. They are once again becoming active.) blocked off highways and made demands for compensation for services rendered during the war. They have been promised Q20,000 ($2,500) each. In contrast, a group of factory workers who were illegally fired after trying to form a union have been ignored, despite months of demonstrating in an attempt to get the president to take action.
-The peace accords signed in 1996 that ended the civil war are not being fulfilled by the government. People promised land have not recieved it, spending on the military has once again increased, and the military appears to be preparing for counter-insurgency.
To better understand the significance of these incidents, you must keep in mind a couple of things about Guatemala. One, is that threats are often followed by assasinations. The other, is that the legal system does not work like the one in the U.S. It would be miraculous if any of the perpetrators of the forementioned crimes were brought to justice.
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