This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 GUATEMALA 000152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM ELAB MASS EAID KPAO KJUS KDEM SNAR HURI GTREFTEL
SUBJECT:  SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
 
¶1.  Guatemala held open and transparent elections in 
November and December of 2003. There have been major 
advances in human rights since the end of the civil conflict 
and signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, and the Government 
generally respects the rights of its citizens.  Impunity for 
offenses of criminal violence was pervasive; there was a 
progress investigating official corruption; efforts to 
reform the judiciary continued.  State institutions charged 
with enforcing the rule of law remain weak.  Police 
brutality and prison conditions are concerns.  Arbitrary 
arrest and lengthy pretrial detentions were problems. 
Intimidation and corruption of judges and other law 
enforcement officials were widespread.  Threats against non- 
governmental organizations (NGOs) and human rights workers 
by unidentified persons remained approximately the same as 
the previous year. 
 
¶2.  The U.S. human rights and democracy strategy aims to 
encourage and support the Government's efforts to strengthen 
state institutions, improve rule of law and transparency in 
government, and support key human rights initiatives. 
 
¶3.  U.S. officials raised human rights concerns during 
meetings with President Oscar Berger, Vice President Eduardo 
Stein, members of Congress and other high-level officials. 
The Embassy expressed interest in key cases to authorities 
investigating human rights abuses during the year. 
Authorities were generally cooperative and in several cases 
shifted resources to investigate cases of particular 
concern.  The Ambassador frequently met with human rights 
leaders and publicly expressed U.S. support for their work 
by hosting a reception in honor of the Guatemalan human 
rights community.  The Ambassador has advocated for numerous 
human rights initiatives with the Guatemalan Government, 
including the establishment of a local UN Office of the High 
Commissioner for Human Rights; the UN Commission to 
Investigate Clandestine Groups (CICIACS) proposed by civil 
society; stronger legislation for prosecution of traffickers 
in persons; and improved labor legislation.  The Embassy has 
urged the Government to investigate threats against human 
rights defenders, journalists, and justice workers, and to 
provide protection to the victims when warranted and 
feasible.  Through the International Visitor Program, the 
Embassy has sponsored trips focused on human rights and free 
press for civil society leaders, giving them the opportunity 
to interact with parallel organizations in the U.S. and 
interchange experiences. 
 
¶4.  After three and a half years, the USAID Human Rights 
program ($4.2 million over three years) was completed in 
September 2004.  Through this project, the United States has 
supported grassroots human rights promotion, including 
training local human rights promoters, media campaigns; 
targeted support for the Office of the Human Rights 
Ombudsman (limited training and equipment); and supported 
the Human Rights Movement, a coalition of human rights NGOs. 
The program has improved awareness and demand for training 
and knowledge about human rights law and treaties, 
especially regarding the indigenous, women, and children. 
Grantees disseminated information about the civil conflict 
to over 44,000 persons.  The program and its counterparts 
influenced the creation of a National Reparations Program 
and Commission.  Rosalina Tuyuc, one program counterpart, 
was chosen by the President to lead the Commission and 
several others are members. 
 
¶5.  A key Movement leader, Frank LaRue, was appointed by 
President Berger to direct the Presidential Human Rights 
Commission in January 2004. It is encouraging that since 
1996 civil society has blossomed in Guatemala and is now a 
major contributor to the new Government's human rights 
policies. 
 
¶6.  Since 1999, the United States has provided $5.3 million 
to fund the exhumation of mass graves from the internal 
conflict, providing closure for families and religious 
burials for thousands of victims.  The project offers mental 
health services in connection with the exhumations. 
 
¶7.  The United States also funded negotiations between civil 
society and the Government to create a National Reparations 
Plan, which was established to compensate victims of the 
civil conflict.  In January 2005, the United States 
announced that it would provide $300,000 to support 
systematic advocacy and pressure for legal follow-on to 
human rights abuse cases from the civil conflict.  The 
project will also develop restorative justice processes and 
alternative dispute resolution at the local level. 
 
¶8.  In September 2004, US AID began a new program focused on 
strengthening rule of law ($8 million over 5 years), which 
builds on past justice reform efforts by improving the 
transparency and efficiency of criminal judicial processes; 
implementing crime prevention programs; increasing the use 
of alternative dispute resolutions; and developing stronger 
leadership and support for justice reform in Guatemala. 
 
¶9.  To address profound problems in the country's judicial 
system, the United States funded the expansion of a network 
of Justice Centers to improve access to justice and 
modernize the justice sector by implementing administrative 
reforms to improve judicial operations. In coordination with 
the Villa Nueva Justice Center, located in a suburb of the 
capital, the United States has funded intensive training of 
the police, especially focused on the problem of combating 
the frightening gang violence that plagues much of Central 
America.  The United States provided material support to the 
Guatemalan Public Ministry's Office of the Special 
Prosecutor for Crimes Against Human Rights Workers.  To 
support investigation of police officers implicated in crime 
or corruption, the United States provided training and 
material support to the National Civil Police's (PNC) Office 
of Professional Responsibility (ORP), their equivalent of an 
Inspector General.  The United States supported a crime 
prevention coalition (APREDEH) to open a self-help and 
training center for disadvantaged youth on the grounds of a 
former presidential retreat. 
 
¶10.  USAID also provided approximately $500,000 to the UN 
Development Program to support civilian-military relations 
by strengthening the capacity of civil institutions to 
understand and engage in dialogue on security and 
intelligence issues.  The work of a preparatory commission 
funded by the U.S. led to the installation of a civilian 
Security Advisory Council (CAS) to the President in June 
¶2004. 
 
¶11.  The U.S. Labor Department continued to sponsor a four- 
year, $6.7 million regional project to promote labor rights 
education and strengthen labor inspectorates in Central 
America. Among other activities this year, the project 
supported the creation of a website to disseminate accurate 
information about labor law.  The United States negotiated 
the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with 
Central American nations which incorporated labor rights 
protections. If ratified, the CAFTA will supersede existing 
labor condition regulations under the Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP). An inter-agency U.S. delegation conducted 
bilateral labor consultations in May; the U.S. Trade 
Representative held hearings on open GSP labor petitions in 
February 2004.  In all these exchanges, U.S. officials 
expressed concern about the need for the Government of 
Guatemala to fully investigate past violence against trade 
union leaders, reform its labor justice system and reinstate 
workers illegally fired for unionizing activities.  The 
Embassy continues to express concern to the Government over 
the potential for anti-union violence in the maquila sector, 
where union formation is almost non-existent.  In January 
2005, the United States committed to finance a labor rights 
enforcement program ($200,000 for Guatemala and El 
Salvador). 
 
¶12.  To aid in the resolution of land conflicts which have, 
at times, led to government evictions of squatters occupying 
plantations and, on one occasion, violence, the United 
States began an initiative to resolve land conflicts through 
mediation. 
 
¶13.  The United States supported the Presidential Commission 
against Racism and Discrimination Against Indigenous Groups 
and the appointment of a National Indigenous Assembly. The 
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 
participates in a donor dialogue on indigenous issues to 
prevent duplication of efforts.  The United States also 
sponsored a Digital Video Conference between indigenous 
leaders in Panama, Guatemala, and the U.S. to discuss 
obstacles currently facing these populations. 
 
¶14.  To foster more professional security forces and reduce 
human rights abuses, the Embassy and U.S. SOUTHCOM worked 
with the Defense Ministry to develop a Human Rights 
Initiative Consensus Agreement with the Army.  In December, 
civil society leaders and the Human Rights Ombudsman's 
Office (PDH) worked alongside military officers to design a 
plan to systematize the military's observation of human 
rights in civil-military relations, training and education, 
the human rights doctrine, and internal controls to prevent 
abuses.  SOUTHCOM Brigadier General Wendell Griffin attended 
the event to express support for the Guatemalan Defense 
Department's efforts on these reforms.  The United States 
assisted the Defense Department to print and disseminate 
copies of the "White Book," the new military code of 
conduct, which was praised by the United Nations 
Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA).  USAID also 
provided $600,000 to the UN Development Program to 
strengthen civilian-military relations. 
 
¶15.  Guatemala was rated a Tier II country Watch List in the 
State Department's 2004 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 
to Congress. U.S. officials briefed the Government on the 
implications of the report and urged the Government to step 
up its efforts to prevent, prosecute and punish this crime. 
In response, the Government formed an inter-agency working 
group, composed of ministries, Congress, the Attorney and 
Solicitor General's Offices and the judiciary, to better 
coordinate these efforts. The Embassy has urged the 
Government and members of Congress to stiffen sanctions 
against traffickers. To support these increased Government 
efforts, the United States announced several integrated 
programs to combat trafficking in persons (TIP), including 
material support to the Special Prosecutor for Crimes 
Against Women; material support to the Secretary for Social 
Welfare; and a USAID regional project ($1.2 million over 3 
years) to provide funds and technical support for the 
development of regional, national, and local networks to 
prevent trafficking in persons (TIP) and the protection and 
reintegration of trafficking victims. This project also 
includes support for the development and implementation of 
improved TIP legislation and a media campaign to increase 
awareness of the perils of trafficking among vulnerable 
populations. 
 
¶16.  The Department of Justice also planned to carry out 
training workshops for justice workers and the courts on 
dealing with trafficking victims. 
 
¶17.  List of Projects in Guatemala: 
 
OPR/Internal Inspection Process for the PNC (NAS)-$150,000 
 
Villa Nueva Model Precinct (NAS)- $300,000 
 
Police/Prosecutor Coordination (NAS)- $350,000 
 
AID Trafficking in Persons Regional Project - $1,370,000 
 
AID Rule of Law program (5 year budget) - $8,000,000 
 
AID FOSS (civil-military relations) - $520,605 
 
AID Human Rights (4 year budget) - $4,154,500 
 
AID Civil Society (3 year budget) - $3,211,993 
 
AID Local Governance (2.5 year budget) - $3,212,000 
 
AID DIGAP (through UNDP) - $4,076,000 
 
SOUTHCOM Human Rights Consensus Agreement - $70,000 
 
DRL Grant: Creative Solutions (FY2005) - $300,000 
 
DRL Grant: Global Fairness (FY2005, regional with Salvador) 
- $200,000 
 
HAMILTON