DATE=4/30/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-230554 TITLE=GUATEMALA/BISHOP (L) BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE DATELINE=SAN JOSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: GUATEMALAN POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING A PROMINENT CATHOLIC BISHOP WHO WAS A LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER. V-O-A'S CENTRAL AMERICA CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS MORE. TEXT: POLICE ARE HOLDING CARLOS ENRIQUE VIELMAN IN THE MURDER OF BISHOP JUAN GERARDI, WHOSE HEAD WAS BASHED IN BY A BRICK-WIELDING KILLER ON SUNDAY. INTERIOR MINISTER RODOLFO MENDOZA SAYS THE 24-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY TWO WITNESSES WHO PICKED HIS PHOTOGRAPH OUT OF POLICE ARCHIVES. MR. VIELMAN HAS A POLICE FILE THAT INCLUDES PREVIOUS ARRESTS ON CHARGES OF RAPE, BATTERY AND DRUNKENNESS. MR. MENDOZA SAYS THERE IS NO RECORD OF HIM HAVING SERVED IN THE MILITARY. MR. MENDOZA SAYS THE ARREST IS ONLY ONE STEP IN THE INVESTIGATION. NO FORMAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED, BUT THE SUSPECT CAN BE HELD FOR THREE MONTHS. BISHOP GERARDI WAS KILLED JUST TWO DAYS AFTER HE ISSUED A CATHOLIC HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT INTO ATROCITIES COMMITTED DURING GUATEMALA'S THREE-DECADE CIVIL WAR. THE REPORT FINDS THE MILITARY RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE KILLING IN A WAR WITH LEFTIST GUERRILLAS THAT CLAIMED 150 THOUSAND LIVES. THE BISHOP'S SUPPORTERS SAY THE TIMING OF THE REPORT'S RELEASE AND HIS KILLING LEAD THEM TO SUSPECT THE MURDER WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. THOUSANDS OF MOURNERS ATTENDED BISHOP GERARDI'S FUNERAL WEDNESDAY, INCLUDING MANY PRIESTS AND BISHOPS FROM NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA. POPE JOHN PAUL AND UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAVE CONDEMNED THE KILLING. THE UNITED STATES HAS SENT FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AGENTS TO GIVE GUATEMALAN POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THEIR INVESTIGATION. (SIGNED). NEB/MWD/ENE/PT 30-Apr-98 8:34 PM EDT (0034 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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