DATE=4/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230306
TITLE=GUATEMALA/BISHOP (L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE
DATELINE=SAN JOSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A GUATEMALAN BISHOP WHO HAD CRITICIZED MILITARY HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES HAS BEEN ASSASSINATED. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC LEADER'S
DEATH HAS SHOCKED GUATEMALA, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT
MICHAEL DRUDGE AT THE V-O-A CENTRAL AMERICA BUREAU IN SAN JOSE,
COSTA RICA.
TEXT: BISHOP JUAN GERARDI WAS BLUDGEONED TO DEATH WITH A CEMENT
BLOCK SHORTLY AFTER HE RETURNED HOME LATE SUNDAY FROM A VISIT
WITH RELATIVES.
POLICE HAVE OFFERED NO MOTIVE FOR THE ATTACK. THE KILLER IS
UNIDENTIFIED AND REMAINS AT-LARGE.
AN OFFICIAL AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE, EDGAR
GUTIERREZ, DESCRIBED THE GRISLY SCENE.
///INSERT GUTIERREZ SPANISH ACT AND FADE UNDER///
MR. GUTIERREZ SAID THE KILLER SMASHED THE BISHOP'S FACE WITH A
CEMENT BLOCK, THEN RETURNED TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME 10 MINUTES
LATER TO MAKE SURE HE WAS DEAD.
MR. GUTIERREZ SAYS THE KILLING HAS SHOCKED THE CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY. AS HE PUT IT: THIS ASSASSINATION HAS BROUGHT BACK
THE PAST ONCE AGAIN.
THE KILLING CAME JUST TWO DAYS AFTER BISHOP GERARDI HAD ISSUED A
REPORT BLAMING THE ARMY AND PARAMILITARY GROUPS FOR MOST OF THE
150 THOUSAND KILLINGS RECORDED DURING GUATEMALA'S THREE-DECADE
CIVIL WAR WHICH ENDED IN 1996.
BISHOP GERARDI WAS THE SECOND-HIGHEST RANKING CATHOLIC OFFICIAL
IN GUATEMALA. HE HAD SERVED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN THE
GUATEMALAN HIGHLAND PROVINCES OF QUICHE AND VERAPAZ, WHERE THE
ARMY HAD FOUGHT LEFTIST GUERRILLAS AMONG THE NATIVE MAYAN
POPULATION. (SIGNED).
NEB/MWD/WDC/MMK
27-Apr-98 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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