DATE=4/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230410
TITLE=GUATEMALA / BISHOP (L-ONITER)
BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE
DATELINE=SAN JOSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: GUATEMALANS ARE PAYING THEIR LAST RESPECTS TO A RENOWNED
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP WHO WAS KILLED AFTER CRITICIZING MILITARY
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE REPORTS FROM
THE V-O-A CENTRAL AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: THOUSANDS OF GRIEVING GUATEMALANS HAVE FLOCKED TO THE
CAPITAL'S METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL TO FILE PAST THE CASKET OF
BISHOP JUAN GERARDI. A FUNERAL MASS IS PLANNED FOR WEDNESDAY
MORNING (BEGINNING AT 1500 UTC -- 11AM EDT).
BISHOP GERARDI WAS KILLED LATE SUNDAY. THE KILLER SHATTERED HIS
SKULL WITH A CONCRETE BLOCK. THE KILLING CAME JUST TWO DAYS
AFTER THE BISHOP HAD ISSUED A SCATHING HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON
GUATEMALA'S 36-YEAR CIVIL WAR. THE REPORT LAID BLAME ON THE ARMY
FOR MOST OF 150 THOUSAND KILLINGS RECORDED IN THE WAR AGAINST
LEFTIST GUERRILLAS.
THE BISHOP'S MURDER HAS BEEN CONDEMNED AROUND THE WORLD BY SUCH
NOTED FIGURES AS POPE JOHN PAUL AND U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI
ANNAN.
UNDER PRESSURE TO QUICKLY SOLVE THE MURDER, GUATEMALAN INTERIOR
MINISTER RODOLFO MENDOZA IS TURNING TO THE UNITED STATES FOR
HELP. THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION COULD BE CALLED IN
TO ASSIST GUATEMALAN POLICE. MR. MENDOZA SAYS HE HOPES IT WILL
CONVINCE GUATEMALANS THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS OPEN AND
PROFESSIONAL.
BISHOP GERARDI'S COLLEAGUES AMONG HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE
WATCHING THE INVESTIGATION CLOSELY. AMONG THEM IS RIGOBERTA
MENCHU, GUATEMALA'S WINNER OF THE 1992 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
///INSERT MENCHU SPANISH ACT AND FADE UNDER///
MS. MENCHU CALLS THE BISHOP'S KILLING AN ORGANIZED POLITICAL
CRIME. SHE SAYS IF THE INTELLECTUAL AUTHORS ARE NOT FOUND, IT
WILL BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF IMPUNITY IN GUATEMALA. (SIGNED).
NEB/MWD/CB/TS
28-Apr-98 11:48 PM EDT (0348 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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