[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 87 (Friday, July 1, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  PROGRESS TOWARDS PEACE IN GUATEMALA

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, for over 40 years the cold war cast its 
shadow over Central America. In Guatemala, government forces and the 
Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity [URNG] have been engaged in a 
bloody conflict dating to the early 1960's. It is the longest civil 
conflict in the Western Hemisphere.
  During this period, tens of thousands of people have been killed, 
tortured and disappeared. The majority were civilians. Many were Mayan 
Indians, who were caught in the middle of a war in which they were 
victimized by both sides.
  In recent years, attempts have been made to bring this tragic 
conflict to an end. Negotiations between the parties have been 
sporadic, but until this year there was little progress.
  On March 29 in Olso, Norway, in a dramatic breakthrough, a Human 
Rights accord was agreed to by the Guatemalans to prevent future 
violations of human rights. Then on June 17, the parties signed an 
accord to deal with the return of refugees and other displaced persons 
who had lost or left their homes during the struggle. Following that, 
another accord was signed on June 23, establishing a commission to 
address the human rights abuses.
  This is a historic achievement of all the Guatemalan people, and a 
positive sign for future United States relations with Guatemala. United 
Nations mediator Jean Arnault deserves great credit for his pivotal 
role in assisting the parties to reach these agreements. His fairness 
and skill were recognized by both parties who selected him to be the 
sole international member of the human rights commission, with two 
other people he will select with the approval of the parties.
  The United States is also involved in supporting the process as a 
member of the group of countries that are friends of the peace process 
in Guatemala. Along with representatives from Colombia, Mexico, Spain, 
Norway, and Venezuela, the administration assisted in reaching 
agreement by meeting with the parties between negotiating sessions to 
review the issue and to help search for common ground.
  This agreement should encourage those who seek a peaceful resolution 
of the conflict in neighboring Chiapas, Mexico, as well as reason to 
hope that progress towards lasting peace in El Salvador and Nicaragua 
will continue.
  I also want to congratulate Guatemalan President De Leon Carpio, who 
has achieved that none of his predecessors were able to do. The leaders 
of the URNG also deserve praise. I urge both parties to finalize these 
accords before the year's end.
  I also want to emphasize that we must not forget the thousands of 
people who died in this conflict and those who were forced to flee 
their homes. There are 40,000 refugees of Mayan descent living in 
squalid camps in the south of Mexico. Every effort must be made to 
enable these people to return to their homes without fear, as soon as 
possible. I will be among those who will be closely watching how the 
peace accords are implemented.
  The talks are scheduled to resume in the near future. The agenda is 
ambitious. The series of topics to be covered will include various 
socioeconomic issues and the status of the agricultural sector, 
strengthening of civilian government and the Army's role in a 
democratic society, and the integration of the URNG into the country's 
political life. The goal is to deal with these issues by the end of the 
year, as well as negotiate a ceasefire and plans for demobilization of 
combatants.
  Mr. President, I again want to congratulate the parties and all those 
involved in these very encouraging developments towards peace in 
Guatemala.

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