[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 IN MEMORY OF BISHOP JUAN JOSE GERARDI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 1998

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep condolences to 
the people of Guatemala on the brutal murder of Bishop Juan Jose 
Gerardi on April 26th.
  Bishop Gerardi played a leading role in establishing and directing 
the Catholic church's human rights office in Guatemala. Just two days 
before his death, his office made public its report, entitled 
``Guatemala: Never More,'' which documented over 55,000 instances of 
violence and human rights violations in that country's 36-year civil 
war. His death reminds us that despite the strides Guatemala has made 
since peace accords were signed in December 1996, the process of 
building peace, reconciliation and respect for human rights remains 
fragile. For that reason, I have joined several of my colleagues in 
writing a letter to President Arzu of Guatemala expressing our 
condolences on the death of Bishop Gerardi and urging him to maintain a 
clear and strong commitment to implement the peace accords.
  Bishop Gerardi was truly a martyr to the cause of truth. The best way 
that we in the Congress can honor his memory is to pass the Human 
Rights Information Act, H.R. 2635, which would require all federal 
agencies charged with the conduct of foreign policy to declassify and 
disclose records on human rights violations in Guatemala and Honduras 
after 1944. The survivors of human rights violations in these 
countries, and the relatives of those who did not survive, have a right 
to know the truth. If we are serious about our commitment to democracy, 
peace and human rights in Central America, then we should do no less.

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