INCREASED POLICE PROTECTION FOR ANTHROPOLOGISTS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001698

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2013
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS GT
SUBJECT: INCREASED POLICE PROTECTION FOR ANTHROPOLOGISTS,
ENVIRONMENTALISTS

REF: GUATEMALA 1548

Classified By: POLOFF Robert E. Copley for reasons 1.5 (b).


1. (C) Summary: In response to increased threats targeting
forensic anthropologists conducting exhumations, Ambassador
Hamilton met with Minister of Interior Reyes Calderon on June
27 to press for an enhanced GOG response. Reyes Calderon
said he had already given orders in the case of the
anthropologists working in the Rabinal area after
election-related violence there (reftel) and volunteered that
he had detailed protection to CONAP, Guatemala's
environmental protection agency, after police officers were
caught in the Peten stealing tropical hardwoods. Until the
GOG aggressively pursues those making the threats, however,
there will always be more individuals threatened than there
is protection available for them. End Summary.


2. (C) In a June 27 meeting, the Ambassador informed Minister
of Interior Jose Reyes Calderon of the increasing threats
against forensic anthropologists conducting exhumations in
Rabinal, Baja Verapaz. The Ambassador told Reyes Calderon
about a recent threat against Fredy Peccerelli, head of the
anthropologist team, which was communicated to the boyfriend
of Peccerelli's sister and pointed out that although
Peccerelli and his immediate family have protection, the
boyfriend did not and would be the next to "suffer" if the
exhumations continue. Reyes Calderon assured the Ambassador
that his Ministry took these threats very seriously, but said
the Ministry could not provide round-the-clock protection to
everyone related to anyone involved in the exhumations. He
added that due to increased tensions in Rabinal, he had
already given orders to find additional resources to devote
to protecting the anthropologists.


3. (C) Reyes Calderon also told the Ambassador that in
response to concerns from CONAP, he had ordered protection
for the CONAP warehouse in the Peten where evidence against
two police officers was being stored after they were arrested
transporting stolen tropical hardwood in a police vehicle.
Reyes Calderon said he had spoken with CONAP Director, a
personal friend, and concluded that the safety of the
evidence and the CONAP personnel in Peten were at risk.


4. (C) Comment: Reyes Calderon admitted that criminal
elements who are determined to intimidate those who stand in
their way can easily identify victims that fall outside the
limited ability of the police to provide protection.
Although he has been responsive in directing police
protection toward threats we identify, Reyes Calderon has
been less successful in investigating those who make the
threats. These new cases illustrate the need for CICIACS or
a similar outside investigative entity that can do more than
redirect protective resources which are spread increasingly
thin.
LINDWALL