UPDATE ON VIOLENT POLITICAL PROTESTS IN GUATEMALA

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001906

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2013
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PHUM KDEM PINR PINS GT
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON VIOLENT POLITICAL PROTESTS IN GUATEMALA

REF: A. GUATEMALA 1904


B. GUATEMALA 1900

Classified By: A/PolCouns Robert E. Copley for reason 1.5 (b).


1. (U) At 2:00 PM local time on July 25, the disturbances
seem to be winding down. In a second day of protests,
pro-Rios Montt demonstrators focused their morning activities
around the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and Supreme
Electoral Tribunal buildings--all related to Rios Montt's
efforts to register his Presidential candidacy. Riot police
and combined police/military patrols were seen moving in the
area, but took no action. Four journalists were beaten by
demonstrators, who also destroyed their cameras and other
equipment.


2. (U) Rumors circulated that the demonstrators were being
relieved by fresh replacements in a synchronized fashion and
seemed to be confirmed by reliable reports that some 80
bus-loads of protesters were bound for the capital. By 12:30
PM, new rumors circulated that Rios Montt had released a tape
recording asking the demonstrators to cease action and go
home. Journalist broadcast images of protesters boarding
buses near the Constitutional court and by 1:30 PM, the area
was nearly deserted. The inbound buses have not appeared.
We continue to monitor the situation.


3. (C) A haggard Minister of Interior admitted to the
Ambassador and RSO that police had not always carried out his
orders and that the FRG's purpose was sheer intimidation.
Minister Calderon agreed that heads should roll within the
police once the immediate situation is contained. Calderon
was ambivalent at best about the President's July 24 order
for joint police/military forces to restore order, pointing
out that the Minster of Defense is outside the country and
arguing that the Chief of Staff (son of Rios Montt) was not
providing much assistance.


4. (U) Legal questions about Rios Montt's ability to campaign
may not be resolved soon. The President of the Supreme
Court, Carlos Larios Ochaita, announced in a noon press
conference that the Court was closing because of the protests
and had evacuated its personnel due to complete lack of
security. Ochaita called the response to bomb threats and
the level of police protection outside his building
"completely inadequate."
HAMILTON