RIOS SOSA SUDDENLY RESIGNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 002255

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2013
TAGS: PINR PGOV MOPS GT
SUBJECT: RIOS SOSA SUDDENLY RESIGNS

Classified By: Robert E. Copley for reason 1.5 (d).


1. (U) General Enrique Rios Sosa, Army Chief of Staff and son
of Presidential Candidate Efrain Rios Montt, retired without
warning or explanation from the Guatemalan military on
Monday, September 1. He has been replaced by Deputy Chief of
Staff General Fredy Raul Ramirez Giron. Brigadier General
Ramirez is widely respected within the officer corps and,
reportedly, would have been Chief of Staff much sooner except
for the political connections of Rios Sosa. Embassy name
checks reveal no derogatory information on Ramirez.


2. (C) Several EmbOffs spoke at length with Rios Sosa during
a reception on August 28. At that time, Rios Sosa gave no
indication he was considering retirement. The lack of an
official explanation for the sudden and quiet departure has
fueled the rumor mill, with sympathizers portraying Rios
Sosa's decision as designed to distance the military from the
elections for the good of the institution. Others report
that the FRG needed to deny the opposition a chance to cry
foul if Rios Montt wins. Still others speculate that the
steady drumbeat of corruption allegations against Rios Sosa
reached the point that Rios Montt concluded his son had
become a liability and allowed his removal from office. MOD
Moran told the DATT that he had suggested to President
Portillo that he remove Rios Sosa due to Rios Sosa's alleged
involvement in the multi-million dollar military pension fund
scandal and press reports of military involvement in violent
demonstrations in support of Rios Montt on July 24-25.


3. (C) Comment: Rios Sosa's departure was welcomed by much of
the anti-government media. His role as Army Chief of Staff
during this heated electoral campaign was seen by many as
supporting his father's controversial presidential candidacy.
His departure will lower anxieties over possible military
involvement in support of the FRG. We will continue to
report on Rios Sosa's departure as more information becomes
available.
HAMILTON