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 He has been replaced by Deputy Chief of Staff General Fredy Raul Ramirez Giron.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