Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUATEMALA403
2007-02-27 00:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

GUATEMALA: MURDER OF FOUR POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR

Tags:  PGOV KCRM PHUM KJUS ASEC PTER SNAR GT ES 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0403 0580007
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 270007Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2017
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 4031
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000403 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM PHUM KJUS ASEC PTER SNAR GT ES
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: MURDER OF FOUR POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR
ASSASSINATION OF SALVADORAN PARLIAMENTARIANS

REF: A. GUATEMALA 375


B. GUATEMALA 348

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000403

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM PHUM KJUS ASEC PTER SNAR GT ES
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: MURDER OF FOUR POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR
ASSASSINATION OF SALVADORAN PARLIAMENTARIANS

REF: A. GUATEMALA 375


B. GUATEMALA 348


1. (SBU) Four members of the Civilian National Police (PNC)
in detention for alleged involvement in the February 19
assassination of three Salvadoran parliamentarians (reftels)
were brutally murdered in a Guatemalan prison on February 25.
According to media reports, at least two of the PNC suspects
were decapitated and all four were repeatedly shot. A prison
guard who was reportedly guarding the prisoners was also
killed.


2. (SBU) The exact sequence of events is uncertain at this
point as the media reported two versions of what happened.
One account claims that the PNC members were killed by gang
members in a prison riot. Another version, espoused by a
group of prisoners and family members, is that the prisoners
were executed by a masked team that entered into the prison
under the cover of a power outage. According to the second
version, the prisoners started rioting after they heard
gunshots and took hostages as protection from further
executions.


3. (SBU) Media reports noted that the alleged murderers were
scheduled to be interviewed by the FBI, and implied that
their murders were intended to preempt the FBI interviews.
The prison warden of El Boqueron in Cuilapa, Santa Rosa, and
four prison guards were released unharmed on February 26,
approximately ten hours after they were taken hostage.


4. (SBU) Comment: Public Ministry officials told Emboff
February 23 that one of the suspects appeared willing to
cooperate with interrogators and the fear that the alleged
murderers would talk is widely viewed as having led the
masterminds of the original murders to silence them. The
Public Ministry has dedicated substantial resources to the
getting to the bottom of these two crimes, and San
Salvador-based Legatt met with prosecutors today to assess
what support the FBI can provide.
Derham