GUATEMALAN HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN'S WIFE ATTACKED

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000291 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019 TAGS: KCRM KJUS KDEM SOCI PHUM PGOV GT SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN'S WIFE ATTACKED REF: A. GUATEMALA 238 ¶B. GUATEMALA 222 Classified By: Ambassador Stephen McFarland for reasons 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (SBU) On March 25, Human Rights Ombudsman Sergio Morales reported to authorities that his wife, Gladys Monterroso, was abducted by unknown assailants earlier that day from a restaurant in zone 10 of Guatemala City while having lunch, and released 15 hours later in a park in zone 18 after she was beaten and raped. The kidnappers, who did not demand a ransom, called Morales to inform him of her whereabouts. Morales alerted the Vice President and the Embassy upon his wife's release. ¶2. (C) Early the following morning, March 26, Vice President Espada and the Ambassador visited the medical center where Monterroso is in stable condition to express their concern and support. Morales was grateful for the show of support and told them that President Colom had called earlier and that Minister of Government Gandara (a political opponent) had provided police support throughout the night. He asked that the Vice President and the Ambassador meet with his wife and two daughters. He told them that his wife had been beaten, burned with cigarettes, bound at the wrists, drugged, and raped, and that he was very worried about his daughters and his parents. When his wife was raped, the assailants warned her that her husband better "stop f**king around," and threatened to rape their two daughters next. ¶3. (C) Morales told the Ambassador that the Vice President has arranged for his wife to receive medical attention in the U.S., and that he would like to get his wife and two daughters out of the country as soon as possible. The Ambassador offered to facilitate expedited visas for the family. Morales thanked him for the offer and told him they already have visas. The Ambassador suggested that he contact the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). Morales agreed, and the Vice President said he would contact CICIG. The Ambassador has contacted the regional Legatt to request FBI assistance and guidance on the investigation. The Legatt will be in Guatemala on March 30 to discuss this case and ways to help the GOG combat the increasing violence. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: While the attack remains under investigation, it appears to have been an attempt to intimidate Morales who has been coordinating the Historic National Police Archive recovery project and has been active in efforts to highlight and investigate human rights violations committed during the internal conflict. On March 24, just a day before this brazen attack in Guatemala's popular upscale restaurant/hotel district, Morales held a high-profile ceremony commemorating the public opening of the Police Archives and the public release of his office's first report ("The Right to Know") on the National Police's role in the internal conflict. The event drew a crowd of approximately 800 and garnered wide press coverage. Based on evidence uncovered in the archives, two police officers (one retired and one active-duty) were arrested on March 5 and 6 for the 1984 forced disappearance of labor leader Edgar Fernando Garcia, late husband of congresswoman Nineth Montenegro (Ref A). Morales is one of the authors of an upcoming national security pact, and has been vocal in insisting upon the release of military archives relating to the internal conflict. McFarland