(C/NF) ASSESSMENT OF GUATEMALAN MILITARY AND

S E C R E T STATE 101373 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2034 TAGS: PINR GT SUBJECT: (C/NF) ASSESSMENT OF GUATEMALAN MILITARY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT COLOM (C-AL9-01635) REF: GUATEMALA 000050 Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE FOLLOWING GUATEMALA'S POLITICAL SITUATION IN LIGHT OF THE HONDURAS POLITICAL CRISIS INVOLVING THE MILITARY-ASSISTED OUSTER OF PRESIDENT ZELAYA AND APPRECIATE POST'S REPORTING ON THE ISSUE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN COLOM'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY IN LIGHT OF REFTEL THAT COLOM BELIEVED HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS WERE PLOTTING A "DESTABILIZATION PLAN" THAT WOULD INVOLVE HIS OWN ASSASSINATION. AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW, WE WOULD WELCOME POST'S INSIGHT INTO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. MANY THANKS FROM WASHINGTON. --(S/NF) HOW HAS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GUATEMALAN MILITARY AND COLOM CHANGED SINCE THE OUSTER OF ZELAYA, IF AT ALL? --(S/NF) WHICH OF COLOM,S POLITICAL OPPONENTS HAVE CLOSE RELATIONS WITH THE MILITARY'S HIGH COMMAND? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-01635 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON