Information on the requested subject could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

For general information on violent incidents in December 1989, please find attached two articles from the Central America Report. One summarizes some of the most prominent assassinations and attacks of 1989 (12 Jan. 1990, 6-7), while the other details insurgent activities during the month of December 1989 (19 Jan. 1990, 14). The latter document reports on a 21 December ambush in Chimaltenango that resulted in four army casualties, but does not provide additional information on the casualties.

The other two documents attached to this response provide the only references to a man named Martinez, in connection with extrajudicial executions or assassinations in 1985, that could be found among sources currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. The reports attribute responsibility for a number of 1985 killings to a Jaime Martinez, then chief of the Department of Technical Investigations (DIT) homicide division (The New Republic 30 June 1986; Painter 1989, 90). One of the reports states that Mr. Martinez was supervised by army Lieutenant Colonel Juan Mendez (The New Republic 30 June 1986). It is not clear from the reports whether Jaime is the first or middle name of Mr. Martinez. Please note that one of the reports is based on names and events as described in The New Republic article.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find attached the list of sources consulted in researching this information request.

Central America Report [Guatemala]. 19 January 1990. "Guatemala: One Month of Insurgent Activity."

. 12 January 1990. "Guatemala: 1989 Ends With Political Violence."

The New Republic [New York]. 30 June 1986. Allan Nairn and Jean-Marie Simon. "Bureaucracy of Death: Guatemala's Civilian Government Faces the Enemy Within." (NEXIS)

Painter, James. 1989. Guatemala: False Hope, False Freedom. London: Catholic Institute for International Relations.

Central America Report [Guatemala]. 19 January 1990. "Guatemala: One Month of Insurgent Activity," p. 14.

. 12 January 1990. "Guatemala: 1989 Ends With Political Violence," pp. 6-7.

The New Republic [New York]. 30 June 1986. Allan Nairn and Jean-Marie Simon. "Bureaucracy of Death: Guatemala's Civilian Government Faces the Enemy Within." (NEXIS)

Painter, James. 1989. Guatemala: False Hope, False Freedom. London: Catholic Institute for International Relations, pp. 90-91.