Information on whether (1.) mail and telephone calls are censored in Guatemala and (2.) there was an investigation into corruption involving the armed forces and the customs department in April 1993, reported on 16 April on Tele Mundo, Tele Prince and Radio Progreso and in the newspapers Prensa Libre and Siglo XXI on 17 April [GTM16660.E]

1. According to a number of reports, a secret government unit that intercepted mail was discovered in March 1993 in the central post office in Guatemala City (Central America Newspak 5-18 Apr. 1993, 7; Country Reports 1993 1994, 452; Human Rights Watch 1993, 101-102). For more information consult the attached soruces. Another report claims that an investigation of the post office found undelivered mail addressed to human rights groups and for the Universtiy of San Carlos (Centroamerica Oct. 1993, 3-4). It is unclear whether this investigation was linked to the March 1993 discovery of mail interception.

2. Information on an investigation into corruption involving the armed forces and customs department publicized on the radio and in the newspapers Prensa Libre and Siglo XXI on 16 and 17 April 1993 is currently unavailable to the DIRB. However, the attached articles from Prensa Libre and Siglo XXI on 17 and 18 April 1993 regarding accusations against the armed forces may be of interest to you.

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.

References

Central America Newspak [Austin, TX]. 5-18 April 1993. Vol. 8, No. 5. "Attorney General Denounces Mail Espionage."

Centroamerica [Minneapolis]. October 1993. "Human Rights Violations."

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Printing Department.

Human Rights Watch. December 1993. Human Rights Watch World Report 1994. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Attachments

Central America Newspak [Austin, TX]. 5-18 April 1993. Vol. 8, No. 5. "Attorney General Denounces Mail Espionage," p. 7.

Centroamerica [Minneapolis]. October 1993. "Human Rights Violations," pp. 3-4.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Printing Department. p. 452.

Human Rights Watch. December 1993. Human Rights Watch World Report 1994. New York: Human Rights Watch. pp. 101-105.

Prensa Libre [Guatemala City, in Spanish]. 18 April 1993. "Defense Minister Responds to URNG Communique." (FBIS-LAT-93-075 21 Apr. 1993, p. 22).

Siglo Vientiuno [Guatemala City, in Spanish]. 17 April 1993. "Army Denies Accusation Made by Peten Church Officials." (FBIS-LAT-93-075 21 Apr. 1993, pp. 23-24)