MILITARY COMMANDERS' OVERVIEW OF THE INSURGENCY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN GUATEMALA; HOPES FOR INCREASED MILITARY AID

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06923958
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2022
• Case Number: F-2019-02020
• Publication Date: October 6, 1983

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TOT: 0822242 OCT 83 CIA 706409
SEC
SPE
E T SPECAT KOFORN KOCONTRACT ORCON WNINTEL
0622242 CIA 708489
SERIAL:
PASS:
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION jEPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
REPORT CLASS 5 L C L I- -WNINILL--ACIFORN�NOCONTRACT -ORCON
EXLCUSIVE DISSEMINATION TO ADDRESSEES LISTED AT END OF REPORT
01ST:
COUNTRY:
SUBJ:
DO]:
SOURCE:
SUMMARY:
06 OCTOBER 1983
CENTRAL AMERICA/MEXICO/SOUTH KOREA
MILITARY COMMANDERS' OVERVIEW OF THE INSURGENCY AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN GUATEMALA; MOPES FOR INCREASED
MILITARY AID
LATE SEPTEMBER 1283
IN LATE SEPTEMBER 1983. THE GUATEMALAN CHIEF OF
STATE AND THE GENERAL STAFF RECEIVED A BRIEFING
BY THE MILITARY ZONE COMMAKOERS ON THE STATE OF
PROGRESS AGAINST THE INSURGENCY AND /N RURAL
DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR AREAS. SEVERAL OF THE
COMMANDERS IN THE ZONES OF CONFLICT REPORT A BELIEF
THAT THE RECENT LOWER LEVEL OF GUERRILLA ACTIVITY
INDICATES THAT THE SUBVERSIVES ARE PREPARING NEW
OFFENSIVES. AND SOME OF THE COLONELS COMPLAIN OF
SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES. CAMERAL NEJIA INFORMED THE
COMMANDERS OF PLANS TO INCREASE MILITARY AID. AND
THAT HE WILL SOON BRING THE HEADS OF THE APPROPRIATE
MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO VISIT THE
' ZONES, IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE SUPPORT FOR THE
RURAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORT. END SUMMARY.
TEXT: 1 IN LATE SEPTEMBER 1283, GUATEMALAN CHIEF OF STATE
GENERAL OSCAR HUNSERTO ((MEAlIA)) VICTORES AND HIS GENERAL
STAFF WERE BRIEFED BY THE COMMANDERS OF THE MILITARY
ZONES ON PROGRESS AGAINST THE INSURGENCY AND IN RURA! DEVELOP-
MENT. EACH COMMANDER GAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION. DUE TO THE
TIME INVOLVED IN THIS COUNTRY-WIDE OVERVIEW, THE FIRST OF ITS
KIND IN MANY MONTHS, VERY LITTLE DISCUSSION OR EVALUATION OF
THE PRESENTATIONS WAS ATTEMPTED.
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2. COLONEL VICTOR AuGusTO ((VASCUEZ)) ECHEvERRIA.
COMMANDER OF cH/MALTENANGO DEPARTMENT. SAID THAT THE LAST
ENCOUNTER WITH ARMED INSURGENTS IN HIS AREA OCCURRED ON 8 JULY,
IN WHICH EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE "FELICIANO ARGUETA" FRONT WERE
CAPTURED. HE INTERPRETS THE LACK OF ACTIVITY SINCE THEN TO
MEAN THAT THE REMAINING GUERRILLAS HAVE FLED INTO NEIGHIORING
DEPARTMENTS. PATROLS ARE BEING MAINTAINED, HOWEVER.
PARTICULARLY THOSE OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE FORCES (COF). THE
COLONEL SAID THAT THE POPULATION IS HAVING ECONOMIC DIFFI-
CULTIES, SINCE THE HARVEST IS NOT YET IN AND SEASONAL JOBS
ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. HE NOTED THAT SOME OF THE RECENTLY-
APPOINTED MINISTERS DO NOT UNOERSTAND THE FUNCTION OF THE
INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATOR, MC NEED TO RECEIVE ORIENTATION TO
IMPROVE THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. COMMENT: THE
INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATORS ARE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEES SENT
FROM THE CAPITAL TO EACH DEPARTMENT TO COORDINATE THE EFFORTS
OF THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT. WITHOUT PROPER
MINISTERIAL ENCOURAGEMENT. R3WEVER, THE REPRESENTATIVES TEND
TO STAY IN JUATEMALA CITY AND NEGLECT THEIR DUTIES.)
3. COLONEL VASQUEZ SAID THAT A LATE SEPTEMBER STUDENT
PROTEST MARCH FROM CHIMALTEKON00 (14-40N. 90-49W) TO THE CAPITAL
WAS FOMENTED BY A TEACHER WHO IS IN LEAGUE WITH THE sus-
VERSZVES. THE PURPOSE OF THE MARCH WAS TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY
OF THE GUATEMALAN LABOR (COMUNIST) PARTY (POT): AND. HAD
THE MARCHERS REACHED THE CITY. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
STUDENTS OF TWO SCHOOLS IN THE CAPITAL REA_ s E COLONEL
ADDED THAT THE TEACHER HAD BEEN FIRED. COMMENT:ND PRESS
14
REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE MARCH. WHICH PROTESTED MILITARY USE
.OF SCHOOL PROPERTY IN CHIMALTENANGO. WAS HALTED BY THE
AUTHORITIES AT SUMPANGO (14-38N, 90-44W). WHERE NEGOTIATIONS
WERE SUCCESSFUL IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE.)
4. COLONEL ROBERTO ENRIQUE ((MATA)) GALVEZ. COMMANDER
OF EL QUICHE, REPORTED THAT HIS TROOPS HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL
AGAINST THE INSURGENTS AND IN PACIFICATION THAT THE "AUGUSTO
C. SANDING" FRONT HAS. COLLAPSED. ITS MEMBERS NOW FORM THE
"19TH OF JANUARY" UNIT WITHIN THE "HO CHI MINI" FRONT. NORTH
OF NEBAJ (113-24N. 91-06W). THE COLONEL CHARACTERIZED THE 18Th
OF JANUARY UNIT. COMPOSED OF FOUR PLATOONS OF 26-28 MEN EACH.
AS CUBAN-TRAINED AND WELL-EQUIPPED. IN ADDITION TO THESE
GUERRILLA ARMY OF THE POOR (EGP) FRONTS IN EL QUICHE. THE
COMMANDER SAID THAT UNITS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE
IN ARMS (ORPA) HAVE BEEN DETECTED NEAR THE TOTONICAPAN AND
CHIMALTENM400 DEPARTMENTAL BORDERS. COLONEL MATA NOTED THE
ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT OF FIVE GUERRILLA CONotaNDERS
(UNIDENTIFIED) SURRENDERING WITHIN ONE WEEK RECENTLY. HE
ADDED THAT ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO EXPEDITE THIS BY HAVING
THE GUERRILLA COMMANDERS BROADCAST MESSAGES FROM HELICOPTERS
TO THEIR FORMER COHORTS. BUT THAT THE EFFORT HAS BEEN LIMITED
BY THE POOR PUBLIC ADDRESS EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE. THE COLONEL
SAID THAT HE HOPES TO RESETTLE LOCO REFUGEES IN THE *CUL
(16-2511, 91-09W) AREA WEST OF NEBAJ, BUT HE LACKS FMCS FOR THE
HOVE. HE CLOSED BY SAYING THAT HE HOPES TO COMPLETE THE
PACIFICATION OF EL QUICHE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.
COMMENT: COLONEL RATA IS OVERLY OPTIMISTIC ABCFTTHE PACIZFIC:.-
TION PROCESS.)
6. COLONEL HECTOR ((HERNANDEZ)) CATALAN. CONOUNDER OF
i4JEHUETENM4GO. SAID THAT HE HAS TAKEN THE INITIATIVE FROM THE
SUBVERSIVES IN HIS DEPARTMENT BY EMPLOYING HIS TROOPS IN
mOS/LE UNITS. OPERATING FROM THE FRONTIERS OF THE DEPARTMENT
TOWARD THE CENTER. THE COLONEL HAS 90.000 COP MEMBERS DEPLOYED.
AAfl TWE POINHATIFIM SEEMS FOCH LESS FEARFUL OF THE ARMY. WITH
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS PROGRESSING WELL. HERNANDEZ SAID THAT 78
SEPARATE REFUGEE CAMPS IN MEXICO ARE BEING UTILIZED BY THE
SLIVERS/YES, AND THAT THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES ARE OVERSTATING
TO THE UNITED NATIONS THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES AFC DISTRIBUTING
THE RESULTING EXCESS RATIONS TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE. THE
COLONEL ADDED THAT MEXICAN REPORTS OF GUATEMALAN MILITARY
SECRET
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INCURSIONS INTO MEXICAN TERRITORY ARE FALSE, SINCE HIS TROOPS
HAVE STRICT ORDERS NOT TO CROSS THE FRONTIER.
COMMENT: IN CONTRAST TO THE ABOVE FIGURES, MEXICO CITY EMETEL
08823, DATED 10 JUNE 1983. REPORTED THAT THERE ARE 35,000-
45.000 GUATEMALAN REFUGEES IN 27 CAMPS IN THE CHIAPAS BORDER
REGION.)
6. COLONEL RENE ANTONIO ((CARBALLO)) MORALES, COM-
MANDER OF THE PLAYA GRANDE AREA IN NORTHERN EL QUICHE. SAID
THAT HIS TROOPS HAVE DESTROYED MANY SUBVERSIVE CAMPS TO THE
SOUTH OF PLAYA GRANDE (16-58N. 9O-4414). AND SOME 4,000 INSURGENTS
AND SUPPORTERS HAVE SURRENDERED TO THE GOVERNMENT SIDE.
HOWEVER. HIS MEN HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED MANY LARGE CACHES OF
ARMS AND SUPPLIES NEAR THE BORDER AND HAVE INFORMATION
INDICATING THAT 24 SIX-MAN INSURGENT SQUADS HAVE BEEN DETAILED
TO PROTECT OTHER, UNLOCATED STORES. THE COLONEL NOTED THAT
MANY OF THE CACHES CONTAIN POWDERED MILK AND COOKING OIL FROM
THE REFUGEE CAMPS IN MEXICO. HE OPINED THAT THE EXISTENCE OF
THE LARGE CACHES INDICATES THAT THE SUBVERSIVES ARE PREPARING
FOR A NEW OFFENSIVE. IN CLOSING, CARBALLO POINTED OUT THAT
HIS AREA HAS AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND AGRICULTURAL
MACHINERY,
7. COLONEL ALVARO ((BARAHONA)) ESCOBAR. COMMANDER OF
SOLOLA. SAID THAT HIS REGION HAS HAD MINIMAL ENEMY ACTIVITY
IN RECENT MONTHS. HIS TROOPS SECURE STRATEGIC POINTS SUCH
.AS LOS ENCUENTROS (14-37N. 91-02W). PANAJACHEL (14-44N. 91-09W),
GODINEZ (14-42N. 91-08W). AND SAN LUCAS TOLIMAN (14-38N. 91-08W).
AND MOST PATROLING IS CONDUCTED AS TRAINING EXERCISES FOR THE
B. COLONEL JOSE LUIS ((DIAZ)) MUNOZ. COMMANDER OF
CUEZALTENANGO, SAID THAT THE ORPA HAS REIMERS IN 90 PERCENT
OF HIS DEPARTMENT, AND THAT HIS SOLDIERS HAVE DISCOVERED
CACHES AN) TRAINING CAMPS. ALTHOUGH THE INSURGENTS APPEAR TO
BE IN A QUIET PERIOD. A RECENTLY CAPTURED PRISONER WHO HAD
TWO YEARS OF GUERRILLA EXPERIENCE SAID THAT AN OFFENSIVE IS
PLANNED FOR OCTOBER. THE COLONEL ADDED THAT PRESSURE FROM
HIS OPERATIONS HAS FORCED THE ORPA TO MOVE ITS MAIN LOGISTICS
ROUTE (FROM mFxrcn) SOUTH FROM THE HIGHLAND ROAD TO THE
COASTAL HIGHWAY (CA-2).
9. COLONEL LUIS ALFONSO ((REBULI)) CAPELLI. COMMANDER
or SAN MARCOS. nnnnn IHAI THE ORPA HAS SIX FRONTS OPERATING
IN HIS DEPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY HAS BEEN
LOW THROUGH AUGUST. HE CONFIRMED THAT FRONT FOUR HAS MOVED
THE MAIN LOGISTICS ROUTE SOUTH TO THE COASTAL ROUTE AND
NOTED THAT THE TEN ORPA COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE SAN MARCOS
(14-58N. 91-48W) AREA ARE BECOMING DESPERATE ENOUGH TO EXPEL
CAMPESINOS FROM THEIR HOUSES AND LAND, IN ORDER TO STEAL THEIR
SUPPLIES. IN A RECENT ACTION AGAINST FRONT FIVE, HIS TROOPS
REGAINED CONTROL OF TWO FARMS. KILLING FOUR AND CAPTURING 23
OF THE FRONT'S 106 MEWDERS. NEBULI STATED THAT HE HAS 33
OFFICER SLOTS VACANT COMMENT: APPROXIMATELY HALF OF
*US STAFF) AND IS OPERATING WITH ONLY HALF OF HIS APPROVED
(BUT NOT DELIVERED) WEAPONS.. 30 PERCENT OF HIS VEHICLES, AND
TEN PERCENT OF HIS INSTALLATIONS.
10. COLONEL CARLOS IGNACIO ((GONZALEZ)) PALACIOS.
COMMANDER OF RETALHULEU. SAID THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAS VERY
LITTLE INSURGENT ACTIVITY NOW. AND THAT THE GUERRILLA FOCUS
APPEARS TO BE. AT LEAST TEMPORARILY, ON INDOCTRINATION. THE
COLONEL REPORTED 17,800 COF MERGERS DEPLOYED; AND THAT ORPA
CAMPS HAVE BEEN DETECTED NEAR OCOSITO (14-35N. 91-40W). PURULHA.
(16-18N, 90-12W). AND SAN MARTIN CHIOUITO (14-49N. 92-40W). HE
MENTIONED CORRUPTION PROBLEMS WITHIN THE NATIONAL POLICE IN
HIS AREA AND DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS AMONG THE TEACHERS ASSIGNED
THERE. THE COOMADER CLOSED BY POINTING OUT THAT THE ECONOMIC
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SITUATION IN RETALHULEU IS NOT IMPROVING, PRIMARILY BECAUSE
THE BANKS ARE REFUSING TO LEND TO THE FARMERS.
II. COLONEL OSCAR GILBERTO ((HERNANDEZ)) MENOEZ.
COMMANDER OF MAZATENANGO. REPORTED SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY IN
ZONES BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE AREA'S MAIN HIGHWAY (CA-2).
BUT THAT HIS TROOPS AND THE COF ARE EXERCISING EFFECTIVE
CONTROL. OPERATIONS AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN CARRIED
OUT RECENTLY NEAR PATULUL (14-25N. 91-10W) AND SOUTH OF SAN
LUCAS TOLIMAN, AND ONE OF HIS LIEUTENANTS WAS KILLED IN AN
AMBUSH. THE POLICE CHIEF IN SAN ANTONIO SUCHITEPEOuEZ
(14-32N, 91-25W) WAS KILLED RECENTLY BY TERRORISTS; AND cRPA
COMANDANTE 'TANYA" WAS WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK, BUT MANAGED
TO ESCAPE.
12. NAVAL CAPTAIN JUAN AURIANO ((GIRON)) PELAEZ.
COMMANDER OF THE SIPACATE AREA (13-66N. 91-09W). SAID THAT BOTH
MEXICAN AND SALVADORAN BOATS COME INTO GUATEMALAN WATERS TO
FISH ILLEGALLY AND TO STEAL THE CATCH OF LOCAL FISHERMEN.
HIS PATROLING IS HAMPERED. HOWEVER, BY A SHORTAGE OF FUEL.
THE CAPTAIN ALSO REPORTED INSURGENT PLANS TO BURN THE COTTON
CROP THIS YEAR, By INFILTRATING SUBVERSIVES WITH THE MIGRANT
WORKERS WHO COME FROM THE HI(PILANDS FOR THE HARVEST.
COMMENT: SIMILAR EFFORTS IN THE PAST HAVE UTILIZED SIMPLE-
-
DELAy6D-AultuN INCENDIARIES CONSTRUCTED FROM CANDLES AND
PLASTIC JARS FILLED WITH GASOLINE AND PLACED IN THE FIELDS
AT NIGHT. THE PERPETRATOR IS FAR FROM THE SCENE WHEN THE FIRE
BEGINS ANC CORRESPONDINGLY DIFFICULT TO CATCH.)
13. COLONEL ALFREDO ((GARCIA)) GOMEZ OF THE AIRBORNE
BASE AT SAN JOSE (14-04N, 89-68W) REPORTED HIS AREA QUIET AND
MOST OF THE POPULATION TO BE ANTI-COMMUNIST. HE ADDED.
HOWEVER, THAT UNEMPLOYMENT AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT WORKING CONDI-
IONS AT THE MARITIME FACILITY IN SAN JOSE COULD FUEL UNREST,
HOWEVER.
14. COLONEL DOMINGO SALVADOR ((TOBIAS)) SOLIS OF SANTA
ROSA SAID THAT HE HAS .JUST COMPLETED A FOUR-MONTH REORGANIZATION
OF HIS REGION. INFORMANTS REPORT THAT THE "HJMBERTO ALVARADO"
SUBVERSIVE FRONT IS IN THE SANTA ROSA AREA, AND THAT EGP
COMMANDER "IXBEL." AKA "RENE," HAS 32 GUERRILLAS TO THE SOUTH
OF THE TECUAMBURRO VOLCANO (14-C6N, 90-24W). TWO ARMED INSURGENT
LIEUTENANTS WERE CAPTURED BY THE COLONEL'S FORCES RECENTLY.
ALTHOUGH NO ARMED CONFRONTATIONS HAVE OCCURRED VW THE AREA.
THERE ARE UNCONFIRMED RUMORS OF ARMS ARRIVING FROM EL SALVADOR
VIA THE CHIOUIMULILLA CANAL (13-58N, 90-30W).
IS. COLONEL JOSE BENEDICT� ((ORTEGA)) GOMEZ OF JUTIAPA
SAID THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAS MANY SALVADORANS comma IN, BOTH
LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY; AND THAT WITHOUT EMPLOYMENT. THESE
WOULD BE RIPE FOR SUBVERSIVE INFLUENCE.
16. COLONEL LEONEL ((SIERRA)) DE LA CRUZ, COMMANDER OF
JALAPA. SAID THAT THERE IS NO INSURGENT ACTIVITY IN HIS AREA.
WHERE AT LEAST 80 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE ARE ANTI-COMMUNIST.
17. COLONEL LUIS ALBERTO ((PAREDES)) NAJERA OF
CHIOUIMULA SAID THAT HE HAS 12 CDR COMPANIES IN HIS REGION,
WHERE AN INSURGENT ARMS SUPPLY ROUTE EXISTS FROM SANTA ROSA
DE COPAN IN HONDURAS. HE ADDED THAT THE EON IS DEVELOPING
STRENGTH IN THE "XOLTI TRIANGLE," THE AREA OF JOCOTAN
(14-42N, 89-23W), CAMOTAN (14-48N. 29-2214). AM) SAN JUAN ERMITA
(14-46N. as-26W).
18. COLONEL JULIO CESAR ((AVILA)) GIRON. COMMANDER OF
ZACAPA, REPORTED THAT A GROUP OF LEFTIST RECRUITS RECENTLY
SURRENDERED TO THE GOVERNMENT AT CABANAS (14-56N. 89-48W).
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19. NAVAL CAPTAIN FRANCISCO ((TORRES)) CHEWEN.
CCANANDER OF IZABAL. SAID THAT GUERRILLA FRONTS EXIST THROuGH-
OUT HIS DEPARTMENT: AND THAT 337 REFUGEES. ALL MALNOURISHED
WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ARE IN HIS CARE. WITH INSUFFICIENT
RESOURCES TO SUPPuRT THEM.
20. COLONEL LUIS ROBERTO ((TOBAR)) MARTINEZ. COMMANDER
OF THE PETEN. REPORTED THAT THE REBEL ARMED FORCES (FAR) HAVE
THREE FRONTS /N HIS AREA, "LUIcIn RAmIREZ," 'RAUL ORANTES."
AND "FELICIANO ARGUETA ROJAS." A UNIT KNOWN AS THE
"RETALTECOS" OPERATES NEAR THE USUMACINTA RIVER (16-45N. 90-45W)
TO INFILTRATE SUPPLIES FROM MEXICO. ONE GUERRILLA COMmANDER,
"ANDROCLES." HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE PETEN FOR PERHAPS
TWENTY YEARS. THE INSURGENTS HAVE BEGUN USING CONVENTIONAL
LAND MINES AGAINST TRUCKS. RATHER THAN THEIR TRADITIONALLY
EMPLOYED CLAYMORES.
21. LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOSE VIDAL ((CAMPOS)) BONILLA, COMMANOER
OF THE BASE AT SANTA ELENA (18-58N. 89-54W). SAID THAT HE NO
LONGER SENDS GROUND REINFORCEMENTS WHEN UNITS ARE AMBUSHED,
SINCE ANOTHER AMBUSH IS ALWAYS WAITING FOR THE RESCUERS;
SUPPORT FOR AMBUSHED FORCES IS MN RESTRICTED TO AIR REACTION.
THE COLONEL NOTED THAT THE FAR'S "FELICIANO ARGUETA ROJAS"
FRONT S OGVUTING ITSELP ID ATTACKING COmMERCIAL (TRUCK)
TRAFFIC BETWEEN BELIZE AND FLORES (18-88N, 89-53W) AND TO THE
SOUTH. RECENTLY CAPTURED DOCUMENTS INDICATE THAT THE
INSURGENTS PLANNED OBJECTIVES FOR ATTACK ARE: EL NARANJO
(18-52N, 89-20W), EL SUBIN (18-40N, 90-15W). PIPILES (NOT LOCATED).
SAYAXCHE (18-31N. so-low). AND THE SANTA ELENA AIRBASE.
22. COLONEL OTTO ERICK ((PONCE)) MORALES, COMMANDER OF
ALTA VERAPAZ. REPORTED THAT HIS AREA INCLUDES THE "MARCO
ANTONIO YON SOU" FRONT, AND ANOTHER, SMALLER FRONT MADE UP
OF DISSIDENTS FROM OTHER GROUPS, WHICH OPERATES NEAR PANZOS
(15-24N, 89-40W). INSURGENT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE HYDROELECTRIC
PROJECT AT CHIXOY (15-23N. 90-35W), THE MUNITIONS FACTORY AT
coaAN (15-29N, 90-19W). AND THE POLOCHIC VALLEY (15-20N. 89-45W).
TME COLONEL NOTED THAT THE ELECTRIC COMPANY TINGE) RECENTLY
DISPATCHED 800 MEN TO GUARD THE CHIXOY PROJECT. AND OBSERVED
THAT THIS WAS A SMALL COMMITMENT FOR FACILITIES WHICH HAD
COST GUATEMALA MORE THAN U.S.S900 MILLION.
23. COLONEL ERICK LEONEL ((MENDIZABAL)) VALDEZ,
COMMANDER OF BAJA VERAPAZ, SAID THAT HIS AREA INCLUDES THE
SOP "TEODORO SICAL" FRONT. WHICH IS DIVIDED INTO ZONES
"ETHIOPIA" AND "ZIMBABWE," AND FURTHER SUBDIVIDED IN SECTORS
"VERDE," "BUNCO," "TIKAL," AND "MAYA." THIS ELABORATE
STRUCTURE APPEARS INACTIVE, HGWEVER. AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO
RECENT CLASHES WITH HIS TROOPS. FOR THIS REASON THE COLONEL
SPECULATES THAT THE FRONT MAY BE DEVOTED TO HIDING PERSONS
KIDNAPPED IN OTHER AREAS Of THE COUNTRY. THE ONLY OTHER
DETECTED ACTIVITIES ARE THOSE OF SOP LOGISTICS PERSONNEL
OPERATING AT GRANADOS (14-55N, 90-31W), EL CHDL (14-58N. 90-28W),
AND RABINAL (15-06N, 90-27W).
24. GENERAL MEJIA CLOSED THE SESSION BY COMMENTING THAT
INCREASES IN TERRORIST ACTIVITY AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE AN
INSURGENT TACTIC TO DISTRACT THE SECURITY FORCES PROM THEIR
RECENT SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS AND TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON
THE GUERRILLAS. THE GENERAL SAID THAT HE WOULD MEET ON
OCTOBER WITH THE MINISTERS OF DEFENSE OF HMIKUiRA5.
EL SALVADOR. AN) COSTA RICA, AND THE U.S. SOUTHERN COMMANDER,
TO DISCUSS THE REACTIVATION OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN DEFENSE
COUNCIL (CONDECA). MEJIA SAID HE HOPED THAT A NEW CONDECA
WOULD ENABLE THE UNITED STATES TO RESUME MILITARY AID TO
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GUATEMALA. HE ADDED THAT A SHIP WOULD ARRIVE &N OCTOBER FROM
SOUTH KOREA. BRINGING 400 M-79 GRENADE LAUNCHERS gITH
MUNITIONS TO IMPROVE THE ARMED FORCES' FIREPOWER.
COMMENT: THESE ARE CLEARLY THE GRENADE LAUNCHERS AL
MEJIA DESCRIBED IN AN EARLIER SESSION AS BEING PURCHASFD
FROM SINGAPORE. APPARENTLY THE GENERAL WAS THEN IN ERROR. AND
THE SUPPLIER TS ACTUALLY SOUTH KOREA.) MEJIA SAID THAT HE
WOULD SOON BEGIN BRINGING THE APPROPRIATE MINISTERS AND AGENCY
CHIEFS ON HIS VISITS TO THE =WANDERS. SO THAT THEY COULD SEE
THE SITUATION FIRSTHAND AND PERHAPS IMPROVE THEIR SUPPORT TO
THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
WASHINGTON DISSEM:
WARNING: REPORT CLASSSECRET-- WAFAING NOTICE -
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED -- NOT RELEASABLE
TO FOREIGN NATIONALS -- NOT RELEASABLE TO CCNTRACTORS/
CONSULTANTS -- DISSEMINATION AND EXTRACTION OF INFORMATION
CONTROLLED BY ORIGINATOR.
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AN) CONTROLS OF OVERALL
DOCUMENT.
ORIG/REL:
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