asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of recent reports concerning Rene Ramirez and Elian Dario Acuna who are both members of the Guatemalan Christian Democrat Party, which indicate that subsequent to their attempted arrest by police last month there are now grave fears for their safety; if he is further aware that during the first ten months of 1980 some 3,000 people were found murdered in that country after being seized and that hundreds of others are missing; and if he will outline the action he proposes to take with regard to these matters.
Written Answers. - Guatemalan Christian Democrat Party.
334.
The Deputy may be assured that I am aware of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Rene Ramirez and Elian Dario Acuna in Guatemala. Our information indicates that the two were arrested by a special unit of the Guatemala National Police at the Christian Democrat Headquarters in Guatemala City on 14 February last and have not been seen since.
The Government agree that the human rights situation in Guatemala is especially bad and that thousands have been murdered or are missing. We understand that Guatemala was discussed in restricted session at the recent Commission on Human Rights Meeting in Geneva. Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with Guatemala but even when such links do exist it is extremely difficult to obtain information on individual cases of disappeared persons. We feel that international action is urgently required to outlaw this pernicious practice of politically-motivated disappearances which is all too common in the countries of Latin America and in other places. This country will support any such action in international fora.