Joe Higgins
Ceist:75 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the fear expressed by Amnesty International for the safety of persons in Guatemala. [12004/99]
Written Answers. - Guatemalan Conflict.
The Government strongly shares the concerns expressed by Amnesty International and others, in particular for the safety of human rights workers and representatives of the Catholic church in Guatemala.
On 26 April, the EU ambassadors in Guatemala city met, at their request, with the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; the Foreign Minister was away from Guatemala city at the time. They expressed the EU's serious concern about threats and intimidation against human rights activists and representatives of the Catholic church, and particularly the lack of progress in the investigation into the murder last year of Bishop Gerardi. The Vice-Minister replied that he appreciated European solidarity and expressed the hope that ongoing investigations would soon lead to positive results.
The EU demarche attracted widespread publicity in Guatemala. We believe that it sent a clear signal of our determination to remain actively and closely engaged with the human rights situation in the country .
In line with this commitment, at the recent session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, the EU called upon the Guatemalan authorities to renew their efforts to ensure a full investigation into crimes against human rights and to bring those responsible to justice.
It must, however, be acknowledged that after decades of civil war during which there were massive human rights violations, the Guatemalan government, with the help of the international community, has made some progress since the Peace Agreement was signed on 29 December 1996. At the Geneva human rights session the EU recognised and welcomed this progress.
In the aftermath of the terrible civil war, the recent final report of the Commission for Historical Clarification in Guatemala, the Truth Commission, has made a vital contribution to the very difficult and painful work of national reconciliation. Like Amnesty International, the European Union believes that the implementation of the Truth Commission's recommendations is essential if human rights are to prevail and individual safety to be guaranteed in the future. At the United Nations, and in Guatemala city itself, the EU has been urging the Guatemalan Government to take all necessary steps to fulfil these recommendations to the fullest possible extent.
While media attention sometimes tends to focus mainly on the dangers to the lives and safety of human rights workers in Guatemala, there is also widespread crime and insecurity which affects the country generally. This too is a legacy of the turbulence and dislocation of the civil war decades. The new police force is still too small and inexperienced to cope, and the judicial system is too weak. The system requires fundamental reform. Judges need training. A culture of judicial impartiality has to be cultivated. The EU is helping with this work of fundamental importance to human rights and personal security.
The Government will continue to work for the full implementation of the Guatemalan peace agreement.