According to ministry representatives, evidence regarding the other charges is too unreliable to use in an appeal. And today, a caravan of hundreds of Mayan campesinos arrived in the capital to protest the poor handling of the case and the threats they say witnesses have suffered for defying Noriega. The protesters left Tuluche yesterday, and passed through Santa Cruz where thousands of well-wishers greeted them, before heading for the capital. Sales Tax Hike Threatened Guatemala City, May 31. Despite general agreement on the need to increase government tax revenue here, a measure passed May 28 by Congress has lowered income tax rates.
Critics say the measure unfairly favors the rich.
The last hike to the IVA occurred in January 1996, from seven to 10 percent. Threatened Guatemala City, May 30. Congress approved yesterday initiatives to protect two environmentally sensitive areas. The same day, however, a government environmental agency approved a road-building project that threatens existing nature reserves. The new laws create the 112,000-acre Ixil Biosphere north of Chajul in Quiche province and the Alux Range forest reserve in Guatemala province.