Out Guatemala City, May 28. After suffering eight years of constant military harassment, representatives from three communities in the Ixcan region of Quiche province, are demanding the demilitarization of their villages to end the intimidation and violence that plague their lives. According to residents of the three communities, the army's constant bombardment devastates their crops. They say the army has also cleared the area of trees, citing counterinsurgency measures against the URNG as a pretext. But residents believe the military is logging the trees for their own benefit.
Cari villagers say they are a civilian community who only want to live in peace.
Guatemala Rejects Helms-Burton Guatemala City, June 5. Guatemala is among the Latin American countries that have strongly criticized the U.S. Helms-Burton Law, which punishes countries and businesses that trade with Cuba. President Alvaro Arzu said May 30 that the law interferes with national sovereignty and self-determination. A Guatemalan interests office in Cuba would be housed in the Swiss embassy in Havana, while a Cuban interests office would be located in the Brazilian embassy here. Former Guatemalan Foreign Minister Guillermo Toriello said the Helms-Burton Law is unacceptable to dignified nations.