WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2191/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Death of Monsenor Jose Juan Gerardi
Date: 1998-07-10
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: Guatemala, homicide, human rights, judicial inquiry, peacekeeping, religion

C 13/152

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

Community powers that have been adopted by the Council. The Commission is of course still readily available
for any useful contacts and is prepared to examine any proposal enabling the various legitimate differences to be
reconciled.

It is here a matter of principle concerning the rule of law.

(1) OJ C 100, 9.4.1994.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(1999/C 13/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2191/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Death of Monsenor Jose Juan Gerardi

Is the Commission aware of the tragic death of Monsenor Gerardi, Director of the Guatemalan Archbishopric(cid:146)s
Human Rights Office in Guatemala City on 26 April this year? Will the Commission do all it can to ensure that the
death is thoroughly investigated and those responsible are brought to justice?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:237)n on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1998)

As it pointed out at the 14 May plenary in Strasbourg, the Commission was saddened to learn of the brutal murder
of Monseæor Gerardi. This tragedy has obviously been a setback to the peace process, still fragile some eighteen
months after the signing of the agreements for a firm and lasting peace. The fragility of the process is due mainly
to its slow progress, the difficult obstacles in its way and the low level of involvement of the various sections of
the population.

The Commission will do everything in its power to ensure, in line with the peace agreements, that the
shortcomings in the operation of the rule of law (especially the security forces and the judicial system) are
overcome. This would enable the government to fulfil its declared desire to identify and bring to trial those
responsible for the crime and to establish the kind of environment needed for peaceful coexistence.

In the meantime, the Commission is closely following the police and judicial investigation and the work of the
High-Level Commission (which includes the Foreign Minister, the Interior Minister, the Chief Prosecutor, the
Private Secretary to the President and the Human Rights Prosecutor). One of the main reasons for the setting-up
of the High-Level Commission was to ease communication with the international public over the crime and its
perpetrators.

(1999/C 13/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2203/98

by Hon(cid:243)rio Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Express railway for Oporto › tendering procedure

I have in my possession the Commission(cid:146)s replies to my written questions P-0591 and P-1659, for which I am
grateful. I noted that, following the meeting scheduled for 15 June 1998 with the Portuguese authorities, the
Commission was to decide whether or not to initiate the procedure under Article 169 of the Treaty. I also noted
that the project would be financed by the European Investment Board. However, the Commission cannot
disregard the fact that it will also receive significant financial assistance under the current Community Support
Framework.

Consequently, and taking into account the very real possibility that the complaint may simply be filed, would the
Commission on this occasion answer a question which I have already asked but to which I have yet to receive a
reply? Is the Commission willing to finance the additional costs of the delays (totalling over five months) which
affected the project on account of the decision to suspend the tendering procedure? What specific financial and
administrative measures is the Commission willing to provide in order to compensate for the adverse effects
stemming from the delays?