DATE=4/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230554
TITLE=GUATEMALA/BISHOP (L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE
DATELINE=SAN JOSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: GUATEMALAN POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN
SUSPECTED OF KILLING A PROMINENT CATHOLIC BISHOP WHO WAS A
LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER. V-O-A'S CENTRAL AMERICA
CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS MORE.
TEXT: POLICE ARE HOLDING CARLOS ENRIQUE VIELMAN IN THE MURDER OF
BISHOP JUAN GERARDI, WHOSE HEAD WAS BASHED IN BY A BRICK-WIELDING
KILLER ON SUNDAY.
INTERIOR MINISTER RODOLFO MENDOZA SAYS THE 24-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT
HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY TWO WITNESSES WHO PICKED HIS PHOTOGRAPH
OUT OF POLICE ARCHIVES.
MR. VIELMAN HAS A POLICE FILE THAT INCLUDES PREVIOUS ARRESTS ON
CHARGES OF RAPE, BATTERY AND DRUNKENNESS. MR. MENDOZA SAYS THERE
IS NO RECORD OF HIM HAVING SERVED IN THE MILITARY.
MR. MENDOZA SAYS THE ARREST IS ONLY ONE STEP IN THE
INVESTIGATION. NO FORMAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED, BUT THE
SUSPECT CAN BE HELD FOR THREE MONTHS.
BISHOP GERARDI WAS KILLED JUST TWO DAYS AFTER HE ISSUED A
CATHOLIC HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT INTO ATROCITIES COMMITTED DURING
GUATEMALA'S THREE-DECADE CIVIL WAR. THE REPORT FINDS THE
MILITARY RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE KILLING IN A WAR WITH
LEFTIST GUERRILLAS THAT CLAIMED 150 THOUSAND LIVES.
THE BISHOP'S SUPPORTERS SAY THE TIMING OF THE REPORT'S RELEASE
AND HIS KILLING LEAD THEM TO SUSPECT THE MURDER WAS POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED.
THOUSANDS OF MOURNERS ATTENDED BISHOP GERARDI'S FUNERAL
WEDNESDAY, INCLUDING MANY PRIESTS AND BISHOPS FROM NORTH AND
CENTRAL AMERICA. POPE JOHN PAUL AND UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY
GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAVE CONDEMNED THE KILLING.
THE UNITED STATES HAS SENT FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AGENTS
TO GIVE GUATEMALAN POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THEIR
INVESTIGATION. (SIGNED).
NEB/MWD/ENE/PT
30-Apr-98 8:34 PM EDT (0034 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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