In a July 15 letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Lawyers Committee joined 21 other human rights, church and community groups in calling on the United States to demonstrate “unequivocal support” for human rights and human rights defenders in Guatemala.

The letter, which was released today, also called on the Secretary to apply pressure on Guatemalan leaders to comply with the military, justice and social reforms agreed in the 1996 peace accords.

After a period of improvement, human rights conditions in Guatemala have deteriorated in recent years.

Clandestine armed groups are increasingly threatening the lives of judges, prosecutors, clergy members and other human rights defenders. One flyer entitled “Catholic Priests Denigrate the Armed Institution” threatens six priests by name and attacks the trial of the killers of Bishop Juan Gerardi for “defaming the armed forces.” Leaders of Guatemala’s major human rights organizations have been the object of a rising tide of threats.

At the same time, a number of legal and administrative reforms called for in the 1996 peace agreement continue to go unfulfilled. Military budgets have risen, a key security agency involved in multiple serious human rights violations has not been dismantled, and civil society has not been asked to play a meaningful role in drafting new military doctrine.

“In this context we were surprised to learn that the United States has resumed regular military training of Guatemalan soldiers,” the letter said.

LCHR and the other human rights groups who signed the letter asked Secretary Powell to take four steps to improve human rights conditions in Guatemala.

First, the Secretary was asked to instruct John Hamilton, the incoming U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, to offer strong support for human rights and members of civil society.

Second, the letter called for the United States to “push for a prompt, effective investigation” of the clandestine groups which have threatened the lives of prominent human rights defenders, judges, prosecutors, members of the clergy and others.

Third, Secretary Powell was asked to immediately suspend all regular military training in Guatemala until military reforms in the peace accords are complied with.

Finally, the Secretary was urged to send a high level emissary to Guatemala to “deliver an unambiguous message of support for the peace accord compliance and for Guatemala’s beleaguered human rights community.”