	Political Background

Since the 1980s, Guatemala has been consolidating its transition from a centuries-long traditionof mostly autocratic rule toward representative government. A democratic constitution was adoptedin 1985, and a democratically-elected civilian government inaugurated in 1986. Eighteen years later,democratic institutions remain fragile. Guatemala ended its 36-yearcivil war in 1996, with the signing of the Peace Accords between the government and theGuatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca, URNG),a group created in 1982 from the merger of four left-wing guerrilla groups. The accords not only ended the civil conflict, but constituted a blueprint for profound political, economic, and social change to address the conflict's root causes. Embracing 10 other agreementssigned from 1994 to 1996, the accords call for a one-third reduction in the size and budget of themilitary; major investments in health, education, and other basic services to reach the rural andindigenous poor; and the full participation of the indigenous population in local and national decisionmaking. The accords also outline a profound restructuring of stateinstitutions, especially of the military, police, and judicial system, with the goal of endinggovernment security forces' impunity from prosecution and consolidating the rule of law. Former President Alfonso Portillo, of the Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), whose four-year term just expired, took office in January 2000 following elections generally regarded asfree and fair. Oscar Berger (pronounced ber-SHAY), of the Great National Alliance (Gran Alianza Nacional, GANA), a recently formed and fractious coalition of center-right parties, was inaugurated Presidenton January 14, 2004. Rios Montt, age 77, took power through a coup and was military dictator from1982-1983, while the army carried out a counter-insurgency campaign resulting in what theGuatemalan Truth Commission has now characterized as genocide of the Mayan population. This remains the case today. The 36-year civil war generated social and economic costs. On the positive side, observers pointout that the armed conflict is definitively ended; and the state policy of human rights abuses duringthat conflict has been terminated. Histop advisor on security policy is retired General Otto Perez, who signed the Peace Accords on behalfof the army. Current Human Rights Conditions

The United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala, the OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the U.S. Department of State all have expressed concern that governmentactions have not matched its repeated pledges, and that the government of Guatemala has taken onlylimited steps to improve respect for human rights within the country. Demilitarization and the Strengthening of Civilian Power. Continued Gross Violations of Human Rights by Security Forces. U.S. assistance to Guatemala hasdeclined by over a third in the past three years, from almost $60 million in FY2002, to $38 millionrequested for FY2005. In the conference report for the FY2004 omnibus appropriations bill ( H.Rept. President Berger has made improving governanceand attacking corruption priorities. P.L. 108-199 ( H.R. agencies to set forth a written plan for the review of any relevant information they had regardingthose cases for possible release to the victims' families and directs the Attorney General to provideto the Committees on Appropriations, within 60 days of the bill's enactment, copies of the writtenplans and descriptions of the progress made in implementing them; (3) the conference agreementdoes not include the Senate section requiring the Administration to report on the status of its strategyto address the international coffee crisis, but Congress notes its concern about the report's delay andthat it expects it to be released in the near future. H.R. S.Res.
Since the 1980s, Guatemala has been consolidating its transition from a centuries-long tradition of mostly autocratic rule toward representative government. A democratic constitution was adoptedin 1985, and a democratically-elected government was inaugurated in 1986. Democratic institutionsremain fragile. A 36-year civil war ended in 1996 with the signing of the Peace Accords betweenthe government and the left-wing guerrilla movement. The accords not only ended the civil conflict,but constituted a blueprint for profound political, economic, and social change to address theconflict's root causes. They outline a profound restructuring of state institutions, with the goals ofending government security forces' impunity from prosecution, consolidating the rule of law;shifting government funding away from the military and into health, education, and other basicservices to reach the rural and indigenous poor; and the full participation of the indigenouspopulation in local and national decision making processes. From1997-2003, U.S. assistance toGuatemala focused on support of the peace process. Aid has declined from about $60 million inFY2002 to $38 million requested for FY2005. In the conference report for the FY2004 omnibusappropriations bill ( H.Rept. 108-401 ), Congress criticized the Administration's strategy of reducingstaffing and funding for Guatemala. Current conditions on aid are in P.L. 108-199 ; proposedlegislation related to Guatemala includes H.R. 1300 ; H.R. 2534 ; and S.Res. 289 .
Former Guatemala City mayor Oscar Berger of the center-right coalition Great National Alliance was elected president with 54% of the vote and inaugurated on January 14, 2004, for afour-year term. Since taking office, he has pursued corruption charges against his predecessor,Alfonso Portillo, of the Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), and other former FRG officials. Berger has also proposed military reforms including cutting troops by a third, slashing defensespending, and modernizing defense policy. His proposed economic reforms include new income taxrates and a temporary tax to fund programs related to the peace process.
Despite his decisive loss in the first round presidential elections, retired General Efrain Rios Montt remains a divisive force. Berger's top defense official, General Otto Perez, resigned in Mayto protest negotiations between Berger officials and the FRG, of which Rios Montt is still leader. Rios Montt was military dictator from 1982-1983, while the army carried out a counter-insurgencycampaign resulting in what is now characterized as genocide of the Mayan population.
Regarding respect for human rights, Guatemala has made enormous strides, but significant problems remain. The armed conflict is definitively ended, and the state policy of human rightsabuses has been ended. On the other hand, strengthening of civilian power over military forces isslow, and security forces reportedly continue to commit gross violations of human rights withimpunity. The U.N., the OAS, and the United States have all expressed concern that human rightsviolations have increased over the past several years, and that past Guatemalan governments havetaken insufficient steps to curb them or to implement the Peace Accords. This report may be updatedas events warrant.