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GUATEMALA GOVERNMENT SUFFERS CONSEQUENCES OF COMMITMENT TO COMPENSATE P.A.C.

Article Excerpt
Guatemala's fastest growing new political force, the reconstituted Patrullas de Autodefensa Civil (PACs), re- emerged recently with a splash heard around the world. PAC mobs spilled crude oil in the Peten. Global repercussions of their destructive demonstration included a setback for the government's plans to sell bonds in Europe (see NotiCen, 2002- 09-26) and an advisory issued by the US Department of State warning travelers to Guatemala of possible PAC-related alterations in their itineraries.

Members of PAC organizations sabotaged an oil pipeline in the country's northernmost and largest department in response to the government's backtracking on a commitment to pay each of them 20,000 quetzals (Q20,000), or about US$2,500, for services rendered during the 36-year civil war that officially ended in December 1996. President Alfonso Portillo was roundly castigated, both nationally and internationally, for making the commitment to pay them in the first place.

Criticisms were that the Peace Accords did not provide for it, the PACs were victimizers rather than victims, and Portillo was rewarding them for a campaign of near-terrorist acts designed to get his attention.

Opposition political parties saw...

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