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GUATEMALA: SIGNS OF A NEW SOLIDARITY AGAINST F.R.G. AND EFRAIN RIOS MONTT.

Article Excerpt
Efrain Rios Montt appeared at the headquarters of the Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) the morning of July 31 to exercise the right given him by the Corte de Constitucionalidad (CC) to stand as a candidate for the presidency of Guatemala. He was duly registered on the official roles, and subsequent legal maneuvers to reverse the TSE action were turned back. But a new organization formed in opposition to his candidacy may signal that Guatemala's breaking point on judicial outrages has been reached.

A recap of events leading up to Rios' new lease on political life is as follows:

* May 24--The Frente Republicano Guatemalteco (FRG), the ruling party of which Rios is chief, chose the ex-general as its presidential candidate in general assembly.

* May 27--Spokesman for the US State Department Richard Boucher said in Washington, "Being realistic, in light of Rios Montt's past, it would be difficult to have the kind of relationship we would prefer, normal and friendly, with Guatemala.

* May 29--The FRG sought to register its candidate with the Registro de Ciudadanos (RC) of the TSE, a legal requirement.

* June 6--The RC declined to register the general on the grounds that Article 186 of the Constitution prohibits it because Rios presided over a de facto government between 1982 and 1983. That same day, Rios filed an appeal against the TSE and began his campaign in the town of Totonicapan, 200 km west of the capital.

* June 12--The TSE denied...

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