US embassy cable - 04GUATEMALA1643

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001643 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, GT 
SUBJECT: UPCOMING TESTIMONY IN CARPIO CASE 
 
REF: GUATEMALA 01604 
 
1.  (SBU) On July 1, EconCouns discussed with former 
anti-corruption prosecutor Karen Fischer her upcoming 
testimony in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) 
hearing on the 1993 murder of Jorge Carpio Nicolle.  Carpio 
Nicolle was killed while traveling to a campaign rally 
(gearing up for his third run for President) in El Quiche on 
July 3, 1993 (reftel).  Fischer will be one of three key 
witnesses in the July 5 hearing.  She noted to EconCouns that 
she would testify that, as Carpio's private secretary, she 
received menacing telephone calls from General Jose Domingo 
Garcia (then Minister of Defense), who was demanding that 
Carpio's UNC Party vote for an amnesty for military human 
rights abuses.  Carpio's party voted against amnesty a couple 
of months before his murder.  During the meeting, Fischer was 
surprisingly quiet on the topic of the alleged attack against 
her on June 19 (reftel). 
 
2.  (U)  The Ambassador and PolOff met later in the day with 
Frank LaRue, head of the President's Commission on Human 
Rights (COPREDEH).  LaRue explained that Fischer currently 
has six, personally chosen National Civil Police (PNC) 
officers accompanying her, coordinated through the Ministry 
of Defense by COPREDEH.  LaRue will also be traveling to 
Costa Rica on July 5 for the Carpio IACHR hearing, as 
COPREDEH represents the GOG before the Court.  LaRue has been 
authorized by President Berger to take responsibility on 
behalf of the state for the lack of investigation into 
Carpio's murder.  LaRue also told the Ambassador that the 
IACHR has recently congratulated the GOG for its changed 
attitude, under Berger and LaRue's leadership, towards its 
responsibility in cases that reach the Court. 
HAMILTON