From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Priest Arrested in Slaying of Guatemalan Human Rights Bishop
From
PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>
Date
30 Jul 1998 21:21:15
Reply-To: wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>
29-July-1998
98243
Priest Arrested in Slaying of Guatemalan
Human Rights Bishop
by Religion News Service
WASHINGTON--A priest and a church cook have been arrested in the killing of
Guatemalan Roman Catholic bishop Juan Gerardi, a human rights campaigner
whose death was widely believed to be politically motivated.
Gerardi was found dead April 26, just two days after he released the
first part of a report alleging widespread human rights abuses by the
Guatemalan army and paramilitary forces loyal to the government during the
Central American nation's 30-year civil war.
Investigating judge Isaias Figueroa Medina said the Rev. Mario Leonel
Orantes Najera and Margarita Lopez were arrested at the San Sebastian
Church where they and Gerardi worked. Orantes had discovered the body.
Gerardi's slaying created an international outcry and several human
rights activists suggested death squads might have been involved in the
killing. Earlier this month, an associate of Gerardi in the Archbishop's
Office on Human Rights, Ronalth Ochaeta, said he had told government
investigators of two military officers he believed were involved in the
slaying.
The investigating judge would not say whether the priest carried out
the murder or was an accessory or accomplice.
Members of the high-level commission overseeing the investigation
refused to comment on the new arrests.
"I cannot make any comment because there is a complete gag order,"
Interior Minister Rodolfo Mendoza told Reuters.
Catholic Church officials also refused to comment until they had more
information.
Four days after the April murder, police arrested Carlos Enrique
Vielman, a self-described drunkard, and formally charged him with the
killing.
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