Guatemala human rights plea by Pope

THE POPE has made a further appeal to President Efrain Rios Montt of Guatemala to end the death sentences which are being imposed by military tribunals, it was reported in Guatemala City last week.
The information came from Bishop Prospero Penados del Barrio of the diocese of San Marcos, but no further details of the message were made available.
The tribunals were set up a year ago and have been heavily criticised by the Guatemalan hierarchy as being responsible for violations of human rights. Fifteen people are said to have been executed, and the Pope added his own voice to the calls for an end to human rights violations when he visited Guatemala as part of' his Central America tour.
His remarks acquired an added significance at that time because six of those who have been executed were shot on the evening before the Pope's arrival in Guatemala, where he was greeted personally by General Rios Montt.
On that occasion a plea for clemency sent by the Pope in advance of his arrival was rejected by General Rios Montt, who likes to he regarded as an uncompromising disciplinarian.