Guatemala: Rights Abuses Escalate as Elections Near

Since July, at least nine political activists from across the ideological spectrum have been killed, while others have suffered assassination attempts or death threats. Americas Watch is aware of no progress in any investigations into these crimes

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As Guatemala prepares for presidential elections scheduled for November 11, 1990, the nation is in the grips of the worst human rights crisis since the military turned over government to civilians in 1986. Targeted assassinations of political figures, human rights activists, journalists, students and trade unionists are on the rise as are murders of individuals apparently selected at random to sow terror. A campaign of violence against street children continues and appears increasingly to be targeting those who seek to defend them as well. The impunity of the security forces and death squads which carry out these activities remains intact, although some low-ranking members of the army and police are under arrest in connection with the killing of an American rancher and the murder of several street children and a former Covenant House worker.
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