The European Parliament,

- having regard to its many previous resolutions on human rights violations in Guatemala,

A. whereas the army and death squads are heavily involved but these crimes have not actually been punished,

B. outraged that more than 1000 murders were committed in the first six months of 1991,

C. whereas the police superintendent José Miguel Mérida Escobar, who was investigating the murder of the Guatemalan sociologist Mirna Mack Chang, was shot dead on 5 August,

D. whereas the whereabouts of the author of the crime, Noel de Jesús Betata, are unknown and other police officers who have been working with Mérida Escobar have received threats,

1. Notes that August in particular saw a new succession of killings;

2. Notes the statements by the US Senate committee on 16 August, by the International Federation of Journalists on 19 August, by the Federation of Banking and Insurance Trade Unions on 7 August, by the International Council on Indian Affairs on 13 August, by the Union of University Students on 16 August, among others, all of which make reference to death threats and attacks and roundly condemn them;

3. Insists that the President of Guatemala finally open an inquiry into the criminals concerned and bring them to justice, even if they are members of the establishment;

4. Urges the Government of Guatemala to pursue the investigation into the death of Mirna Mack Chang and the recently murdered police superintendent and, if successful, mete out exemplary punishments to those found guilty;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Government of Guatemala.