As a result of widespread public pressure, the Clinton Administration ordered the Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB) to investigate the involvement of U.S. intelligence agencies or their "assets" in human rights abuses against U.S. citizens in Guatemala after 1984. In its report released on June 28, the IOB reached conclusions both on specific cases and on general U.S. intelligence operations in Guatemala.

I: The lOB's long-awaited report on the ClA's culpability in Guatemala confirmed that:

*Several CIA assets were credibly alleged to have ordered, planned or participated in serious human rights violations such as assassinations, extra judicial execution, torture, or kidnapping while they were assets -- and that the ClA's Directorate of Operations (DO) headquarters was aware at the time of the allegations." (p.3)

~ The School of the Americas used instructional materials to train Latin American officers, including Guatemalans, from 1982-1991, that appeared to condone practices such as executions of guerrillas, extortion, physical abuse, coercion, and false imprisonment.

~ The ClA's reports to Congress "did not include information in the possession of the CIA concerning significant allegations of human rights abuses by the D-2 and Archivos [Guatemalan military intelligence organizations]. This omission . . . painted an incomplete picture of the Guatemalan security forces." (p.31 )

II: Observations and Conclusions regarding the IOB Report

While we commend the IOB for openly revealing information regarding U.S. complicity in violations of human rights, we are angered because its findings indicate that our elected officials did not object to the ClA's practices. Furthermore, we reject the lOB's acceptance of the intelligence relationship between the U.S. and the Guatemalan army serving the interests of the United States.

We believe this cooperation undermines Guatemala's weak civilian institutions, making counter-narcotics efforts more difficult and increasing the danger to U.S. citizens living and working in Guatemala. Although the IOB states that secret funding was legitimate in the fight against communism, we believe that support for the repressive military reduces the likelihood that the Guatemalan government would address the fundamentally indigenous causes of the war.

The essence of democracy is government by the people, for the people. The IOB report demonstrates that the CIA operates its own foreign policy outside the watchful eye of Congress. This practice is not government by the people!

The report proves that the U.S. government employed torturers and murderers as CIA "assets." Furthermore, the CIA remains shrouded in a veil of secrecy and is not sufficiently accountable to the people's representatives. These practices are not government for the people! Human beings everywhere have a right to know if and when the U.S. government is involved in violations of their human rights. Only the TRUTH can allow the victims to heal. Only the TRUTH can create an atmosphere in which democracy can thrive!

III: Our Recommendations to the President and Congress:

We call on the Clinton Administration to CLEAN UP THE CIA and break the silence that continues to terrorize victims of human rights abuse long after the initial attacks. Specifically, we demand that:

1) President Clinton should declassify all documents related to human rights abuse against all people in Guatemala since 1954. Some of the most horrific violations occurred before 1984 and were therefore outside the lOB's mandate. Sister Dianna Ortiz, as well as many other Americans and Guatemalan citizens, have a right to know the truth about their torturers. Jennifer Harbury and the numerous other relatives of the victims must receive information about the disappearance of their loved ones.

2) Congress should pass and the President should sign legislation prohibiting the payment of US tax dollars for information known to be extracted through the use of torture. secret imprisonment. and murder. Payments to known human rights violators should also be prohibited. Our tax dollars must not pay for murder and torture!

3) Congress should require intelligence agencies to report accurately and completely the human rights situation in any country. The President and members of Congress elected to represent the people must not close their eyes to a secretive and deceptive CIA!

4) The President should order the State Department to investigate immediately cases of human rights abuses against U.S. citizens. All U.S. agencies must be required to release any and all information regarding such abuses. The U.S. government must not protect torturers and murderers at the expense of American citizens and other innocent civilians!

5) The President should close the School of the Americas, which has trained hundreds of Latin American soldiers in "executions, extortion, physical abuse, coercion, and false imprisonment." (p.31)

IV: Public Pressure Makes a Difference.

The CIA has already issued guidance for dealing with "assets" who violate human rights "largely as a result of the inquiries related to Guatemala" (p.4). Our protests have been successful, but we must continue to demand a transparent intelligence-gathering process. Suggestions for public action:

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