Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AU ASEC AE AF AORC AEMR AMGT ABUD AFFAIRS APER AS AMED AY AG AR AJ AL AID AM AODE ABLD AMG AFIN ATRN AGAO AFU AN AA ALOW APECO ADM ARF ASEAN APEC AMBASSADOR AO ASUP AZ AADP ACOA ANET AMCHAMS ACABQ ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG APCS AGMT AINF AIT AORL ACS AFSI AFSN ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN ADANA ADPM AX ADCO AECL AMEX ACAO ASCH AORG AGR AROC ASIG AND ARM AQ ATFN AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE
BL BR BO BA BD BM BK BG BU BB BH BTIO BY BEXP BP BE BRUSSELS BF BIDEN BT BX BC BILAT BN BBSR BTIU BWC BMGT
CA CASC CVIS CM CH CO CU CD CWC CI CS CY CMGT CF CG CR CB CV CW CE CBW CT CPAS COUNTERTERRORISM CJAN CODEL CIDA CDG CDC CIA CTR CNARC CSW CN CONS CLINTON COE CROS CARICOM CONDOLEEZZA COUNTER CL COM CICTE CIS CFED COUNTRY CJUS CBSA CEUDA CLMT CAC COPUOS CIC CBE CHR CTM CVR CITEL CLEARANCE CACS CAN CITT CARSON CACM CDB CAPC CKGR CBC
DEAX DR DJ DA DEA DOMESTIC DO DK DHS DAO DCM DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD DPRK DEPT DOE DS DE DEFENSE
EC EG EPET ECON ETRD EFIN EIND EMIN ENRG EAID EAGR EUN ETTC EAIR ENIV ES EU EINV ELAB ECIN EFIS ELTN EWWT ECPS ECONOMIC ENGR EN EINT EPA ELN ESA EZ ER ET EFTA EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA EXTERNAL EI EUR EK ERNG ENGY ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENERG EINVEFIN ENVR ECA ELECTIONS ETC EUREM ENNP EFINECONCS EURN ECINECONCS EEPET EXIM ERD ENVI ETRC ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRO EDU ETRN EAIG ECONCS ECONOMICS EAP ECONOMY EINN EIAR EXBS ECUN EINDETRD EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC
FR FI FJ FBI FAC FM FO FAO FDA FTAA FARC FTA FREEDOM FISO FOR FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR FINANCE FMLN
GM GG GE GT GR GH GTIP GV GA GOI GAERC GY GOV GERARD GANGS GAZA GTMO GL GF GCC GZ GLOBAL
HA HO HU HUMOR HK HURI HR HEBRON HSTC HILLARY HUMAN HI HYMPSK
IZ IT IR IS IN IC IAEA IO ICAO IWC ID IV ISRAEL IAHRC IQ ICTR IMF IRS IDP IGAD ICRC ICTY IMO IL INRA INRO ICJ ITU IBRD INMARSAT IIP ITALY IEFIN IACI ILO INTELSAT ILC ITRA IDA INRB IRC INTERPOL IA IPR IRAQI ISRAELI INTERNAL ISLAMISTS INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IBET INR IEA IZPREL IRAJ ITF IF
JO JA JM JOHN JP JOSEPH JUS JAMES JOHNNIE
KDEM KU KPAL KNNP KCRM KZ KN KS KJUS KTFN KSCA KV KISL KPAO KPKO KIRF KTIA KIPR KFLO KFRD KTIP KAWC KSUM KCOM KAID KE KTDB KMDR KOMC KWBG KDRG KVPR KTEX KGIC KWMN KSCI KCOR KACT KDDG KHLS KSAF KFLU KSEO KMRS KSPR KOLY KSEP KVIR KGHG KIRC KUNR KIFR KCIP KMCA KMPI KBCT KHSA KICC KIDE KCRS KMFO KRVC KRGY KR KAWK KG KFIN KHIV KBIO KOCI KBTR KNEI KPOA KCFE KPLS KSTC KHDP KPRP KCRCM KLIG KCFC KTER KREC KTBT KPRV KSTH KRIM KRAD KWAC KWMM KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOMS KX KMIG KRCM KVRP KBTS KPAONZ KNUC KNAR KPWR KNPP KDEMAF KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KGIT KPAI KTLA KFSC KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KOM KMOC KJUST KGCC KREL KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KO KNSD KHUM KSEC KCMR KCHG KICA KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD
LY LH LG LE LO LI LA LU LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MOPS MCAP MPOS MARR MO MNUC MX MASS MG MY MU ML MR MILITARY MTCRE MT MEPP MA MDC MP MAR MASSMNUC MARAD MAPP MZ MD MI MEETINGS MK MCC MEPN MRCRE MAS MIL MASC MC MV MTCR MIK MUCN MEDIA MERCOSUR MW MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MTRE MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS
NO NATO NL NP NZ NSF NI NH NG NAFTA NU NASA NR NATOPREL NSSP NSG NA NT NW NK NPT NPA NATIONAL NPG NSFO NS NSC NE NGO NDP NIPP NRR NEW NZUS NC NAR NV NORAD
OTRA OPCW OVIP OAS OREP OPIC OIIP OPRC ODIP OEXC OPDC OSCE OIC OSCI OECD OFDP OFDA OMIG OPAD OFFICIALS OVP OIE OHUM OCS OBSP OTR OSAC ON OCII OES
PGOV PREL PHUM PTER PINS PINR PREF PK PROP PA PARM PBTS PMAR PM PGIV PE PRAM PHUH PHSA PL PNAT PO PLN PAO PSA PHUMPGOV PF PEL PBIO POLITICS PHUMBA PAS POL PREO PAHO PMIL POGOV POV PAK PNR PRL PG PREFA PSI PINL PU PARMS PRGOV PALESTINIAN PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PROG PORG PTBS PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PY PTERE PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PSEPC PGOVE PINF PNG PGOC PFOR PCUL POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PHUMPREL
QA
RS RU RELATIONS RW RO RM RP ROOD RICE RUPREL RSO RCMP REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RF RFE RSP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT
SU SCUL SNAR SOCI SF SA SHUM SENV SP SR SY SANC SC SMIG SZ SARS SW SEVN SO SEN SL SNARCS SNARN SI SG SN SH SYR SAARC SPCE SHI SCRS SENVKGHG SYRIA SWE STEINBERG SIPRS ST SNARIZ SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SIPDIS SAN
TC TI TBIO TH TSPL TRGY TSPA TPHY TU TW TS TAGS TK TX TNGD TZ TF TL TV TN TD TIP TR TP TO TT TFIN THPY TERRORISM TINT TRSY TURKEY TBID
US UK UNGA UP UZ UNMIK USTR UNO UNSC UN UNESCO UNAUS UNHRC UY UG UNHCR UNCND USOAS USEU UNICEF UNEP UV UNPUOS UNCSD USUN UNCHR UNDC USNC UE UNDP UNC USPS USAID UNVIE UAE UNFICYP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC
VE VT VZ VTIZ VTPREL VAT VC VM VN VTEG VI
WHO WTRO WS WZ WHA WI WMD WHTI WA WTO WMO WBG WITH WIPO WTRQ WFP WWARD WB WEU
XR XM XL XS XW XF XG XT XU XA XK XY XV XB XZ XQ XC XTAG XX XE XD XH XI
YM YI YE YMCS
ZB ZU ZP ZR ZI ZANU ZL ZF ZJ ZO ZEALAND ZK ZN ZA ZOELLICK

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08GUATEMALA867, AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT COLOM

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08GUATEMALA867.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08GUATEMALA867 | 2008-07-09 22:12 | 2011-01-16 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Guatemala

`

    VZCZCXYZ0001
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHGT #0867/01 1912212
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 092212Z JUL 08
    FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5704
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0630
    RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 4890
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000867

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2028
    TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG ECON GT
    SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT COLOM

    REF: A. GUATEMALA 783
         ¶B. GUATEMALA 821
         ¶C. GUATEMALA 854
         ¶D. GUATEMALA 759

    Classified By: Ambassador James M. Derham for reasons 1.4 (b&d).
    Summary -------

    ¶1. (C) During the Ambassador's July 8 farewell call on President Colom, Colom defended his decision to sign a PetroCaribe deal with Venezuela, asserting that the deal would help to alleviate rising fuel and food prices. Colom expressed confidence in new Minister of Government Jimenez, and reviewed the mixed performance of Attorney General Florido and Environment Minister Ferrate. Colom said that Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchu, whom he called a "fabrication," had incited indigenous residents of San Juan Sacatepequez to oppose local construction of a cement plant; one person had been murdered as a result. End Summary.

    Colom to Sign PetroCaribe Deal ------------------------------

    ¶2. (C) During his July 8 farewell call on President Alvaro Colom and Foreign Minister Haroldo Rodas, the Ambassador inquired about President Colom's planned July 13-14 trip to Caracas to sign a PetroCaribe agreement with Venezuela (ref a). President Colom confirmed his travel plans, and defended his decision. He said he was surprised that the Guatemalan countryside had not yet "exploded" in protest at recent increases in fuel and food prices, and expressed concern that a popular backlash might not be long in coming. Food and fuel inflation was straining people's budgets, resulting in increased pressure on the state's limited social welfare net. Colom added that Congress was unlikely to approve his proposed tax reform plan, so expected increases in state revenues would not be realized. PetroCaribe offered attractive financing terms, and would free up considerable funds for social welfare programs. Just a month ago, PetroCaribe negotiations had ground to halt, Colom said, but changing economic conditions had required the GOG to reconsider. Colom said he had discussed PetroCaribe with Dominican President Fernandez, who had encouraged Guatemala's adhesion.

    ¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Rodas added that the decision to join PetroCaribe was strictly economic. The GOV had pressed the GOG to join the Venezuelan-led ALBA anti-American trade block, but the GOG wanted no part of it, and would not accede to any Venezuelan political conditions. "We're Social Democrats, but we're not fanatics, and we're aware that radicalism in governance leads to failure," Colom said.

    ¶4. (C) (Note: FRG Congresswoman Zury Rios separately told the Ambassador that she believed the PetroCaribe deal, which requires congressional approval, would easily pass Congress given the current inflationary environment. She also predicted Colom's tax reform proposal would fail. "Guatemala Bench" Congresswoman Rosa Maria Frade also told us that PetroCaribe would pass, and opined that savings realized from a PetroCaribe deal might compensate the loss of anticipated revenues from the fiscal reform package. End Note.) Review of Senior Officials' Performance ---------------------------------------

    ¶5. (C) President Colom lamented the recent deaths in a helicopter accident of Minister of Government Vinicio Gomez and Vice Minister Edgar Hernandez Umana (ref b). Colom expressed confidence that newly appointed Minister Francisco Jimenez would continue Gomez's efforts to reform the police (ref c). Regarding Attorney General Juan Luis Florido, Colom Q(ref c). Regarding Attorney General Juan Luis Florido, Colom said Florido is amicable and is making a sincere effort. Nonetheless, he expressed frustration at the Attorney General's Office's seeming inability to progress with certain kinds of prosecutions, such as corruption, the murders of two union leaders, and the recent scandal over the illicit investment of congressional funds (ref d). Colom said that Commissioner Carlos Castresana of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) is very demanding, and that under his leadership, CICIG is making some progress in helping the Attorney General's Office to put its house in order.

    ¶6. (C) The Ambassador asked about Environment Minister Luis Ferrate, noting that Ferrate's indiscreet public declarations at times gave potential investors second thoughts. Colom agreed that Ferrate should be more measured in his public statements, and noted that he had regular, sharp disagreements with other cabinet members, especially Minister of Energy and Mines Carlos Meany.

     Menchu Inciting Indigenous Communities --------------------------------------

    ¶7. (C) Regarding the investment climate, the Ambassador raised the June 21 incident in which indigenous protesters opposed to the construction of a cement plant killed a community leader who had favored the project (septel). Colom said that former presidential candidate and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchu was at least partly responsible for inciting local opposition to the proposed plant. She had told Colom of her involvement and that she would continue to encourage indigenous people to protect their land. Colom said he had responded by saying that encouraging indigenous people to protect their land was acceptable, but that killing was not and that the GOG would act to enforce the law.

    ¶8. (C) Colom said Menchu was a "fabrication" of French anthropologist and author Elizabeth Burgos, who wrote the book, "I, Rigoberta Menchu," that brought Menchu to international attention. Colom said that Menchu is widely disliked by Guatemalan indigenous people, as demonstrated by her poor showing in the 2007 presidential election. He said he was present at a 1997 ceremony at which Mayan leaders formally pardoned Menchu for "betraying her people." Observing that Menchu was unfit for the presidency, Colom said he had advised her against running, saying she should not risk sullying her reputation in politics. Regarding the polemics about the circumstances in which Menchu learned Spanish, Colom said he knew the truth -- his older sister Yolanda, while a guerrilla leader, taught Menchu "up in the mountains." Colom said his venerable indigenous "teacher" had once commented to him that "no indigenous person would ever be president of Guatemala" due to the deep rifts among Guatemala's 22 Mayan indigenous groups.

    Comment -------

    ¶9. (C) President Colom took this opportunity to reiterate the high priority he places on good relations with the United States, and was concerned about the USG's potential reaction to the PetroCaribe deal. With year-on-year inflation now at 13.5%, and inflation of the basic basket of consumer goods at 22%, Colom has reason to be concerned by the potential for popular backlash against rising prices. We agree with our several interlocutors' assessment that, in the current inflationary environment, Congress will likely approve the PetroCaribe deal, and that it will not approve tax reform. Derham

`