Guatemala: Cerigua Special Bulletin 10/25/97 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: cerigua@guate.net Special Bulletin Guatemalan Kidnapped During Columbia's Municipal Elections. Antioquia, Granada, Colombia, October 24. Guatemalan Manfredo Marroquin was one of three people kidnapped yesterday by the guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN). Marroquin, who had traveled to Colombia to act as an observer with the Organization of American States in municipal elections this Sunday (October 26) , was captured along with fellow observer Chilean Raul Martinez and Colombian Juan Diego Ardila. Ardila works with the government Human Rights Office in the department of Antioquia where the kidnapping took place. Statements made by the ELN indicates the rebels will release the three on Monday after the election. In the meantime they are demanding the Colombian army stay away from the area and play no part in the electoral proceedings. In a press release, the Guatemalan government called on those responsible to respect the integrity of the kidnapped men and release them immediately. Marroquin is the executive director of Guatemalan based Citizen Action. The organization's work is aimed at making the political process more transparent for Guatemalans, while encouraging their participation in it. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcamer-10.28.97-11:57:06-24555