“The extent of opposition to his policies is difficult to assess, since freedom of expression was one of the constitutional guarantees suspended…Under the state of siege, too, press censorship prohibits the dissemination of news that ‘may cause confusion’ or reporting anything about the civil war except what the Government says…Describing General Rios Montt as ‘fanatic’ and ‘messianic,’ a business leader nonetheless said businessmen were generally happy with the situation. He said restrictions on meetings had not been applied to business groups….’He is absolutely honest,’ a physician said of the Guatemalan leader. This judgment is often expressed here.”
Raymond Bonner, The New York Times, July 14, 1982, page 1