Augusto Javier, a Guatemalan refugee who has received legal asylum in the United States, will speak about the troubles of his country at the DeKalb Area Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice meeting Sunday.

Guatemala, a Central American country, is war-ridden and in ruin because of the damage suffered by Hurricane Joan.

Javier will speak at the First Lutheran Church at Third and Pine, at 7 p.m. on Sunday about problems in Guatemala under the puppet government of Venicio Cerezo.

Cele Meyer, network public relations director and newsletter editor of the Network News, said, “It’s hard to believe that devastated country is even more devastated due to Hurricane Joan. … 600,000 acres of forest land have been totally leveled.”

Meyer, who has visited Guatemala, said the network is focused on Central America. “We’re a handful of people willing to work and pooling our efforts to help out there.

“We have had protest marches and have been part of the resistance movement in opposition to U.S. policies.”

Meyer said the military in Guatemala has destroyed 250 Indian villages and forced 500,000 Guatemalans to flee their homes in search of refuge. The defoliation of the forest areas has driven people from their homes.

Meyer said most people live in poverty with houses held up by plastic sticks and with mud floors. “There is no housing because of the hurricane.”

She said that several organizations, such as Amnesty International, have documented the tortures, disappearances and lack of human rights in Guatemala.

Meyer said the military is fighting the Mayan Indian population, and anyone involved with helping the Indians “is in danger of being wiped out. Priests and social workers and anyone involved are in danger.”

“There are disappearances where people are taken away in broad daylight,” Meyer said.