Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

CASA ALIANZA LEGAL ADVISOR MURDERED

September 12, 2005

HAROLD RAFAEL PEREZ GALLARDO, an advisor to the Legal Program of Casa Alianza Guatemala, was shot and killed by an unidentified man on Friday, September 2 in zone 7 of Guatemala City at approximately 9:30 am.

BACKGROUND

Formed in 1990 after the brutal murder of thirteen-year old Nahamán Carmona López by the National Police, Casa Alianza’s Legal Program seeks to defend and promote the rights of children, youth and young mothers. Perez Gallardo has served as an Advisor to the Legal Program for the past six years. The fifty-six year old lawyer was advising Casa Alianza on several pending cases involving irregular adoptions, murders, sexual exploitation, trafficking and other human rights violations against children.

REQUESTED ACTION

-Urge the government to thoroughly investigate the murder of Harold Rafael Perez Gallardo and prosecute those responsible.

-Remind the government that failing to protect human rights workers and investigate attacks or threats against them is a violation of the Peace Accords. Under the Peace Accords the government agreed to “take special measures to protect those persons or entities working in the field of human rights.” The government agreed to “investigate, in a timely and exhaustive manner, any complaint it may receive relating to acts or threats that may be directed at them.”

SEND APPEALS TO:

Presidente de la República de Guatemala
Licenciado Óscar Berger Perdomo
Casa Presidencial, 6 a. Avenida, 4-18 zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala
GUATEMALA
Email: presidente@scspr.gob.gt
Salutation: Excelentísimo Sr. Presidente/Dear President

Fax: 502 2251 2218
Attorney General
Juan Luis Florido
Fiscal General Fiscalia General del Ministerio Publico
8a. Avenida 10-67, Zona 1
Ciudad Guatemala
GUATEMALA
Fax: 011 502 251 2218
Salutation: Estimado Fiscal General/Dear Sir

Minister of the Interior

Ministro de Gobernacion
Carlos Vielman
6a.Avenida 4-64, zona 4, nivel 3
Ciudad de Guatemala
Guatemala
Fax: 011 502 2362 0237
Email: ministro@mingob.gob.gt
Salutation: Senor Ministro/ Dear Minister

SEND COPIES TO:

Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 745 1908
email: ambassador@guatemala-embassy.org

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

Home | Site Map | Contact Us

3321 12th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017

This site is maintained by the Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA
as a means of informing the general public of the Commission's work
on behalf of the people of Guatemala