Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

Makrina Gudiel Attacked

January 17, 2005

2005 - Fear for safety

GUATEMALA:

Makrina Gudiel Alvarez (f)
Agripina Alvarez (f)
Carlos Ernesto Cruz Gudiel (f)
Oscar Cruz Gudiel (m)
Jose Gabriel Cruz Gudiel (m)

Makrina Gudiel has been attacked by men who apparently sprayed gasoline over the pick-up truck in which she was traveling and attempted to set it on fire. Amnesty International believes that she and her family are in very grave danger.

On 14 January at 7:30pm she and a work colleague were traveling from her home town of Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa to the regional capital of Escuintla. They noticed two cars following them, and after about 10 minutes, when they were still three kilometres from Escuintla, Makrina saw what she thought were raindrops falling on the windscreen. When she opened the window she realized that gasoline had been sprayed all over the pick-up truck from one of the following cars: in the dark she had not seen what was happening. Her colleague, who was driving, swerved in the road to prevent the following cars from coming alongside, which would have allowed them to set fire to the gasoline, and managed to escape into the car park of a nearby restaurant.

The two cars stopped on the road a short distance from the restaurant and waited, taking care to stay in the shadows so their number plates could not be seen. They switched their headlights on and off repeatedly and revved their engines, to show that they were watching and waiting. After 10 minutes the lead car drove closer to where Makrina and her colleague had parked, and the driver revved the engine for a few moments and then left. With the other car still waiting in the shadows Makrina and her colleague decided to flee and drove away at high speed to a friend's house in Escuintla. They arrived safely.

The Procuradoria de los Derecho Humanos, Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, has now become involved in protecting Makrina and her family, and has provided them with a safe house where they are now in hiding.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: - expressing grave concern for the safety of the Makrina Gudiel, after the attempt on her life on 14 January in which her vehicle was sprayed with gasoline; - calling on the authorities to provide her and her family with full protection and order an investigation into the threats and acts of intimidation they have suffered, with those responsible brought to justice; - calling for a full investigation into illegal armed groups operating in the area of Escuintla; - urging the authorities to take immediate measures to end the intimidation of public officials, so that they can carry out their duties without fear of intimidation.

 

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