Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

 

HIJOS MEMBER THREATENED

August 25, 2005

FRANCISCO SANCHEZ MENDEZ , a member of Children for Identity and Justice against Oblivion and Silence (HIJOS), was threatened with death by an unidentified man. The man called Sánchez’s home between 10:15 and 10:30 P.M. on August 19 and said, “You are going to die, son of a bitch.”

The threat was made only twenty-four hours after Sánchez returned from Caracas, Venezuela, where he had traveled as a member of the Guatemalan delegation to the XVI World Student and Youth Festival Against Imperialism and War.

BACKGROUND

On May 7 Sánchez was the victim of an abduction attempt, apparently related to his membership in HIJOS, an organization that has suffered several intimidations this year. In February the office was broken into and files, photographs, and computers were stolen, while other items of value were left behind. On May 11, the HIJOS office was raided for the second time this year. Again, information about the organization and its members was stolen, while objects of value—including a laptop computer that was brand new and thus had nothing on its hard drive—were left behind. HIJOS members aim to recover the historical memory of their relatives killed or disappeared by the army during the armed conflict and to denounce the army’s abuses. HIJOS also has been in the front lines at protests against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

In a communique relating the death threat to Sánchez, HIJOS stated, “For this new and no less cowardly act of intimidation we blame the government of Guatemala, which maintains intact the repressive structures with the capacity, among others, to:

• Monitor, wiretap, and systematically raid the offices of the Popular Movement.
• Monitor the comings and goings from Guatemala of colleagues, as well as what types of activities they are carrying out.

These acts occur systematically, HIJOS noted, even when people have protective measures ordered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States.

HIJOS called on government authorities to stop the open agression by parallel groups toward members of HIJOS and their work; to respect the orders issued by the IACHR; and to expedite the investigation of the break-ins at their office, stalled without reason in the Human Rights Public Prosecutor’s Office.

HIJOS said the organization would hold the Guatemalan government responsible by action or omission for any physical or psychological attack on Francisco Sánchez Mendez or any other member or collaborator with HIJOS.

REQUESTED ACTION

• Demand that Guatemalan authorities ensure the safety of Francisco Sánchez Mendez and all other members and associates of HIJOS.

• Urge the government to investigate the death threat received by Sánchez and to prosecute those responsible.

• Ask the government to thoroughly and successfully carry out a timely investigation of the break-ins at the HIJOS office earlier this year 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 exhuastive manner, any complaint it may receive relating to acts or threats that may be directed at them.”

 

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
Salutation: Etimado Fiscal General/Dear Sir

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

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.

 

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