Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICES ATTACKED

October 3, 2005

On September 13, four armed men broke into the office of the Group for Service, Peace and Justice in Guatemala (SERPAJ-G). The intruders held five human rights activists hostage for an hour. FACTOR MÉNDEZ and ESTER CABALLERO of SERPAJ-G, and MANOLO DUARTE, JUSTO SOTO, and JOSÉ VICENTE, of the Strategic Alliance for Human Rights, were gagged and their hands and feet were bound. The attackers threatened and insulted the activists. They then threatened Factor Méndez, Coordinator of SERPAJ-G, with death, saying they knew him and were familiar with his work. When they left the office, the men stole a computer and discs with information on the human rights situation in Guatemala and the activists’ work plans.

SERPAJ-G decried the incident as another act of intimidation and harassment directed at human rights defenders, specifically at an organization recently created to work for peace and justice in the country. The organization holds the government of President Óscar Berger and state security forces responsible for the physical well-being of SERPAJ-G workers and demands a thorough investigation of the attack.

On September 27, the Official Headquarters of the Agricultural Workers Union (CTC) was illegally broken into by a group of six armed men. The men entered the office between 12:30 and 2:00pm shouting, “On the floor or you die,” “al suelo o se mueren.” The armed men then spread out on the two floors, searching files and stealing valuables, including a computer, cash, articles of clothing, and cell phones from the twelve people who were working there at the time. Three people were physically assaulted, including MIGUEL ÁNGEL LUCAS, who is the secretary general of the CTC, a labor representative on the board of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) and a member of the Equal-Representation Commission on Agricultural Wages.

On September 30, the General Central of Guatemalan Workers (CGTG) reported that the office was being watched by men whose appearance suggests they are bodyguards or members of the military.

REQUESTED ACTION
-Demand that Guatemalan authorities ensure the safety of Factor Méndez, Ester Caballero, Manolo Duarte, Justo Soto, and José Vicente as well as members of the CTC and CGTG.

-Urge the authorities to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation of the break-ins and aggression, to publicize the results and to 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 Vielmann
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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