Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

Intimidation and Murders Continue

September 13, 2005

Dear Friends,

We at GHRC/USA are concerned about the continuing intimidation and murders of social leaders and human rights activists in Guatemala. The following is taken from an article sent out by Cerigua on September 9 and an urgent action sent out by Rights Action on September 10.

On September 8, MARIO RENÉ PACHECO, representative on the Civil Society Assembly in Escuintla and a member of the URNG, was murdered near the municipality of Nueva Concepción, Escuintla. He had just left a meeting with the mayor to address rising transportation costs. In his last years, he fought for justice and worked for the revitalization of his community and the dignity of fellow community members.

On the same day, campesino leader, PAULINO LÓPEZ, was murdered in the community of El Paraíso in Jalapa. Ufortunately, we do not have more information at this time.

FREDY PECCERELLI , executive director of the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation (FAFG), and his family members have suffered death threats and other intimidations. On August 26, Jeannette Peccerelli, Fredy’s wife, was approached by two men while stopped in her car at a stoplight. One of the men put a gun to her head and told her they were watching Fredy. On September 8, 2005, OMAR GIRON BERTONI, who also works with FAFG and is Fredy’s brother-in-law, received an anonymous note at his home, threatening the entire Team, as well as his wife Bianca Peccerelli (Fredy’s sister). The death threat—addressed to Omar—said that people working at the FAFG will be punished for their work; that previous threats were just an initial message and that now they will have to use other means to stop these “sons of bitches that continue to do this work.” The FAFG has been instrumental in exhumations taking place throughout the country.

BACKGROUND

Andrea Barrios, representative of the Center for Legal Human Rights Action (CALDH), told Cerigua that the violence against activists has currently increased as a result of the public opposition to the Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the Concessions Law, citizen insecurity, and neo-liberal policies. The attacks have also occurred in the context of an electoral campaign, which usually generates higher levels of violence.

Gad Echeverría, advisor to GAM, expressed that the surge in aggressions against human rights leaders is related to the recent discovery of clandestine groups connected to the state. According to Echeverría, the most recent cases have been similar in that the authorities have determined that they are common crime without investigating the connotation of intimidation. The murders of two social leaders, the murder of Harold Pérez Gallardo, legal advisor to Casa Alianza, and the recent threats against forensic anthropologists, represent the violence perpetrated against social leaders and human rights workers in Guatemala.

REQUESTED ACTION

-Demand that Guatemalan authorities ensure the safety of Fredy Peccerrelli, his family and all other members of FAFG.

-Urge the government to investigate the threats received by Jeannette Peccerelli and Omar Giron Bertoni and also the murders of Paulino López and Mario René Pacheco 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 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.

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