UA 109/99 on Guatemala

[gh...@igc.org]

U R G E N T A C T I O N A P P E A L
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>UA 109/99 Fear for safety 14 May 1999
>
>GUATEMALA
>Julio Eduardo Arango Escobar, Human Rights Procurator
>
>
>Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of the Human
>Rights Procurator of Guatemala, Julio Eduardo Arango Escobar, who
>has recently received death threats against him and his family.
>
>According to reports, on one day alone, 11 April 1999, around 40
>threatening phone calls were made to his home. During one call, a
>child's voice asked for his daughter-in-law, who was then told 'Vamos
>a matar a tu suegro' 'We are going to kill your father-in-law.' The
>Procurator said he has periodically been receiving threats for a long
>time, but that since last week they had been constant.
>
>He believes that these threats may be being orchestrated by
>government intelligence services, who are, he said, experts in
>psychological warfare.
>
>BACKGROUND INFORMATION
>
>Guatemala was the first country in Latin America to introduce a
>Procuraduria (Procurator's Office),having provided for such an office
>in its 1985 Constitution. The procurator is elected every five years by
>the Congress and is mandated to defend the human rights
>guaranteed in the Constitution, monitor the actions of the executive
>branch of government with respect to human rights issues and make
>an annual report on human rights matters.
>
>Julio Arango Escobar was elected in August 1997. During his period
>in office he has published several reports criticising actions taken by
>the President and his advisors. He has expressed particular concern
>about the investigation into the murder of Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi,
>whose killers have not been brought to justice one year after his
>death (see UA 139/98, 1 May 1998, AMR 34/16/908 and follow-ups)
>
>RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
>telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters:
>-expressing concern at the recent death threats directed at the
>Human Rights Procurator Julio Eduardo Arango Escobar, and urging
>the authorities to take all necessary steps to guarantee his safety;
>-urging the authorities to investigate these threats and bring those
>responsible to justice;
>-urging the authorities to ensure that Julio Eduardo Arango Escobar
>can freely and openly perform his legitimate duties as Human Rights
>Procurator;
>- as the threats to the Human Rights Procurator are a serious
>challenge to all human rights defenders in Guatemala, please also try
>and arrange messages to the Guatemalan authorities in the name of
>your Section as a whole, signed by the Section director. Also try and
>interest prominent authorities or personalities in your country in
>protesting against this attack on human rights protection in
>Guatemala.
>
>APPEALS TO:
>President of the Republic:
>S.E. Alvaro Arzu Irigoyen
>Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala
>6a Calle y 7a Avenida, Zona 1
>Palacio Nacional
>Guatemala, GUATEMALA
>
>Dear President:
>
>Faxes: 011 502 221 4537
>Telegrams: Presidente, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
>E-mail: Alvar...@guate.net / alvar...@guateconnect.com
>
>
>Minister of Interior:
>Lic. Rodolfo Mendoza Rosales
>Ministro de Gobernacion
>Ministerio de Gobernacion
>Despacho Ministerial, Of. N0 8,
>6a Calle y 7a Avenida, Zona 1, Palacio Nacional
>Palacio Nacional
>Guatemala, GUATEMALA
>
>Dear Minister:
>
>Faxes: 011 502 232 1207/ 362 0239
>Telegrams: Ministro de Gobernacion, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
>
>
>COPIES TO:
>Human Rights Procurator:
>Lic. Julio Eduardo Arango Escobar
>Procurador de Derechos Humanos
>Procaduria de los Derechos Humanos
>12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1
>Ciudad de Guatemala , Guatemala
>
>Faxes: 011 502 2535712 / 238 1734 / 251 7769
>
>
>Daily newspaper:
>Diario Prensa Libre
>13 Calle 9-31, Zona l
>Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA
>
>Faxes: 011 502 251 8768
>E-mail: mediosele...@prensalibre.com.gt
>
>Ambassador William Howard Stixrud
>Embassy of Guatemala
>2220 R St. NW
>Washington DC 20008
>
>Phone: 202 745 4952
>Fax: 202 745 1908
>Email: emba...@sysnet.net
>
>Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office
>between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if
>sending appeals after June 25, 1999.
>
>
>This information is from Amnesty International's research
>headquarters in London, England. A.I. is an independent worldwide
>movement working for the international protection of human rights. It
>seeks the release of people detained because of their beliefs, color,
>sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not
>used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of
>conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political
>prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without
>charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions
>(political killings), 'disappearances' and torture or other cruel,
>inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners
>without reservation. Amnesty International promotes awareness of
>and adherance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
>other internationally recognized human rights instruments, the
>values enshrined in them and the indivisibility and interdependence
>of all human rights and freedoms.
>
>Please do not repost this appeal to any part of the Internet
>without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for
>your help with this appeal.
>
>Please read the monthly Urgent Action Network Newsletter posted on
>the web at: http://www.amnesty-USA.org/urgact/newslett.html
>
>Urgent Action Network
>Amnesty International USA
>PO Box 1270
>Nederland CO 80466-1270
>Email: shar...@aiusa.org
>http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgact/
>Phone: 303 258 1170
>Fax: 303 258 7881
>
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