NISGUA RAPID RESPONSE ALERTS
JUNE 5,1992
1. THREATS AGAINST MAYAN HEALTH ACTIVIST
Dr. Carlos Leon Medrano, a young indigenous medical doctor, was
threatened on the morning of May 31. A man who does not wish to
be identified for fear of reprisals told Dr. Leon's wife that her
husband should leave the area as his life was in danger. A woman
who called herself a friend of Leon's phoned his mother's home
and informed her that his life was in danger.
Leon lives in Santa Cruz del Quiche and works in
Chichicastenango, El Quiche. His work has centered on trying to
preserve Mayan cultural rituals, particularly those connected to
midwifery, the Mayan calendar and the use of medicinal plants.
With the assistance of UNICEF, Leon has published three books, in
the Quiche language, relating to prenatal care, labor and
delivery. In addition, he has written a fourth book on the
attitudes and customs of the midwife. He works though an
organization based in Chichicastenango called the Mayan Cultural
Assistance Center (CCAM - Fundacion Centro Cultural y Asistencia
Maya) that receives support from a German organization. CCAM
provides medical training to indigenous midwives using
traditional methods.
The precise source of the threats is unclear. However, a
lieutenant from the military base in Santa Cruz del Quiche had
been asking about Le"n a few days before the threats were made.
SOURCES: Amnesty International, Urgent Action; other sources who
prefer to remain unidentified.
Please Activate Your Rapid Response Network To:
1. Denounce the threats against Dr. Carlos Leon, and
2. Request that the incidents be immediately investigated and
that the safety of Dr. Le"n be guaranteed.
Send Messages To:
S.E. Jorge Serrano Elias
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio Nacional
Guatemala, Guatemala
Telex: 305-5331 CAPRES GU
Fax: 502 2 537472
or 502 2 519702
Telephone: 502 2 21212
Comandante
Base Militar No. 20
Santa Cruz del Quiche,
El Quiche, Guatemala
Telegrams: Sr. Comandante,
Base Militar, Santa Cruz del
Quiche, El Quiche, Guatemala
Telex: 305-5361 COMGUA GU
Telephone: 502 9 551005
502 9 551548
Gral. Jose Garcia Samayoa
Ministro de Defensa
Ministerio de Defensa
Palacio Nacional
Guatemala, Guatemala
Telex: 305-5361 COMGUA GU
Fax: 502 2 537472
Telephone: 502 2 21212,
or 502 2 22266 Note: A pre-arranged telex message can be sent via ATI
(800-888-
5284), FAXNET (800-831-2202) or Worldlink (800-827-2831). Ask
for message "NISGUA #15".
Text of Telex Message "NISGUA # 15":
Denuncio las amenazas en contra del doctor indigena CARLOS
LEON MEDRANO en Santa Cruz del Quiche. Exijo que se investigue
las amenazas y que se proteja a Carlos Leon para que su trabajo
importante pueda continuar libre de amenaza.
English Translation (note: please send Spanish version):
I denounce the threats against indigenous doctor Carlos
Le"n. I urge that the threats be immediately investigated and
that Carlos Leon be protected so that his important work may
continue free of threats.
Copies to be forwarded to:
Caritas Diocesana
Pastoral Social
6a Calle 10-10, Zona 3
Santa Cruz del Quiche
El Quiche, Guatemala