NISGUA -- The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala
1314 14th St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-483-0050
Fax: 202-234-1656
e-mail: nisgua@igc.apc.org
RAPID RESPONSE ALERTS
OCTOBER 23, 1992
1. CONAVIGUA ACTIVISTS ATTACKED
2. POPULAR MOVEMENT LEADERS THREATENED
At about 10 am on October 19, CRISTINA PAR GUIT, 17, and
MATEA PAR SALOJ, 16, had just left the offices of the National
Coordinating Group of Guatemalan Widows (CONAVIGUA), located in
zone 8 of Guatemala City, in order to catch a bus, when they were
approached by three unknown individuals, one man and two women,
who were wearing Western style (non-indigenous) dress. After
admiring the two teenagers' indigenous clothes, the three
assailants grabbed them by the hair and dragged them through the
streets, forcing them to walk about seven blocks. The assailants
were armed, the man carrying a knife and the women carrying hand
guns. They told Cristina and Matea Par that they had seen them
at the march held on October 17, which was held to celebrate the
awarding of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize to indigenous leader,
Rigoberta Menchu. The attackers then began to beat the teenagers
and removed their clothes, saying that their indigenous dress and
shoes demonstrated that they were guerrillas. The assailants
also robbed them and threatened to kill them. The naked
teenagers managed to escape and were helped by a witness to the
incident, who gave them clothes to wear. They took refuge in the
headquarters of the indigenous organization, Majawil Q'Ij.
The two teenagers, members of CONAVIGUA, are from the
village of Xaquil in the department of Solol and are members of
the Kakchikel ethnic group.
Amnesty International states that it is "concerned that,
from the manner in which the attack was carried out, members of
the security forces or those working with them may have been
responsible....[and] is concerned for the security of all those
associated with Rigoberta Menchu."
The attack was also denounced by CONAVIGUA leader Juana
Tipaz, who stated that the attack was a response indicating the
discontent of the powerful, traditional sectors in the face of
the efforts of human rights and popular organizations. (Sources:
Amnesty International Urgent Action 327/92; CUANES Alert G101;
Press Reports)
Activate Your Rapid Response Network To:
1) Call and write local media outlets pointing out the attack as
an example of the violent intimidation and ethnic discrimination
that supporters of the recent Nobel prize winner receive in
Guatemala (see addresses and phone numbers for media below).
Call your local paper and ask to speak to the assignment editor.
Urge that the media outlet cover the incident as follow-up to the
coverage of Menchu's award and as a way to show the political
significance of the award. The Wall Street Journal carried a
brief report on the incident; thank them for running the report
and urge them to follow-up with a longer article.
2) Send messages to Guatemalan authorities denouncing the attack
on the two activists, calling for the prosecution of those
responsible and requesting that the Guatemalan Government
publicly condemn attacks against those celebrating Menchu's award
and take steps to ensure their safety.
Pre-arranged Telex Message #29:
Condeno el ataque en contra de los miembros de CONAVIGUA,
CRISTINA PAR GUIT y MATEA PAR SALOJ. Ruego que se investigue y
que se castigue a los responsables de acuerdo con la ley. Pido
que las autoridades condenen en una manera publica ataques en
contra de los que celebran el Premio Nobel de la Paz.
(Translation: I condemn the attack against CONAVIGUA
members Cristina Par Guit and Matea Par Saloj. I urge that it be
investigated and that those responsible be punished in accord
with the law. I ask that the authorities condemn in a public
manner attacks against those celebrating the Nobel Peace Prize.)
Direct Messages To:
Ing. 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
or 502 2 22266
Lic. Jos Maria Melndez
Director General de la Policia
Nacional
6a. Avenida 13-71 Zona 1
Guatemala, Guatemala
Telephone: 502 2 20221; 502 2
515158
FAX: 502 2 27521
Francisco Rolando Perdomo
Ministro de Gobernaci"n
Despacho Ministerial
Oficina No. 8, Palacio
Nacional
Guatemala, Guatemala
Telex: 305-5085 MINGOB GU
Fax: 502 2 518105
Telephone: 502 2 21212,
or 502 2 22266 (ext. 500)
Send Copies of All Messages as Solidarity To:
CONAVIGUA, 8 Avenida 2-29 Zona 1, Guatemala, Guatemala