+------------------------------------------------------+
+ Paper reprints authorised. Electronic redistributors +
+ must request permission from Amnesty International. +
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+------------------------------------------------------+
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 34/41/93
Distr: UA/SC
UA 193/32 Death Threats 15 June 1993
GUATEMALA: Jeronimo MORALES TIRIQUIZ, aged 37
Tomas SUY CANIL, aged 34
Candelaria XON GONZALES, aged 30 (female)
Juan MORALES XON, aged 10
Manuela MORALES XON, aged 8 (female)
Anastacia MORALES XON, aged 6 (female)
Domingo MORALES XON, aged 4
Natalia MEJIA RICQUIQC, aged 23 (female)
Rolando Ismael SUY MEJIA, aged 9 months
Carlos MEJIA TIAN, aged 12
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Jeronimo Morales
Tiriquiz and Tomas Suy Canil, both members of the Council of Ethnic
Communities "We are all Equal", (CERJ), as well as the other
members of their families, all from Canton Panquiac, municipality of
Chichicastenango, Quiche department.
On 10 June 1993 the two CERJ members and their families were
forced to take refuge due to continued persecution and death threats
for not participating in the Civil Defence Patrols (PAC).
According to a statement made by Jeronimo Morales Tiriquiz, he
stopped participating in the PAC over a year ago. In May 1993 he
began to work on a project organized by the National Coordinating
Committee of Guatemalan Widows (CONAVIGUA), concerning
military recruitment. Subsequently, on 2 June he was reportedly
accused by leaders of the PAC of subversion and threatened with
death, in the presence of his family. One member of the PAC
reportedly tried to assault Jeronimo Morales, but was restrained by
other family members. Since then Jeronimo Morales' wife, Candelaria
Xon Gonzales has received death threats.
Tomas Suy Canil and his family are also believed to be in danger due
to their close relationship with the family of Jeronimo Morales. Both
families have apparently been persecuted since 2 June 1993.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Civil Defence Patrols (PAC)
were created as a component of the military's counter- insurgency
strategy in 1982. Although voluntary according to the Constitution, civil
patrols are in effect compulsory. Those refusing to take part in them
have been branded "guerrillas", and many have been subjected to
human rights violations, including harassment and attacks,
"disappearance" and extrajudicial execution.
CERJ was formed in 1988 to protect indigenous peoples' rights, and
has been particularly active in protesting against peasants being forced
to join the PAC. Since then more than 15 CERJ members have been
extrajudicially executed, seven have "disappeared", and scores have
been subjected to intimidation or harassment by members of the
security forces, civil patrollers, military commissioners or civilians acting
in connivance with the military.
On 6 June 1993 Ramiro de Leon Carpio, previously the Human Rights
Procurator, was voted president by Congress, following the forced
resignation of Jorge Serrano on 1 June 1993.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in Spanish,
English or in your own language:
- expressing concern at the incidents of threats and harassment against
Jeronimo Morales Tiriquiz and Tomas Suy Canil, as well as other
members of their families;
- asking for guarantees for the security of both families;
- asking that these incidents be immediately investigated and that those
found to be responsible be brought to justice;
- drawing attention to President de Leon Carpio's inaugural speech in
which he declared his commitment to human rights; state that you are
aware of the difficulties facing his government, but that you hope that
incidents such as those mentioned above will not be tolerated.
APPEALS TO:
President of the Republic:
S.E. Ramiro de Leon Carpio
[Salutation: Excelentisimo Sr.Presidente/Dear President ]
Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala
Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Telegrams: Presidente de Leon Carpio, Guatemala, Guatemala
Faxes: + 502 2 537472, + 502 2 519702
Telexes: 5331 CAPRES GU
Minister of Interior:
Lic. Francisco Perdomo
[Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister]
Ministro de Gobernacion
Ministerio de Gobernacion
Despacho Ministerial, Of. No. 8
Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Telegrams: Ministro de Gobernacion, Guatemala, Guatemala
Telephone: + 502 2 21212, ext 500;
+ 502 2 518105-6 (direct)
Telexes: 5085 MINGOB
Minister of Defence:
Gral. Roberto Perussina
[Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister]
Ministro de Defensa
Ministerio de Defensa
Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Telegrams: Ministro de Defensa, Guatemala, Guatemala
Faxes: + 502 2 537472
Telexes: 5361 COMGUA GU
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: His Excellency
Senor Edmundo Nanne, Embassy of Guatemala, 13 Fawcett St,
London SW10 9HN. Fax: 071 376 5708
[Please see the responses to this topic for the addresses
of diplomatic representatives in other countries]
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
Council of Ethnic Communities "We are all Equal"
Consejo de Comunidades dtnicas, CERJ:
5a Avenida 3-13,
Santa Cruz del Quiche
El Quiche
GUATEMALA
Head of the Presidential Commission Coordinating the Policies of the
Executive relating
to Human Rights:
Sr. Bernardo Neumann
COPREDEH
15 Avenida 18-38, Zona 13
Guatemala, GUATEMALA
The World Conference on Human Rights is being held in Austria this
month and you can enhance the power of your appeals by also sending
copies to the diplomatic representative of Guatemala in Austria during
June at the following address:
GUATEMALAN EMBASSY:
The Ambassador
Botschaft der Republik Guatemala
Reisnerstrasse 20/1/4, 1030 Wien
Austria
Faxes: + 43 1 714 35 69
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send
appeals after 27th July 1993.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
+ If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about +
+ the UA scheme in general, please contact: +
+ Ray Mitchell +
+ Amnesty International British Section +
+ 99 - 119 Rosebery Avenue +
+ London EC1R 4RE email: gn:rmitchellai +
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
/* Written 1:53 pm Jun 17, 1993 by sharrison in igc:ai.uan */
for Urgent Action participants in the United States:
direct dial prefix for fax and telephone numbers: 011
relevant telex prefix: 305
Ambassador
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St. NW
Washington DC 20008
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 July 27, 1993.
/* Written 12:22 pm Jun 24, 1993 by AI-KOELN@link-k.comlink.apc.org in ai.uan */
The address of the diplomatic representative in Germany
is as follows:
Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala
Botschaft der Republik Guatemala
Her Excellency Senora Ana Lucrecia Rivera de Ampuero
Zietenstrasse 16
W 5300 Bonn 2
Fax: +49 228 35 15 79
The address of the diplomatic representative for
Switzerland is as follows:
Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala
Ambassade du Guatemala
His Excellency M. Jose Goubaud Irigoyen
73, rue de Courcelles
F-75008 Paris
------------------------------------------------------
If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about
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