EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 34/51/93
Distr: UA/SC
4 August 1993
Further information on UA 239/92 (AMR 34/33/92, 24 July 1992)
- Ill-treatment
GUATEMALA: Indigenous peasants, Cajola,
Quetzaltenango department
Amnesty International has learned that on 30 July 1993 Inspector
General Mariano Mazariegos, who is third-in-command of the National
Police, and four other officers were sentenced to three years and nine
months in jail. They were charged with violently breaking up a
peaceful demonstration which took place in July 1992 in front of the
National Palace in Guatemala City.
The court reportedly said that the five officers had ordered riot police
to beat peasants with their batons. Inspector General Mariano
Mazariegos is apparently the highest police officer to be jailed for a
human rights violation in Guatemala.
The peasants taking part in the demonstration were from the Finca
(farm) Pampas del Horizonte, in the village of Cajola, Quetzaltenango
department, and were demanding government action regarding a
dispute over land dating back to 1986.
No further action is required from the Urgent Action Network. Thank
you to all those who sent appeals.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
+ 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 +
+-----------------------------------------------------------+