*** RAPID RESPONSE ALERT ***
3 MARCH 1995
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1) ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MAYAN DEVELOPMENT WORKER
2) RETURNED REFUGEE INJURED BY GRENADE
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1) ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MAYAN DEVELOPMENT WORKER
On February 27, at 5:30 pm, JULIO MORALES REYES, was the victim
of an assassination attempt. He received two bullet wounds and
is in serious condition.
Morales is well known for his long career in work with non
governmental organizations in Guatemala and, in particular, for
his work with the Mayan organization, Cakchiquel Coordinator for
Holistic Development (Coordinadora Cakchiquel de Desarrollo
Integral, COCADI). The incident took place in front of the office
of COCADI, located in Chimaltenango. The incident profoundly
affects the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working for
development in Guatemala. (Source: NCOORD)
ACTIVATE YOUR RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK IMMEDIATELY:
Denounce this incident, demand that authorities guarantee the
personal safety of Julio Morales Reyes, and insist that a
complete investigation be carried out.
SEND MESSAGES TO:
Procurador de Derechos Humanos, Procuraduria de Derechos Humanos,
Dr. Jorge Mario Garcia Laguardia Fax: 011-502-2-300294
Procurador General de la Nacion, Ministerio Publico, Amado
Cuestas Gomez, Fax: 011-502-2-536554
TO SEND MESSAGES:
We suggest that individuals and committees send messages through
a PREPAID RRN SYSTEM that NISGUA has recently instituted. You
can call NISGUA now to sign up on the new system via your credit
card. Your messages would then begin with THIS ALERT, for which
we have a prepared message. Future alerts would then immediately
generate messages in your name to the authorities in Guatemala or
to US policy makers.
If you cannot join the new system at this time you can use the
following instructions on sending messages: Fax a brief letter,
on letterhead, if possible. Letters from religious and community
leaders and representatives, including city council or
legislative representatives, are also recommended. If you
experience difficulty in getting through try sending your fax at
night or in the early morning. The automatic dial on many fax
machines seems to operate too quickly for lines in Guatemala. It
is best to use a phone to dial the number in Guatemala and when
you receive a tone, start to send your fax.
Faxes and telexes can also be sent to US and Guatemalan
destinations via Worldlink. You can call in, fax in, or modem
your letter to Worldlink which will then be sent to the
destination you select. A message on this case has already been
prepared by NISGUA and sent to Worldlink. You can use that
message or use it as a basis for writing your own message. To
reach Worldlink use the following numbers: voice (800) 357-0326,
fax (215) 946-2080, and via modem (800) 357-0334. Ask for NISGUA
message #2.
PREPARED MESSAGES TEXTS:
Suggested Text: (English version)
We are deeply concerned about the assassination attempt against
Julio Morales Reyes, respected member of COCADI (Coordinadora
Cakchiquel de Desarrollo Integral) on february 28. Please ensure
his physical safety and that of his colleagues at COCADI. We
strongly urge a thorough investigation and prosecution of this
crime.
(Spanish version)
Espresamos nuestro profunda preocupacion por el atentado en
contra del Sr. Julio Morales Reyes, respetado miembro de la
Coordinadora Cakchiquel de Desarrollo Integral, COCADI, en
Chimaltenango, el 28 de febrero. Por favor asegure la seguridad
fisica del Sr. Morales Reyes y la de sus colegas en COCADI.
Urgimos energeticamente una investigacion completa y rigorosa y
el procesamiento de los responsables de este crimen.
SEND MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY:
Please send copies and messages of solidarity to COCADI. Or,
send copies of your faxes and letters to the office of NCOORD,
the National Coordinating Office On Refugees and the Displaced of
Guatemala. They will be taken to Guatemala and delivered to the
Coordinacion and COCADI.
NCOORD: Fax (312) 939-3272
COCADI: Fax 011-502-9-391473 Coordinacion: Fax 011-502-2914638 /
914623 COINDE: Fax 011-502-2-934009
2) RETURNED REFUGEE INJURED BY GRENADE
On February 27, at 8:00 am, 125 meters from the Rio Negro in
Pueblo Nuevo, Ixcan, two brothers were carrying large posts to
their homes, located on the same site where a Guatemalan army
detachment had been located from January 1994 until May 1994.
One of the brothers, Andres Perez Ramirez, a 32 year old man of
Mam ethnicity, and member of the Resurreccion Cooperative was
wounded when he stepped on a grenade. His brother, Jose Sales
Sales ran for help and then publicly stated his protest at this
act.
This situation was presented to the regional office of the United
Nations Human Rights Verification Mission (MINUGUA) in Cantabal,
however, it is necessary to announce on a national and
international level. The areas to which the Guatemalan refugees
have returned from their refuge in Mexico are still militarized,
demonstrating the lack of fulfillment of the accords signed by
the government and the URNG on Human Rights and the Uprooted
Population. This also violates the October 8, 1992 Accord
between the government and the Permanent Commissions for the
return of the refugees.
The Permanent Commissions (CCPP) called upon the Minister of
National Defense, the President of the Republic, the National
Army and the URNG to avoid these acts and to withdraw all
military posts and personnel from areas near the returnee
population.
ACTIVATE YOUR RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK IMMEDIATELY:
Please send letters to the Director of the United Nations Mission
to Guatemala, MINUGUA, supporting the Permanent Commissions' call
for the Guatemalan government and the URNG to withdraw all
military posts and personnel from near the returnee population.
In addition, ask that MINUGUA conduct an investigation into the
wounding of the returnee, Andres Perez Ramirez. Send prepared
message #3.
SEND MESSAGES TO:
MINUGUA
Director of Mission, Leonardo Franco, Fax: 011-502-2-393431 (or
393440)
PREPARED MESSAGES:
Suggested Text (English version):
We write in support of the Permanent Commission (Northwest
Branch) demand for withdrawal of all military posts and personnel
from locations near communities of Guatemalan citizens who
returned from refuge in Mexico.
The case of returned refugee Andres Perez Ramirez, injured on
February 27 when he stepped on a grenade near his home in Pueblo
Nuevo, keenly demonstrates the critical need for demilitarization
of the communities of the Ixcan.
Spanish version:
Espresamos nuestro apoyo a la Comision Permanente, Vertiente
Noroccidental, en su demanda por el retiro de los cuarteles y el
personal militar que se encuentran cerca de las comunidades de
los Guatemaltecos retornados de su refugio en Mexico.
El caso del Sr. Andres Perez Ramirez, miembro de la Cooperativa
La Resureccion, Pueblo Nuevo, Ixcan Grande, Quiche, retornado de
Mexico y herido el 27 de febrero por las esquirlas de una
grenada, agudamente demuestra la necesidad critica por la
desmilitarizacion de las comunidades del Ixcan.
SEND MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY TO:
Comisiones Permanentes
6a Ave 3-23, Oficina 301, Zona 1
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Tel: 502-2-517549
Special Note:
We urge that you emphasize both of these cases in calls, letters,
faxes and e-mail messages to US policy makers on a national call
in day scheduled for March 13th. The National Call-in day is
sponsored by the Campaign for Peace and Life to commemorate the
anniversary of the Rio Negro massacre in 1982. The Campaign is
sponsoring the Call-in day with the following themes in mind:
* Commemorate the anniversaries of the brutal Rio Negro Massacre
and the disappearance of Efrain Bamaca, husband of US citizen
Jennifer Harbury;
* Demand an end to the US silence surrounding both past and
present human rights abuses in Guatemala;
* The US must divulge information it has about past human rights
abuses in Guatemala. And, it must speak out against the alarming
escalation in current abuses and the impunity enjoyed by
assassins;
* Peace shrouded in impunity is unjust and will not last.
Challenge the President to make US policy a "Monument to Truth."
Contact:
President Bill Clinton,
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comment Line: 202-456-1111, e-mail address:
President@whitehouse.gov