/* Written 6:43 AM Aug 21, 1996 by omct@iprolink.ch in igc:hr.americas */
Subject: omct:GTM200896/Guatemala/death threats
Case GTM 200896
Special Appeal
The International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture requests
your URGENT intervention in the following situation in
Guatemala.
Brief description of the situation :
The Comision para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos
(CODEHUCA), a member of the network, has expressed its
concern over the death threats issued on human rights
defenders, unionists, and political leaders, presumably by
the military organisation "For the restoration of the
Guatemalan Army", PREGUA.
According to the information, PREGUA has threatened 18
people with death, and is demanding the purging of 57 Army
leaders, whom they accuse of murder and theft. They have
also accused political leaders of supporting the Unidad
Revolucionaria Nacional de Guatemala (URNG) .
Among those threatened with death are : Nineth MONTENEGRO,
a deputy of the FDNG; the President of the Republic, Alvaro
ARZU; the president of COPAZ, Gustavo PORRAS CASTEJON; the
Minister of Defence, General Julio BALCONI; the Procurator
for Human Rights, Jorge Mario GARCIA LAGUARDIA; the Nobel
Peace Prize-winner Rigoberta MENCHU; and the Minister for
External Affairs, Eduardo STEIN.
The International Secretariat is gravely concerned about
these threats, which, as well as posing a risk to the
physical and psychological integrity of the above people,
could also jeopardise the dialogue initiated between the
government of Guatemala and the opposition - both sides
undertook to continue this dialogue before the 48th session
of the Sub-Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination
and Protection of Minorities, presently taking place in
Geneva.
Action requested :
Please write to the Guatemalan authorities urging them to :
i. carry out an exhaustive and impartial investigation
into the alleged facts, including allegations of
military involvement, in order to identify those
responsible, bring them to trial in a civil court, and
apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions
in accordance with the law;
ii. take all the necessary measures to guarantee the life
and physical and psychological integrity of all
persons threatened with death;
iii.ensure the continuation of the peace process initiated
between the government of Guatemala and the
opposition;
iv. guarantee at all times the full respect of human
rights and fundamental freedoms in the country, in
accordance with national laws and international
standards.
Addresses :
S.E. Alvaro Arzu, Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala,
Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, Guatemala. Fax : + 502 2 537
472 o/or 535 856 o/or 515 667 o/o 393 333 o/or 347 364
Sr. Rodolfo Mendoza, Ministro de Gobernacion, Ministerio de
Gobernacion, Despacho Ministerial, Of. N=BA 8, Palacio
Nacional, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala. Fax : (+ 502 2)
537 472
Dr. Jorge Mario Garcia Laguardia, Procurador de Derechos
Humanos, 12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1, Ciudad Guatemala,
Guatemala. Fax : (+ 502 2) 530 08 74 / 530 08 76
Lic. Ramses Cuestas Gomez, Fiscal General de la Nacion,
Ministerio Publico, 18 Calle 10-36, Zona 1, Ciudad de
Guatemala, Guatemala. Fax : (+ 502 2) 53 75 54 / 53 04 82
Gral. Julio Balconi Turcios, Ministro de Defensa,
Ministerio de Defensa, Palacio Nacional, Guatemala,
Guatemala. Fax : + 502 2 537 472 o/or 530 08 74
The Guatemalan Representative in your country.
Geneva, 21 August 1996
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code
number of the present appeal.
Ben Schonveld
Projects Manager
OMCT - SOS Torture Tel: +41-22-733 31 40
Case Postale 119 Fax: +41 22-733 31 40
CH 1211 Geneva 20 Conf: omctsostorture@conf.igc.apc.org
Switzerland
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