Who Ordered the Shooting of a Guatemalan Environmental Leader?

Date Issued: September 12, 2008

On September 4, Yuri Melini was shot three times in Guatemala City and, despite grave injuries, was fortunate to survive. Melini is a leading environmental activist and had just won an important Court victory striking down aspects of Guatemala's Mining Law.

The attack appeared to be carefully planned. The assailants were reportedly waiting for Melini and called his name to guarantee his identity before shooting him. On the same day, 50 other environmental activists received threats relating to their work.

The Guatemalan government has expressed concern that the killing may have been an act of intimidation to deter Melini and others from engaging in environmental advocacy.

Take action now to support the government's initial reaction and to urge it to:

• Investigate the attempted murder and prosecute those who ordered the shooting.
• Ensure that Melini and other environmental activists are adequately protected from further attacks.
  

Tell Me More:

Yuri Melini is Director of the Center for Environmental, Social and Legal Actions (CALAS). CALAS is an environmental organization that engages in investigations, education and community support. It seeks to protect the environment, strengthen political participation in environmental decision making and improve respect for the collective environmental rights of indigenous peoples. More specifically, CALAS has worked within the Guatemalan legal framework to demonstrate the environmental impact of mining and petroleum projects as well as to campaign against contamination of drinking water and occupation of nature reserves.

Most recently CALAS successfully petitioned the Constitutional Court to strike down aspects of the Mining Law. As CALAS had argued, the Court found that the Mining Law was unconstitutional because it did not require sufficient consideration to be given to environmental consequences of mining before a mining license was issued. The Law allowed for mining to an unlimited depth and permitted contaminated water from mines to be discharged into rivers. In overturning these aspects of the Law, the Court strengthened environmental restrictions on mining in Guatemala.

Sample Letter:

Jose Amilcar Velasquez Zarate
Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor's Office
Fiscal General de la Republica y Jefe del Ministerio Publico
15 avenida 15-16, 8o nivel
zona 1 Barrio Gerona,
Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA

Dear Mr. Velasquez,

I am writing to express my concern about the apparent attempt to murder Yuri Melini, the Director of the Center for Environmental, Social and Legal Actions (CALAS). I understand that on September 4, 2008 at approximately 7:30 a.m. Melini was shot in Colonia Castillo Lara, Guatemala City. Before shooting Melini the perpetrator apparently ensured Melini's identity by calling his name. Melini was shot three times but fortunately survived the incident. It appears that the assailant was waiting for Melini in a parked car with other men also waiting in another car.

I share the Guatemalan government's concern that the attempt to murder Melini was connected to his advocacy at CALAS. CALAS is an environmental organization that engages in investigations, education and community support. It seeks to protect the environment, strengthen political participation in environmental decision making and improve respect for the collective environmental rights of indigenous peoples. More specifically, CALAS has worked within the Guatemalan legal framework to demonstrate the environmental impact of mining and petroleum projects as well as to campaign against contamination of drinking water and occupation of nature reserves. Most recently CALAS successfully petitioned the Constitutional Court to strike down aspects of the Mining Law.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

cc

Francisco Jimenez
Ministro de Gobernacion
6a Avenida 13-71, Zona 1,
Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA