Protect Guatemalan Human Rights Defenders from Attacks and Threats

Alert Issued: Sept. 29, 2004

In recent weeks, the offices of two Guatemalan nongovernmental organizations were broken into, and files containing sensitive case information were stolen. Oftentimes, Guatemalan human rights organizations that document violations and implicate those responsible for such violations fall victim themselves to acts of intimidation and violence such as burglaries, robberies, kidnappings, death threats, and even murder.

In these two burglaries, important files were stolen, apparently by design, and no action has been taken by the authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

Join us in writing to the Guatemalan authorities and demanding that appropriate measures be taken to ensure the security of human rights defenders and to bring to justice those responsible for the burglaries and other acts of intimidation.

Background:

In late September, the offices of Casa del Migrante (Immigrant House) and Paz y Tercer Mundo (Peace and Third World) were broken into and files containing sensitive case information were stolen.

Casa del Migrante is a nongovernmental organization that has worked on immigrant rights issues for over ten years. According to reports, Casa del Migrante has conducted investigations into human trafficking cases and many of the stolen databases and files contained information that implicated individuals that might have been responsible for such human rights violations. It is possible that some of these individuals came from powerful sectors of Guatemalan society.

The offices of Paz y Tercer Mundo were also broken into much in the same way as those of Casa del Migrante. The organization is dedicated to assisting displaced communities and victims of armed conflict. Paz y Tercer Mundo had already been the subject of intimidation prior to the burglary when its office was attacked in May 2004, and nine shots were fired at it.

Sample Letter:

President of the Republic of Guatemala
Sr. Oscar Berger
2da. Avenida 3-04 zona 13
Guatemala City,
Guatemala
Fax: +502 471 4517

Dear Sirs:

I would like to express my serious concern about the recent burglaries and acts of intimidation against Casa del Migrante, Paz y Tercer Mundo and other human rights organizations and defenders. On September 19, 2004, the offices of these organizations were broken into and sensitive case files were stolen. According to reports from the Grupo Apoyo Mutuo and the Observatory, these burglaries have not been investigated by the Guatemalan authorities.

As you are aware, Article 11 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders provides that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession.” In addition, according to article 12 “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”

I therefore call upon you to guarantee the safety of those at Casa del Migrante and Paz y Tercer Mundo. Appropriate security measures to protect these organizations and those working at them should be taken and an immediate, full and impartial investigation into the recent burglaries should be launched. Upon the conclusion of such an investigation, all persons found responsible for them should be prosecuted and punished accordingly.

I will continue to monitor this case closely. Thank you for your attention to these most serious matters.

Sincerely,

CC: Mr. Lionel Maza, Chargé D’Affairs
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 202 745 1908

Ambassador Víctor Hugo Godoy Morales
Permanent Representative of Guatemala to
the Organization of American States
1507 22nd Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
Fax: 202 833 4011