|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
 
 Demand Review of Charges against Guatemalan LGBT Activist (01/20/09)   International Commission against Impunity (CICIG)
 HRF re CICIG on TV News (Español) (12/05/07)
 HRF re CICIG on Radio News (Español) (12/05/07)
Audio File: Radio Pacifica interview with HRF re President Bush’s trip to Guatemala (03/13/07)
|
|
|
|
December 17 , 2007 Alvarez is reportedly the fifth member of the Community Council for Development (COCODES) to have been murdered since 2005. The handful of remaining members of COCODES alive are in grave danger. Alvarez and his colleagues had previously been threatened and followed on various occasions. They had also been falsely accused of a 2004 murder, an allegation that may have contributed to their own deaths. Take action now to demand that: 1. The Guatemalan Attorney-General prosecute those responsible for the murder of Alvarez and the murders of the other members of COCODES. Background: On Alvarez was a member of COCODES in Microparcelamiento El Naranjo in Escuintla department. Community Councils for Development like COCODES exist in different parts of Guatemala and are local organizations created to support local authorities in their attempts to maintain order and safety. The Peace Accords of 1996 set the stage for their creation as means to increase community participation. They were created by law in 2002. Alvarez was killed on December 8 2007, shot dead on his way to work. In 2004, in an attempt to decrease the incidence of street gangs and reduce night-time assault, COCODES was instrumental in obtaining a "Dry Law" which prohibited the night-time sale of alcohol. COCODES consulted widely about the measure, which enjoyed almost unanimous community support. One vendor, Ambrosio Juarez, allegedly failed to comply with the measure and continued to sell alcohol in the evening despite a judicial order. On the evening of November 21, 2004, when an alleged hit man was drunk and behaving aggressively, COCODES called the police. The police visited Juarez to discuss his violation of the Dry Law. A gunfight ensued between police and Juarez, culminating in the death of Juarez. It is unclear who killed Juarez; however, COCODES members were not involved in the gunfight. Surprisingly, members of COCODES, including Alvarez, were detained and accused of the extrajudicial execution of Juarez. A judge subsequently released the members of COCODES, including Alvarez, on the basis that there was no evidence linking them to the murder of Juarez. Alvarez is the fifth member of COCODES to have been murdered since 2005. Most of those falsely charged with the execution of Mr. Juarez have now reportedly been murdered. The handful of surviving members of COCODES including the president, Juan Francisco Almira, are in grave danger. The Interior Ministry has started an investigation into the murder of Alvarez. COCODES fears, however, that the Attorney-General's office will not prosecute those responsible given the almost complete levels of impunity for violent crimes in Guatemala. See Human Rights First Guatemala web-page: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/defenders/hrd_guatemala/hrd_guatemala.asp Sample Letter: Lic Juan Luis Florido Dear Attorney-General, I am writing to express my concern about the murder of community activist and human rights defender Felipe Alvarez on December 8, 2007. Mr. Alvarez was shot dead on his way to work. He was a member of the Community Council for Development (COCODES) in Microparcelamiento El Naranjo, Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla. I fear that Mr. Alvarez was killed in connection with COCODES' attempts to combat street gangs and bring increased security to their community. In 2004, in an attempt to decrease the incidence of street gangs and reduce night-time assault, COCODES was instrumental in obtaining a "Dry Law" that prohibited the night-time sale of alcohol. I understand that COCODES consulted widely about the measure, which enjoyed almost unanimous community support. One vendor, Ambrosio Juarez, allegedly failed to comply with the measure and continued to sell alcohol in the evening despite a judicial order. On the evening of November 21, 2004, when an alleged hit man was drunk and behaving aggressively, COCODES called the police. The police visited Mr. Juarez to discuss his violation of the Dry Law. A gunfight ensued between police and Juarez, culminating in the death of Juarez. It is unclear who killed Juarez; however, COCODES members were not involved in the gunfight. Surprisingly, members of COCODES, including Mr. Alvarez, were detained and accused of the extrajudicial execution of Mr. Juarez. A judge subsequently released the members of COCODES, including Mr. Alvarez, on the basis that there was no evidence linking them to the murder. I am extremely concerned that Mr. Alvarez is the fifth member of COCODES to have been murdered since 2005. The other members murdered were: Moise Ajbal, Memetrio Yanes, Victor Manuel Regino, and Juan Jose Atz. I am further concerned that the majority of those members of COCODES falsely charged with the execution of Mr. Juarez have subsequently been murdered. The handful of surviving members, including the president, Juan Francisco Almira, are in grave danger. Human rights defenders working at the community level, such as Mr. Alvarez, are essential in promoting and protecting human rights and consolidating the rule of law. I understand that the Interior Ministry has started an investigation into the murder of Mr. Alvarez. I urge you to ensure that the Attorney-General's office uses the information from that investigation to prosecute those responsible for the murder of Mr. Alvarez. I also urge you to prosecute those responsible for the murders of the four other members of COCODES and the murder of Mr. Juarez. Finally, I urge the Interior Ministry to consult with COCODES President, Juan Francisco Almira and other surviving members of COCODES and immediately implement protective measures to protect their lives. Thank you for your attention in this urgent matter. I will continue to closely monitor this situation.
CC Adela Camacho de Torrebiarte Frank la Rue Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo
|
|||||||||
