AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

During the early morning hours of 21 July 2002, the headquarters of the National Coordinator of Human Rights (Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala, CONADEHGUA) was broken into and office equipment and telephones were stolen. However, it is not believed that the break-in was the work of thieves, but was part of a campaign to intimidate human rights defenders in Guatemala. Amnesty International reports that witnesses saw cars belonging to the military intelligence agency patrolling the area shortly before the break-in and that among the things taken were research documents on the remilitarization of the country and case information on past disappearances. Amnesty also reports that the intruders "reportedly stayed for several hours and deliberately left photographs of two of CONADEHGUA's directors on a desk apparently as a threat."

CONADEHGUA shares offices with four other human rights organizations, including the International Center for Research in Human Rights (El Centro Internacional para Investigaciones en Derechos Humanos, CIIDH). CIIDH is a non-governmental, non-partisan, scientific organization whose mission is to research human rights issues and support the human rights work of popular organizations throughout Guatemala. CIIDH has been a partner of AAAS on several human rights research projects.

The 21 July break-in occurred in the same week that the Second Latin American and Caribbean Consultation on Human Rights Defenders of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights was due to start in Guatemala. One of the topics on the agenda is the worsening human rights situation in Guatemala. Several of the human rights groups were planning to describe several incidents against human rights defenders that have been occurring in recent months. A press release from the Guatemalan human rights organization, Alliance Against Impunity (Alianza Contra la Impunidad) described ten separate incidences of break-ins and attacks against human rights defenders throughout the country that have occurred in the last three months alone. They will present this information to the Commission.

Several Guatemalan human rights organizations denounced this latest attack against human rights defenders and call on the authorities to conduct full investigations and bring those responsible to justice. International human rights groups continue to express their concern about the safety of human rights activists and researchers in Guatemala.

(Sources of information for this case include: Alliance Against Impunity, Amnesty International, and the Office of Human Rights of the Archbishop of Guatemala.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

The Human Rights Defenders Declaration

• Article 6(a): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: To know, seek, obtain, receive and hold information about all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including having access to information as to how those rights and freedoms are given effect in domestic legislative, judicial or administrative systems.
• Article 6(b): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• Article 6(c): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters.
• Article 7: Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to develop and discuss new human rights ideas and principles and to advocate their acceptance.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Calling for the authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into the 21 July break-in of the offices of National Coordinator of Human Rights and that those responsible be brought to justice; and
• Expressing your grave concern about the worsening human rights situation in Guatemala, especially for those individuals who are defending human rights.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Lic. Juan Francisco Reyes Lopez
Vice President of the Republic of Guatemala
6a. Avenida 'A' 4-18
Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala
GUATEMALA
Fax: 011 502 239 0090
Salutation: Dear Vice President

Lic. Adolfo Reyes Calderon
Minister of the Interior (Ministro de Gobernación)
Ministerio de Gobernación
6a Avenida 4-64, Zona 4
Ciudad de Guatemala
GUATEMALA
Fax: 011 502 362 0237
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister

Lic. Carlos David de Leon Argueta
Fiscal General de la República (Attorney General)
Lic. Carlos David de Leon Argueta
Fiscalía General del Ministerio Público
8a. Avenida 10-57
Tercer nivel
Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala
GUATEMALA
Fax: 011 502 221 2718
Salutation: Dear Attorney General:

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Ariel Rivera Irias
Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to the United States
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 202 745 1908
Salutation: Dear Mr. Abassador

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

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