AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

AAAS is deeply concerned about the safety of anthropologist Carlos Federico Reyes Lopez, Coordinator of Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Team (Equipo de Antropologia Forense de Guatamala (E.A.F.G.)). He and his family have been receiving death threats. Most recently, on Wednesday, June 12 in Guatemala City, while Mr. Reyes was the sole passenger on a bus travelling to the office, a man standing with two others who seemed to point out Reyes, hailed and boarded the bus. The man sat down next to Mr. Reyes, and then held a gun to his ribs and told him that he ought to "stop being [working] with those friends, because it's dangerous and you ought to think about it..." The assailant pushed the gun into Mr. Reyes' ribs again, and then got off the bus and rejoined the two other men. On Wednesday, June 19, Mr. Reyes was surrounded by four unknown men outside a restaurant in Zone 1 in Guatemala City, one of whom was the man who had threatened Mr. Reyes the previous week. One man drew a gun and pushed it into his back and said, "we already know where you live, you have got one month to change your job because it's dangerous... Oh and of course your father is very ill." The assailant also implied that something could happen to Mr. Reyes' father or the two young girls who live in the same house. Although these incidents have been reported to the appropriate government authorities, no one has yet to be arrested inconnection with the crimes.

Mr. Reyes has likely been targetted as a result of this work with the E.A.F.G., a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that works to document, analyze and identify human remains in mass burials and clandestine cemeteries, a consequence of the violence suffered in Guatemala in the 1970s and 1980s. AAAS is particularly concerned about Mr. Reyes and other team members, as the E.A.F.G. was formed with the support of the AAAS in 1992. Since then, the AAAS has maintained a close working relationshipwith the E.A.F.G. Although the E.A.F.G. has been conducting exhumations since its formation in 1992, death threats against Mr. Reyes come at a time when important developments are taking place. Changes in the role of the military are being discussed. Many military personal are opposed to potential changes. In addition, amnesty laws for human rights abusers are also being discussed. However, a large sector of the Guatemalan public is opposed to amnesty for those responsible.

The work of the E.A.F.G. in uncovering and documenting violations is perhaps thegreatest scientific proof of the scale of violations committed by the military in the late 1970s and 1980s. Although, to date, none of those responsible have been brought to justice, two particular cases may be playing a role in the timing of these threats. In one case, three Civil Patrolers accused in the massacres of communities in Agua Fria and Rio Negro will soon be tried. The E.A.F.G. uncovered and holds the critical evidence for this case. The E.A.F.G. is also holding evidence of an extrajudicial execution of a guerrilla combatant in an investigation by the Public Ministry. The government of Guatemala is obligated to provide protection for Mr. Reyes under Principle 15 of the United Nations Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, which states that, "Complainants, witnesses, those conducting the investigations and their families shall be protected from violence, threats of violence or any other form of intimidation."

[Sources of information on this case are: Amnesty International and the Center for Human Rights Legal Action]

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, telegrams or airmail letters:

• expressing concern at the threats against Carlos Federico Reyes Lopez and his family members, and urging the authorities to take immediate steps to guarantee their safety;
• urging the authorities to initiate investigations into the threats against Carlos Federico Reyes Lopez and to ensure that the findings are made public and that those responsible are brought to justice;
• requesting to be kept informed of what measures the government intends to take to protect those at risk because of their involvement in the exhumation of clandestine cemeteries;
• urging the Guatemalan government to ensure the implementation of Principle 15 of the United Nations Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions stating that, "Complainants,witnesses, those conducting the investigations and their families shall be protected from violence, threats of violence or any other form of intimidation".

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

S.E. Alvaro Arz Irigoyen
Presidente de la Repblica de Guatemala
Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Faxes: +502 287 4537
Telegrams:Presidente, Guatemala, GUATEMAL
Salutation: Sr. Presidente/Dear President

Excmo. Sr.Rodolfo Mendoza
Minister of Interior
Ministro de Gobernacin, Ministerio de Gobernacin
Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Faxes: + 502 251 5368
Telegrams: Ministro de Gobernacin, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister

Gral. Julio Arnoldo Balconi Turcios
Minister of Defence
Ministro de Defensa, Ministerio de Defensa
Palacio Nacional, Guatemala,GUATEMALA
Telegrams: Ministro de Defensa, Guatemala, Guatemala
Faxes: +502 2 609909 (if voice, ask "me puede dar tono de fax,
por favor")
Salutation: Sr. Ministro / Dear Minister

Hector Hugo Perez Aguilar
Attorney General
Fiscal General de la Nacin, Ministerio Pblico
18 Calle 10-36 Zona 1, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Telefax: + 502 2 317 066


Marilyn McAfee
American Embassy
7-01 Avenida de la Reforma
Zone 10; APO AA 34024
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Fax: +502 231-88-85
Salutation: Ambassador (full name)

Edmund Mulet
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: +202 745-1908
Salutation: Your Excellency (full name)

COPIES SENT TO:

Lic. Jorge Garca Laguardia
Human Rights Procurator
Procurador de los Derechos Humanos
12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Faxes: +502 2 81734
Equipo de Antropologia Forense de Guatemala
3a. Calle 3-18, Apto.B, Edificio Packard, Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala, CP 01001, GUATEMALA


Col. Guillermo Leopoldo Pimentel Recinos
Comandante de la Zona Militar No 23
Santa Elena de la Cruz, Flores, Petn, GUATEMALA
Tel: + 502 9 500364 / 500493

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