AAAS Science and Human Rights Program

AAAS Action Alerts

FACTS OF THE CASE:

Amnesty International reports once again about death threats against members of a Guatemalan forensic anthropology team: please see below. Forensic anthropology teams can be perceived as "protohistorians": they excavate mass graves to find historical evidence for genocide and other crimes against humanity committed during the civil war (1960-1996). Therefore, they are of great concern to the historical profession. The Guatemalan forensic anthropologists are in grave danger.

Fredy Peccerelli (m), Director of Fundacion de Antropologia Forense de Guatemala (FAFG), Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation
Jose Samuel Suasnavar (m), FAFG Deputy Director
Omar Bertoni Giron (m), FAFG Laboratory Coordinator
Bianka Pecerelli (f), sister of Fredy, wife of Jose Suasnavar
Gianni Peccerelli, brother of Fredy
Other FAFG staff and other members of Fredy Peccerelli's family

FAFG staff and some of their relatives have been subjected to numerous death threats over the last five years. The government has provided police protection for a number of years. Guatemalan and Spanish courts have filed charges of genocide against a former President and heads of the army and police, and, although there has been no progress in Guatemala, a Spanish judge has issued arrest warrants and will soon visit Guatemala to take testimony from survivors. Some of the evidence in these cases is the product of FAFG's work. The government is seeking applications from organizations to undertake the exhumation of newly discovered graves in the department of Quiche.

Take immediate action:

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:

-expressing grave concern for the safety of Fredy Peccerelli, his colleagues Jose Suasnavar and Omar Bertoni, his relatives Bianka Peccerelli and Gianni Peccerelli, and other FAFG staff members and relatives;

- calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the death threats they have received, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice;

- calling on the authorities to continue to provide police protection to Fredy Peccerelli and the FAFG offices;

- reminding the authorities that human rights defenders have a right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

APPEALS TO:
Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor's office:
Lic. Juan Luis Florido
Fiscal General de la Republica y Jefe del Ministerio Publico
Edificio Ministerio Publico,
15 Avenida 15-16, Zona 1
Barrio Gerona, 8vo. Nivel
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: 011 502 2411 9124
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Fiscal General

Minister of Interior: Adela Camacho de Torrebiarte
Ministra de Gobernacion, 6a. Avenida 13-71, Zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: 011 502 2413 8658
Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimada Sra. Ministra

COPIES TO:
Presidential Human Rights Office:
Comision Presidencial de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH)
Lic. Frank La Rue, 2a avenida 10-50 zona 9
Ciudad de Guatemala, 01009, Guatemala
Fax: 011 502 2334-0119

Human rights organization:
Fundacion de Antropologia Forense de Guatemala (FAFG)
Avenida Simon Canas 10-64, Zona 2
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: (if a voice answers, say "por favor, tono de fax")
011 502 2254 0882
011 502 2288 7297
011 502 2253 6296

Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 745 1908
Email: info@guatemala-embassy.org

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with Network of Concerned Historians if sending appeals after 11 July 2007.

This Action Alert was posted by the Science and Human Rights Program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on behalf of the Network of Concerned Historians.

(page updated 08/01/2007)