---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Human Rights Defenders Urgent Appeals Distribution List < [email protected]> Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 5:48 AM Subject: [Urgent Action] Front Line - Urgent Appeal for Action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk in Guatemala To: [email protected]
*Front Line * * * * * *URGENT APPEAL - 19/02/2010* *Guatemala:* *On 17 February 2010 Front Line issued an Urgent Appeal on behalf of human rights defender Mr Leocadio Juracán and his fellow members of the human rights organisation Comité Campesino del Altiplano - CCDA (Peasants’ Committee of the Highlands) who, along with the members of several affiliated organisations, had received death threats.* Front Line regrets to announce that, on 17 February 2010, at approximately 5:30p.m. Mr Octavio Roblero, leader of of the natural resources protection and resistance front (FRENA) affiliated to the national front for the defence of public services and natural resources (FNL) which is part of MSICG, was assassinated. Octavio Roblero was shot dead by an unidentified individual at his work place in the bus station in Malacatán in San Marcos. Octavio Robelero had received several threats prior to his assasination. Octavio Roblero was the brother-in-law of Mr Víctor Gálvez who was assasinated on 24 October 2009. Dear Friends, Thank you for signing up to take action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk. Every day Front Line receives information about human rights defenders in danger and each week we ask the members of the urgent appeal network to take action on behalf of one defender. Action by members of the network is a very simple and effective way of sending a message to governments that they have an obligation to respect the rights of human rights defenders. If you would like information on other cases you can log onto the Front Line web site at * http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/act* *Your action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk can make a real difference.* *Take Action* *Please copy the enclosed letter and send it to the address provided.* *The text of the letter is attached separately so you can just print it out and send it off.* *Please put your own name and address on the letter. and if you receive a reply, please forward it to Front Line.* Licenciado Oscar Berger Perdomo, Presidente de la República de Guatemala, Casa Presidencial, 6 a. Avenida, 4-18 zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Your Excellency On 17 February 2010, at approximately 5:30p.m. Mr Octavio Roblero, leader of of the natural resources protection and resistance front (FRENA) affiliated to the national front for the defence of public services and natural resources (FNL) which is part of MSICG, was assassinated. Octavio Roblero was shot dead by an unidentified individual at his work place in the bus station in Malacatán in San Marcos. Octavio Robelero had received several threats prior to his assassination. Octavio Roblero was the brother-in-law of Mr Víctor Gálvez who was assassinated on 24 October 2009. This is part of a consistent pattern of attacks on human rights defenders. Human rights defender Mr Leocadio Juracán has also received death threats, and his fellow members of the human rights organisation Comité Campesino del Altiplano - CCDA (Peasants’ Committee of the Highlands) have recently been targeted as a result of their human rights activities. The CCDA is a member of the Labour, Indigenous, and Peasant Movement of Guatemala (MSICG) which has developed the “Café Justicia” fair trade coffee project. Leocadio Juracán is the coordinator of the CCDA and member of the political council of the MSICG. CCDA and MSICG members have recently travelled to the European Union in order to denounce the current precarious situation for workers in Guatemala. On 2 February 2010, the MSICG published its report: “Guatemala: The Cost of Labour Freedom”, in which the CCDA denounced the violence and attacks against the indigenous, peasant and labour movement. On 15 February 2010, a MSICG delegation that visited the headquarters of the CCDA was followed by unidentified persons in what appears to have been an attempt to intimidate them. On 14 February 2010 a threatening message was put under the door of the house of relatives of Leocadio Juracán, where he had visited early that day. The message contained death threats against Leocadio Juracán and his family. Prior to this, on 13 February 2010, unidentified persons left written messages threatening to kill Leocadio Juracán in the headquarters of the CCDA. Furthermore, on the night of 9-10 February 2010, Café Justicia's processing centre in Cerro de Oro, Santiago Atitlán, was broken into and 182 bags of green coffee of 150 pounds each were stolen. The intruders also used cement blocks to form a circle inside the processing centre in which they left half-full beer bottles and half-smoked cigarettes. It is believed the break-in was in retaliation for the publication of the MSICG report on 2 February 2010. These recent incidents are just a few in a series of threats and acts of intimidation against the CCDA. In November 2009, shortly after the MSICG appeared before Congress calling for follow up on the legislative process in relation to the Law on Rural Development, 27 bags of green coffee were stolen from the Café Justicia's processing centre. In February 2009, Leocadio Juracán received several death threats and, on 1 May 2008, shots were fired at Leocadio Juracán's car as he was driving home from a Labour Day demonstration in Guatemala City. The aforementioned incidents were all reported to the relevant authorities. However, to date there have been no positive developments in these cases. I believe that the killing of Octavio Roblero, the death threats against Leocadio Juracán, the acts of intimidation and threats against members of the CCDA, and the break-in at the Café Justicia's processing centre, are directly related to the human rights activities of CCDA, in particular its efforts to improve labour conditions in Guatemala. I fear for the physical and psychological integrity of Leocadio Juracán and all other members of the CCDA. I urge the authorities in Guatemala to: 1. Carry out an immediate and impartial investigation into the killing of Octavio Roblero 2. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the death threats against human rights defender Mr Leocadio Juracán, the acts of intimidation of other members of the CCDA, and the break-in at the Café Justicia processing centre, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards; 3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological security and integrity of all members of the CCDA and MSICG; 4. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Guatemala are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. Yours sincerely Name .............................................. address ............................................... address ............................................... address ............................................... *Thank you for taking action on behalf of Octavio Roblero and ** Leocadio Juracán* *If you want to be removed from the list simply send an email to* [email protected], and write 'unsubscribe' in the subject and text of the e-mail. _______________________________________________ Action mailing list [email protected] http://mail.frontlinedefenders.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/action To be removed from the list, email to [email protected], write: 'unsubscribe' in subject and text of the email (don't include the quotes) -- W A Laskar Freelance Reporter and Human Rights Activist with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, http://bhrpc.net.googlepages.com 15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile, Guwahati-781037, Assam, India Cell: +919401134314 Visit my blog at www.rightspeaks.blogspot.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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Urgent Appeal 19 February - letter only.doc
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