Forwarded message:
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 94 13:46 EST
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christian Task Force on Central America BC)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: urgent action
March
4,
1994
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URGENT ACTION - GUATEMALA - URGENT ACTION - GUATEMALA-
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LEADERS OF POPULAR MOVEMENT THREATENED AGAIN
Dear Friends,
Today we received information from the Mutual Support Group of the
Relatives of the Disappeared (GAM) of more threats against leaders
of the popular movement.
In a letter to trade union organizations in Alta Verapaz, the
death squad, Jaguars for Justice- J.J.- has given the following
people 48 hours to get out of Guatemala:
Nineth Montenegro of GAM Byron Morales of the Guatemalan Workers'
Trade Union -USTG Nery Barrios of the Quetzaltenango Workers'
Union Armando Sanchez of the Government Workers' Federation Perci
Mendez of the Municipal Workers' Coordinator Ernesto Bol of the
Coban Trade Unionists, Alta Verapaz Carlos Enrique Lobos of the
Coban Trade Unionists, Alta Verapaz
The message was received from GAM on March 3rd and we assume the
threat was made shortly prior to that.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 1989, the "JJ" threatened several popular leaders, resulting in
a terrorist attack on the GAM on August 15, 1989, and later the
kidnapping of Maria Rumalda Camey of the GAM, as well as the
kidnapping of 11 university students. On March 28, 1993, a
Guatemalan newspaper published a list of names of 24 people who
had received anonymous death threats, including Byron Morales and
other trade unionists. Nineth Montenegro has received numerous
threats in the past and other GAM members have also received
threats.
GAM states: "From this moment on we hold the President, as
COMMANDER GENERAL OF THE ARMY, responsible for any physical or
psychological attack upon any of those under threat. He is
responsible since he has a constitutional obligation to guarantee
the (physical) integrity of all Guatemalan citizens."
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send messages to Guatemalan president, Ramiro de Len
Carpio:
- urging him to investigate the threats by the Jaguars for Justice
death squad against the people named above,
- urging him, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to bring
the perpetrators to justice
- holding him responsible for the physical and psychological
security of the people named above
Please also send messages to the head of the Canadian delegation
to the United Nations Human Rights Commission meetings in Geneva,
- citing the threats to the people named above
- urging the Canadian delegation to press for Guatemala to be
included in the group of countries that systematically violate
human rights.
Please send copies of this message to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the Foreign Affairs critics for the Reform Party and
the NDP. (Please note that Reform critic is different person than
before and has different number. Eastern network covers Bloc
Qubecois.)
ADDRESSES
Lic. Ramiro de Len Carpio, FAX:
011-502-2-537472 or Presidente de la Repblica de Guatemala,
011-502-2-519702 Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Ms. Anne Park, FAX:
011-41-22-734-7919 Head of the Canadian Delegation to the United
Nations, Human Rights Commission,
1 rue Pr-de-la-Bichette, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Hon. Andr Ouellet, FAX: 613-996-3443
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phone:613-995-8872
House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Bob Mills, M.P. (Reform Party) FAX: 613-995-0590
Svend Robinson (NDP) FAX: 613-992-5501
Both are at House of Commons. No Postage is necessary for House
of Commons.
