"Members of the Unidad de Protección de
Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos (UPDDH) and the Movimiento
Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (MNDH) have recently been intimidated
and have received death threats in what appears to be an effort to
dissuade them from their work. Both organisations are involved in the
defence of human rights and protection of human rights defenders.
Amnesty International is concerned for their safety.
On 15 May at approximately 8:45am, a telephone call was received by a member of the MNDH. A male voice said "si siguen buscando los vamos a matar" "if you continue looking we are going to kill you". Three days earlier on 12 May the same caller had said "no se metan en mierda" "don’t get involved in shit".
On 11 May, a female caller had asked for specific information regarding who worked in the offices which MNDH and UPPDH share, their areas of work, as well as what investigations and research they are currently conducting. The caller was repeatedly asked her name and who she worked for but refused to give any information. While no direct threat was made, the tone and nature of the call was considered threatening by the staff at MNDH and UPDDH.
The UPDDH is currently providing support to a series of cases involving both individual human rights defenders and human rights organisations in the capital and the regions of Petén, Zacapa, Escuintla and Jutiapa. It is also involved in documenting cases of attacks against human rights defenders and lobbying the Government of Guatemala to investigate and bring to justice those responsible.
The UPDDH and MNDH are also active in briefing international governments and
organisations on the human rights situation in Guatemala. The MNDH is active in the Frente Contra la Mineria, Front Against Mining and in implementing the recommendations of the UN Comisión de Esclarecimiento Historico, Commission for Historical Clarification which investigated abuses committed during the internal armed conflict.
The MNDH in recent months has been aiding the Procuradoría de los Derechos Humanos, Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, in surveying, collating and organising thousands of pages of documents, uncovered in 2005, of the former National Police (replaced by the National Civilian Police in 1997). The documents are believed to contain information regarding numerous instances of human rights violations committed by members of the National Police during the internal armed conflict (1960–96), including disappearances, kidnappings and torture."
For the further information about this urgent action and the contact information of those to write to: click here. We don't post the details of every urgent action for Guatemala, you can
see AI's UAs for Guatemala here and you can also join GSN's urgent
action network.On 15 May at approximately 8:45am, a telephone call was received by a member of the MNDH. A male voice said "si siguen buscando los vamos a matar" "if you continue looking we are going to kill you". Three days earlier on 12 May the same caller had said "no se metan en mierda" "don’t get involved in shit".
On 11 May, a female caller had asked for specific information regarding who worked in the offices which MNDH and UPPDH share, their areas of work, as well as what investigations and research they are currently conducting. The caller was repeatedly asked her name and who she worked for but refused to give any information. While no direct threat was made, the tone and nature of the call was considered threatening by the staff at MNDH and UPDDH.
The UPDDH is currently providing support to a series of cases involving both individual human rights defenders and human rights organisations in the capital and the regions of Petén, Zacapa, Escuintla and Jutiapa. It is also involved in documenting cases of attacks against human rights defenders and lobbying the Government of Guatemala to investigate and bring to justice those responsible.
The UPDDH and MNDH are also active in briefing international governments and
organisations on the human rights situation in Guatemala. The MNDH is active in the Frente Contra la Mineria, Front Against Mining and in implementing the recommendations of the UN Comisión de Esclarecimiento Historico, Commission for Historical Clarification which investigated abuses committed during the internal armed conflict.
The MNDH in recent months has been aiding the Procuradoría de los Derechos Humanos, Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, in surveying, collating and organising thousands of pages of documents, uncovered in 2005, of the former National Police (replaced by the National Civilian Police in 1997). The documents are believed to contain information regarding numerous instances of human rights violations committed by members of the National Police during the internal armed conflict (1960–96), including disappearances, kidnappings and torture."
You can download the UPDDH's latest human rights report Jan-April 2006 in Spanish here. It details many of the most recent intimidation and threats received by human rights defenders in Guatemala in recent months.
