TAKE ACTION: Demand an Investigation into the Murders of Guatemalan Human Rights Defenders
Four Guatemalan Human Rights Defenders Murdered in January and February 2010
2009 was the most violent year in the past decade for Guatemalan human rights defenders, with 15 defenders murdered; 2010 is proving to be even worse, with 17 attacks on defenders, among them 4 dead.
Take action now to investigate these murders.
The Guatemala Human Rights Commission respects and promotes the work of
Guatemalan human rights defenders and their right to continue their
work without threats, attacks, or assassination.
We condemn the murders and demand the immediate and thorough
investigation of the crimes, and prosecution of those responsible. We
insist on protection for the families and other threatened defenders in
accordance with their wishes.
Evelinda Ramírez Reyes was attacked and killed while driving
home to San Marcos from Guatemala City on the evening of January 13,
2010. Evelinda was a community leader and member of FRENA (Resistance
in Defense of Natural Resources and People's Rights) and the
CUC/Farmer's Union. She had just attended a series of meetings with
government officials on public access to electricity; she and other
FRENA members filed complaints about the excessive rates charged by
service provider DEOCSA-Unión Fenosa and also advocated for the public
management of electrical energy distribution. She leaves behind a four
year old son.
German Antonio Curup was kidnapped with a colleague on February
11, 2010 by men waiting for them outside of the workplace. On February
14, his body appeared in Barcenas, 10 miles south of San Juan, with his
throat slit and other signs of torture. German worked for the defense
of land and natural resources. He was the son of Abelino Curup,
community leader of San Juan Sacatepequez who was sentenced to 50 years
in prison for a murder that he did not commit.
Octavio Roblero, member of FRENA, was shot with 17 bullets at
6pm on February 17, 2010 in front of his shop in the market in
Malacatán, San Marcos. Octavio was the brother in law of Victor Galvez,
also a FRENA leader who was killed in Malacatán in October 2009. Both
leaders organized a movement against the abuses and illegal actions of
the electric company DEOCSA-UNION FENOSA.
Juan Antonio Chen, Mayan lawyer, was shot dead in his car, by a
man in a pickup truck, at 7pm on February 17 in Coban, Alta Verapaz.
Chen worked with ODHAG (Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of
Guatemala and the National Reparations Program).
See GHRC's fact sheet on Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala.
Click here to sign on to a letter to demand the full investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Guatemalan defenders Evelinda Ramirez, German Curup, Octavio Roblero, and Juan Antonio Chen and to protect the rights of defenders to continue their work without intimidation or violent attacks.
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