Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: Death Threats against Children
Date: 16 Aug 92  12:19:44 EST




From sharrison Thu Aug 13 12:46:50 1992

UA 266/92   Ill-treatment/Death threats against street
            children                        13 August 1992
GUATEMALA: Byron Geovanni CASTILLO, aged 14
           Jose CHICAJUA, aged 15

Amnesty International is concerned at the reported ill-
treatment and death threats against street children Byron
Geovanni Castillo and Jose Chicajua, on 4 August 1992 in
Guatemala City by members of the Guatemalan special police
task force called Hunapu, Hunters.

According to information recently received by Amnesty
International, on 4 August at around 11 pm, Byron Geovanni
Castillo and Jose Chicajua were sitting with two other
unidentified street children on the steps of a shop. Byron
Castillo and Jose Chicajua were apparently reading a paper
and the two other children were sniffing shoe glue when one
uniformed member of the Policia Nacional (PN), National
Police, and a uniformed Guardia de Hacienda (Treasury Guard)
approached them.

The two children who were reportedly sniffing glue ran away
and the two members of the security forces allegedly shouted
at the remaining two, Byron Geovanni Castillo and Jos
Chicajua, ``No oyen que les estoy hablando?  Aqui estan
esperando para ver que se pueden robar!''(``Can't you hear
me?  Here you are waiting to see what you can steal!'') and
also insulted them.  As the children apparently replied that
they were not doing anything wrong, the two authorities saw
the glue jars and grabbed them by their hair, carrying them
between the empty stalls of a nearby market. According to
the children's account, the two members of the security
forces then started punching and kicking them in the legs,
arms and chest. The authorities reportedly poured glue from
the two containers onto the children's heads and then hit
them again.  Before letting the children go, one of the
security members shouted: ``Vayanse al diablo y no vuelvan,
pues si los volvemos a ver los vamos a matar''  (``Go to
hell and do not come back because if we see you again we
will kill you!'')

Approximately one hour later in the same area, Byron
Geovanni Castillo and Jose Chicajua identified the two
members of the security forces who had ill-treated them in a
Hunapu patrol.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Abuses against street children continue to take place in the
context of police claims of an escalating crime rate,
particularly in the capital, Guatemala City. The special
task force Hunapu, comprising members of the Policia
Nacional (PN), National Police, the Policia de Hacienda,
Treasury Police and the Policia Militar Ambulante (PMA),
Mobile Military Police, was established in February 1992 as
a response to common crime in Guatemala, replacing the
integrated services police unit Sistema de Proteccion Civica
(SIPROCI), System of Civil Protection.  The police maintain
that, in Guatemala City, maras, gangs of street youths, are
responsible for high levels of crime.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters:
- expressing concern at the reported ill-treatment and death
threats directed against Byron Geovanni Castillo and Jose
Chicajua by members of the ``Hunapu'' urban security unit on
4 August 1992;
- asking for an immediate investigation into these incidents
and urging that those found responsible be brought to
justice;
- urging that immediate and adequate measures be taken to
safeguard the physical integrity of all street children in
Guatemala.

APPEALS TO:            [Salutation]
1. President:
[Excelentisimo Sr. Presidente / Dear President]

S.E. Jorge Serrano Elias
Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala
Palacio Nacional
Guatemala, GUATEMALA
(Telegrams:  Presidente Serrano, Guatemala, Guatemala)
(Telephone:  011 502 2 21212, 011 502 2 22266)
(Faxes:      011 502 2 537472, 011 502 2 519702)
(Telexes:    305 5331 CAPRES GU)


2. Minister of Interior: [Sr. Ministro / Dear Minister]

Lic. Francisco Predomo
Ministro de Gobernacion
Ministerio de Gobernacion
Despacho Ministerial, Of. No. 8
Palacio Nacional
Guatemala, GUATEMALA
(Telegrams:  Ministro de Gobernacion, Guatemala, Guatemala)
(Telephone:  011 502 2 21212 ext. 500; 011 502 2 518105-6
             (direct)
(Faxes:      011 502 2 518105)
(Telexes:    305 5085 MINGOB)


3. Head of the National Police
[Sr. Director General / Dear Sir]

Lic. Jose Maria Menendez
Director General de la Policia Nacional
6 Avenida 13-71
Zona 1, Guatemala
Guatemala
(Telegrams:  Director General de la Policia Nacional,
             Guatemala, Guatemala)
(Faxes:      011 502 2 27521)

4. Human Rights Procurator:
[Sr. Procurador / Dear Sir]

Lic. Ramiro de Leon Carpio
Procurador de Derechos Humanos
Avenida Simeon Canas 10-60 Zona 2,
Guatemala, GUATEMALA
(Telegrams:  Procurador de Derechos Humanos, Avenida
             Simeon Canas, Guatemala, GUATEMALA)


COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
Casa Alianza (Guatemala)            (Covenant House)
Apartado Postal 2704
Ciudad de Guatemala
GUATEMALA

Diario Prensa Libre                   (newspaper)
13 Calle 9-31, 50 Nivel
Edificio Prensa Libre
Zona 1, Guatemala
GUATEMALA

Lic. Joaquin Bamaca     (Comission for the Rights of Child)
Presidente
Comision Pro-Ninez
Congreso de la Republica
7ta Avenida y 9a Calle
Zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala
GUATEMALA

Ambassador Juan Jose Caso-Fanjul
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St NW
Washington DC 20008

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the Colorado
office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays
only, if sending appeals after September 24, 1992.



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