From: Christic Institute <christic@igc.apc.org>
Subject: AI UA313/92 GUATEMALA Intimidation
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 18:42:00 GMT

/* Written 11:02 am  Oct  9, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "AI UA313/92 GUATEMALA Intimidation" ---------- */
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: AI UA313/92 GUATEMALA Intimidation

/* Written 12:15 pm  Oct  9, 1992 by rmitchellai@gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution)      AI Index: AMR 34/43/92
                                         Distr: UA/SC       

UA 313/92   Death Threats/               8 October 1992
               Intimidation

GUATEMALA:  Members of the Asociacion de Estudiantes
                      Universitarios (AEU)

Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of members
of the Asociacion de Estudiantes Universitarios, AEU, and for the
safety of those students involved in court proceedings against members
of Hunapu, the Guatemalan special security force unit.  

On 5 October 1992 a bomb exploded outside the offices of the AEU
at the Universidad de San Carlos (USAC) in Guatemala City.  The
bomb explosion follows a series of death threats received by members
of the AEU and students involved in a legal action against Hunapu. 
Hunapu were responsible for the killing on 10 April 1992 of student
Julio Cu Quim (see UA 123/92, AMR 34/16/92, 15 April and AMR
34/16/92, 28 April 1992).    

The AEU reported that during May 1992 several students were
followed by armed men in plain clothes.  They also reported receiving
written death threats, which demanded that the students involved in
the legal action against members of the Hunapu unit withdraw their
action.  Otto Peralta, AEU president, also reported that armed men
riding a motorcycle were watching his house and noting the movements
of his family. The girlfriend of one of those injured during the 10
April 1992 incident reportedly received an anonymous written death
threat which stated "we are aware that you are the people who head
the list of eight people who will be eliminated, if you continue your
accusations against members of Hunapu".    

A relative of Axel Morales Gaytan, another of the students wounded
on 10 April 1992, also received an anonymous letter, similar to the
one above, which threatened that the next time they would kill
members of the families of those bringing legal actions against the
security forces.  

In August 1992 a written death threat signed by "Members of the
Security Forces", invited five AEU members, Axel Morales, Otto Perez,
Julio Sajche, Hugo Gudiel and Otto Peralta to a meeting at the "La
Villa" Cemetery on 25 August at 3.00 pm.  The letter said that the
motive for the meeting was to reach a solution with those persons
affected in relation to the events of 10 April 1992. The death threat
was sent directly to an invididual who for security reasons does not
wish to be named, but who was also invited to the meeting and
threatened that "We don't want blood, you will be the person most
affected if the conditions we ask for are not adhered to".  Among the
conditions were that no publicity be given to the letter and that no
member of the media attend the meeting.   

A second bomb exploded on 5 October 1992 at the offices of the
weekly magazine Tinamit.  Tinamit has published articles critical of the
government and has reportedly received death threats as a result.
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of journalists and
workers at Tinamit magazine.   

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

Journalists, as well as students and university teachers have in recent
months been the object of repeated human rights violations, threats
and intimidation. On 14 May 1992 Andres Ramirez Lara, a university
lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, and Jose Arana Paz, a student at
the Faculty of Psychology at the USAC, were killed in circumstances
suggesting official security force involvement.  Andres Ramirez Lara
had previously received anonymous death threats.  (see UA 165/92,
AMR 34/27/92 of 19 May 1992).  In February 1992, university lecturer
Pedro Us Soc and his wife Floridalma Ixtahualan received a series of
threats, apparently linked to their association with Manuel Estuardo
Pena, a professor of History at the USAC, who was shot
"death-squad"-style.  (See UA 87/92, AMR 34/12/92, 13 March 1992
and UA 56/92, AMR 34/09/92, 17 February 1992).  A bomb was
planted in the AEU building on 30 January 1992.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in spanish,
english or in your own language:

-  expressing concern at the bomb attacks and threats and intimidation
directed against leaders and students of the AEU;

 -  asking for an immediate investigation into these incidents, including
the bombing of the offices of Tinamit magazine and that those found
to be responsible be brought to justice;

-  asking for guarantees for the security of all students, citing
especially those students named in the death threats as being targeted
because of their involvement in a legal suit against the security forces
and for the safety of workers and members of Tinamit.

APPEALS TO:

President of the Republic:

S.E. Jorge Serrano Elias
[Salutation: Sr. Presidente/Dear President]
Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala 
Palacio Nacional 
Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Telephone:  +502 2 21212, +502 2 22266 
Faxes:      +502 2 537472, +502 2 519702 
Telexes:    5331 CAPRES GU

Human Rights Procurator:

Lic. Ramiro de Leon Carpio 
[Salutation: Sr. Procurador/Dear Mr. Procurator]
Procurador de Derechos Humanos 
Avenida Simeon Canas 10-60 Zona 2, 
Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Telephone:  +502 2 300874 - 76
Faxes:      +502 2 81734

Minister of Defence:

Gral. Jose Garcia Samayoa
[Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister]
Ministro de Defensa 
Ministerio de Defensa 
Palacio Nacional 
Guatemala, GUATEMALA 
Telephone:  +502 2 21212, +502 2 2226 
Telexes:    5361 COMGUA GU

President of the Supreme Court:

Lic. Juan Jose Rodil Peralta              
[Salutation: Sr. Presidente/Dear Mr. President]
Presidente de la Corte Suprema de Justicia
Centro Civico 21a Calle y 7a Avenida 
Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Telephone:  +502 2 84323, +502 2 843203-08

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Attorney General:

Lic. Acisclo Valladares Molina
Procurador General de la Nacion
Procuraduria General de la Nacion
18 Calle 10-36
Zona 1, Guatemala, GUATEMALA

Head of the Presidential Coordinating Commission of the Policies of
the Executive relating to Human Rights:
Sr. Bernardo Neumann
Comision Presidencial Coordinadora de la Politica del Ejecutivo en
materia de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH)
15 Avenida 18-38, Zona 13
Guatemala, GUATEMALA

University Students Association of the University of San Carlos:
Asociacion de Estudiantes Universitarios (AEU)
Ciudad Universitaria
Zona 12, Guatemala, GUATEMALA

and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details. country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 19 November 1992.
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive