From: Christic Institute <christic@igc.org>
Subject: Rapid response alert (revised)
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 18:23:41 GMT

/* Written  1:10 pm  Apr 12, 1992 by nisgua in cdp:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "Rapid response alert (revised)" ---------- */





RAPID RESPONSE ALERT
APRIL 12, 1992
SECURITY FORCES MACHINE GUN
GROUP OF STUDENT ACTIVISTS
(note name change) 

      On April 10, at 12:30am, members of the security forces, including members
of the Army, the National Police, and the Treasury Police, fired their weapons
into a group of more than 100 student activists who were preparing floats for
the traditional Huelga de Dolores parade (Desfile Bufo Universitario) near the
Paraninfo Universitario in Zone 1 of Guatemala City.  The attack left one student
dead, JULIO PU CHIQUIN, 29, and gravely injured seven others:

Maria Isabel Cabeiro                    Alfonso Aldana Perez
Julio Felipe Sajche                     Otto Rene Perez Figueroa
Otoniel Estuardo Moran                  Juan Armando Perez Lopez 
Axel Oswaldo Morales

      According to a report in the Washington Post, 4-11-92, two students were
killed and several students were abducted during the attack.  Interior Minister,
Fernando Hurtado Prem, stated that 32 military and treasury police had been
arrested and an investigation was underway, according to the article. 

      An additional report from another source stated that 15 students were
"disappeared" the same night by security forces.

      In an emergency meeting the High Council of the University (Consejo
Superior Universitario) proclaimed three days of mourning for Julio Pu Chiquin.

      The security forces that carried out the attack are part of a task force
known as the Hunahp# Plan, which is part of the SIPROCI system.

      The Procurator of Human Rights, Ramiro de Leon Carpio, stated that the
directors of the security forces, as well as the Minster of Defense and the
Minister of the Interior, bore responsibility for the attack.

      The attack on the students is consistent with the campaign of intimidation
by the government and the Army against this year's Huelga de Dolores and
comes after a wave of repression that began in January against the University
that has included three bombings, the killing of a professor and a student, and
death threats against 15 professors.  Student leaders believe that this year's
Huelga de Dolores has been infiltrated by government agents.  They state that
hooded men impersonating Strike organizers have been committing crimes in an
effort to implicate student leaders. 

      The Huelga de Dolores (Strike of Sorrows) is an annual student event that
has been celebrated for almost a century.  The activities begin on the first day
of lent and continue for five weeks until Viernes de Dolores, or Good Friday. 
Each week a satirical bulletin is issued that focusses on a particular current
political topic.  Students, disguised with hoods to protect their identities,
perform derisive skits for the whole community that openly mock the government
and the political scene.  The final week a student strike is declared in which all
classes are cancelled, thus the term "Strike of Sorrows."  

SOURCES:  Comisi"n de Derechos Humanos, fax 4-11-92; CODEHUCA, 4-11-92; EAPS,
4-10-92; Central America Newsline, 4-3-92; Washington Post, 4-11-92. 

Please Activate Your Rapid Response Network to:

1. Condemn the attack against the students and the murder of JULIO PU
      CHIQUIN by the security forces, and urge that an investigation be
      launched and that those responsible be brought to justice,  

2.  Urge that the government protect the safety of the injured students,  

3.  Call for the reappearance, unharmed, of the fifteen students, and

4.  Request that the government take steps to ensure the free exercise of the
      rights of expression and of assembly by the students.

Send Messages To:

Ing. Jorge Serrano El!as
Presidente de la Rep#blica
Palacio Nacional
Guatemala, Guatemala
Telex:  305-5331 CAPRES GU
Fax:  502 2 537472
      or 502 2 519702
Telephone:  502 2 21212         
Lic. Fernando Hurtado Prem
Ministro de Gobernaci"n
Despacho Ministerial
Oficina No. 8, Palacio Nacional
Guatemala, Guatemala
Telex:  305-5085 MINGOB GU
Fax:  502 2 518105 (ext. 500)
Telephone:  502 2 21212,
 or 502 2 22266 (ext. 500)     
Note:  A pre-arranged telex message can be sent via ATI (800-888-5284),  FAXNET
(800-831-2202) or Worldlink (800-827-2831).  Choose the telex company which best
meets your needs.  Ask for message "NISGUA #11".  

Text of Telex Message "NISGUA # 11":

      Denuncio el ataque a los estudiantes universitarios y el asasinato de JULIO
PU CHIQUIN por las fuerzas de seguridad.  Exijo que se castigue a los
responsables.  Exijo que se proteja a los heridos.  Exijo que se investigue el
secuestro de los 15 estudiantes.  Pido que se respete el derecho de expresi"n.

English Translation (note:  please send Spanish version):

      I denounce the attack against the university students and the murder of
JULIO PU CHIQUIN by security forces.  I urge that those responsible be
punished.  I urge that the injured be protected.  I urge that the abduction of
the 15 students be investigated.  I request that the right to expression be
respected. 

Copies to be forwarded to:

Asociaci"n de Estudiantes Universitarios
Ciudad Universitario, Zona 12
Guatemala, Guatemala

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive