From: Andrew Lang <lang@igc.apc.org>
Subject: Fear for hunger strikers
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 04:23:31 GMT

/* Written  3:10 pm  Nov 10, 1992 by codehuca@igc.apc.org in igc:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "Fear for hunger strikers" ---------- */
ACUR 12                            COUNTRY: NICARAGUA
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA               CASE   : FOLLOW UP ON 
NOVEMBER 10, 1992                           C92-61/ N5

                     FEAR FOR LIFE OF SEVEN 
                       LOTTERY SALESWOMEN
The Commission for the Defense of Human Rights in Central America
(CODEHUCA), a regional organization with Consultive Status Category
II in the United Nations, is very concerned about the danger to the
lives of seven women, some of whom are elderly, who are presently
undertaking a hunger strike. We communicated the situation of these
lottery saleswomen, and the violation of their rights, in our
Urgent Action of November 4, 1992, in which we stated:
"The hunger strike is a form of protest because the manager of the
Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security and Welfare (INSSBI) does
not agree to ratify the Collective Agreement, that for the past 12
years has being extended yearly and that recognizes their labour
rights. The women on strike are:
MERCEDES PEREIRA RODRIGUEZ, 81 years old, with 44 years working as
a lottery saleswoman.
AYDALINA MIRANDA GARAY, 59 years old, 22 years in this work.
ISOLINA ALEMAN VALLE, 56 years old, 25 years in this work.
ANA AMERICA GOMEZ REYES, 55 years old, 20 years in this work.
AMELIA SOLORZANO FLORES, 51 years old, 15 years in this work.
MARIA GARCIA RIVERA, 32 years old and 15 years in this work.
YADIRA GARCIA ALEMAN, 23 years old, 15 years in this work."
We have received information from the Nicaraguan Human Rights
Center (CENIDH), which expressed its concern for the lives of the
hunger strikers, in the following statement of its President Dr.
Vilma Nu$ez:
Today, November 10, 1992, the seven women who sell National Lottery
tickets have completed 10 days of hunger striking. The Red Cross
doctor FERNANDO GUTIERREZ, who attends them has stated that their
health condition is grave (they vomit blood and suffer from
dizziness, gastritis, severe headaches, blood-pressure problems and
arthritic pains). He also referred to the material conditions of
the hunger strikers, who are out in the open in front of the
Lottery building, and emphasized that it is necessary to improve
these conditions. He added that any emotional change can aggravate
their situation even more.
Last night, one of the hunger strikers, YADIRA GARCIA ALEMAN, was
admitted to a hospital due to ulcer complications. Today she
returned to the strike, turning down the petitions of her
colleagues to put an end to her actions.  The latest news that
CENIDH sent us today is that she is in a coma.
CODEHUCA and CENIDH consider this case to be extremely urgent,
because if this conflict is not resolved in the next few hours,
these women can die or have serious health problems in the near
future, due to the repercussions of being without food for such a
long time.
Therefore, we request that our Solidarity Network give their
support in order to bring about the resolution of this situation.
Especially since the manager of the Nicaraguan Institute of Social
Security and Welfare (INSSBI) continues to ignore the hunger strike
and, in general, the actions that the saleswomen have realized in
order to obtain the recognition of their labour rights and the
ratification of the Collective Agreement.          

PLEASE SEND YOUR MESSAGES TO:
President of Nicaragua        Manager of the Nicaraguan
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro   Institute of Social Security
Managua, Nicaragua            and Welfare (INSSBI)
Fax: 627911                   Mr. Sime"n Rizo
                              Managua, Nicaragua
                              Fax: 40418
Secretary General of the
Carlos Tenorio Union 
Mr. Daniel Fonseca
Managua, Nicaragua
Fax: 668405

     
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