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Dear PILAs members, I think some of you might be interested to read the following. Kepa> >Subject: Urgent Action Guatemala - WOMEN ORGANISATION'S MEMBERS ASSAULTED >To: [log in to unmask] > >Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 16:31:41 -0800 >To: [log in to unmask] >From: [log in to unmask] (Christian Task Force on Central America) >Subject: Urgent Action Guatemala > > >URGENT ACTION * URGENT ACTION * URGENT ACTION * > >WOMEN ORGANISATION'S MEMBERS ASSAULTED > >Dear Friends; > >We received an urgent action request from the Guatemalan women's >organisation, Women In Solidarity (AMES), concerning the attack against >AMES and another women organisation Mujer Vamos Adelante. > >* According to AMES, last October 11 heavily armed men entered their office >at 9 am, threatening and kicking two of the women working there. The men >stole computer equipment, a television, a video recorder, sound equipment, >medicine from their clinic, and cash. > >* In the office of Mujer Vamos Adelante the women were also atacked and >robbed. The acts of intimidation were perpetrated the same week of the >International Women's march. In several cities in Guatemala thousands of >women marched demanding an end to violence and poverty. > >* The first week in November, the women's organisation working the project >Reduction of Violence against Women in the Province of Izabal was also >assaulted. We do not have detailed information about this act of violence. > > >BACKGROUND INFORMATION >These break-in are the latest in a wave of threats, intimidation, violence >and robberies against human rights and somen organisations in Guatemala in >recent months. Activists point to the fact that General Rios Montt, current >President of Congress, who has been accused by Rigoberta Menchu of genocide >against Mayan people and the recent appointment of Byron Barrientos -- >former military intelligence officer -- as Minister of the Interior as one >of the causes for the rise of violence. Barrientos was a member of the G-2 >army intelligence unit, a military structure documented by the Historical >Clarification Commission (CEH) and in the REMHI report as responsible for >acts of violence such as torture, enforced disappearances of children, >women and men and massacres against the Guatemalan people. > >To date, the Alfonso Portillo administration has done little to combat or >investigate escalating violence against human rights workers. For many, >Prime Minister Chretien's lack of knowledge about Guatemala's background >and current situation during his fall visit to the region to discuss trade >issues, set a dangerous precedent . Prime Minister Chretien did not meet >with representatives of human rights organisations which could be >interpreted by those in power that Canada is uninterested in human rights >or ending impunity in Guatemala. The same night that Prime Minister >Chretien left Guatemala, human rights groups were threatened. > >Women, in particular, have suffered greatly as victims of violence >themselves or as survivors of acts of violence against their family members >and loved ones. When a husband or partner is killed, the woman often must >take on the added responsibilities of sole bread-winner, family counseller, >care-giver for elderly parents and in-laws, and single parent. The effect >on women's mental and physical health has been substantial. AMES works with >many women victims of the 36-year long civil war. AMES' work is with >people who are excluded from land, education and healthcare. They provide >service to women working in sweatshops and living in marginal areas. > >RECOMMENDATIONS >Please write to the Guatemalan authorities via fax, email or mail: > >* expressing your concern at these latest acts of intimidation against >women and human rights workers in Guatemala > >* asking for an objective and complete investigation into the attacks and >intimidation of members of AMES and Mujer Vamos Adelante organisations and >the robbery of valuable office equipment and files > >* to bring those responsible to justice in order to break the cycle of >impunity in the country. > >* an end to the climate of insecurity and impunity caused by the lack of >respect for human rights or for the rule of law. To promote and >implement a policy of protection and respect for women and their >organisations. > >* that the Guatemalan Government, following the recommendations from the >Truth Commission, remove and do not appoint in positions of power >those accused of gross human rights violations. > >Appeals to: > >Sr. Alfonso Portillo >Presidente de la República >Palacio Nacional >Ciudad de Guatemala >Guatemala, C.A. >Fax: 011-502-221-4537 >or: 011-502-230-1508 > >United Nations Mission to Guatemala >MINUGUA >Boulevard Los Próceres, 18-67 zona 10 >Guatemala City, Guatemala >Tel: 011-502-366-8211 >Fax: 011-502-367-3155 > >Minister John Manley >Ministry of Foreign Affairs >House of Commons >125 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, Ont. >K1A 0A6 (no postage needed) >Fax: 1-613-996-3443 > >Ambassador Alain Culham >Canadian Ambassador to C.A. >Canadian Embassy >13 calle 8-44 zona 10 >Edyma Plaza, 8th Floor >Apartado Postal 400 >Guatemala City, Guatemala 01010 >Email: [log in to unmask] > >COPIES TO: > >Prensa Libre >13 calle 9-31, zona 1 >Guatemala City, Guatemala >Tel/Fax: 011-502-251-8768, 230-2193, 230-2257 >Email: [log in to unmask] >[log in to unmask] >Alliance Against Impunity/Alianza Contra la Impunidad >1a calle 0-11 zona 2, >Guatemala City, Guatemala >Tel/Fax: 011-502-232-2651 >Email: [log in to unmask] > >THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE! > >Christian Task Force on Central America >408-207 West Hastings >P.O. Box 65899 >Station F >Vancouver, BC V5N 5L4 >phone: 604-875-9218 >fax: 604-875-0919 >[log in to unmask] > Kepa Artaraz School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences (SHLSS) University of Wolverhampton Stafford Street Wolverhampton WV1 1SB Tel: 01902-322 409 Email: [log in to unmask] Fax No: 00 44 1902-322 739 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%