GHRC: Urgent Action on Guatemala Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - "GHRC" URGENT ACTION APPEAL - 12 April 2002 UA 112/02 - Death threats/fear for safety GUATEMALAN TRADE UNIONISTS: Macario Mejia Gonzalez (m) Miguel Angel Gomez (m) Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of the two members of local trade unions in Chichicastenango, El Quiche named above. They have recently been threatened and intimidated by local officials. On 4 April, Macario Mejia Gonzalez, Secretary General of the Sindicato de Trabajadores del Comercio de Chichicatenango, Small Traders Association in Chichicastenango was reportedly physically attacked and threatened by a member of the municipal corporation. The official, who belongs to the ruling political party, Frente Republicano Guatemalteco (FRG), Guatemalan Republican Front, reportedly struck Macario Mejia Gonzalez and threatened to kill him if he saw him again. Miguel Angel Gomez, the official recorder of Chichicastenango's municipal union was illegally dismissed in January, after denouncing corruption by the local mayor and his associates. Since denouncing the officials, he has been the victim of a series of threats and an alleged attempt on his life. The local mayor has reportedly warned him on various occasions to stop making the denunciations. Following his dismissal, Miguel Angel Gomez filed a complaint with the Guatemalan Prosecutors Office and the United Nations Verifications Mission to Guatemala (MINUGUA). The Labour Tribunal in Quetzaltenango ordered his reappointment. The mayor and his council then reportedly issued threatening messages against Miguel Angel Gomez and a number of the mayor's associates visited various hamlets loyal to the FRG to request that the inhabitants organise a demonstration against Miguel Angel Gomez. On 10 January, over 300 people reportedly demonstrated against him and according to the Central General de Trabajadores de Guatemala (CGTG), Guatemala's main Workers Trade Union Confederation, who videoed the demonstration, it was evident that they were seeking to 'lincharlo', (kill him). When they were unable to find him, they reportedly threatened the local Juez de Paz, Peace Judge, whom they believed was hiding him. BACKGROUND INFORMATION For almost two years, Guatemalan trade unionists have been subjected to a wave of abuses. Many have been threatened, harassed and intimidated for their efforts to improve the rights of their workers or for denouncing corruption (UA 93/02 issued 28 March 2002; UA 27/02 issued 29 January 2002). The Central Latinoamericana de Trabajadores (CLAT), The Latin American Workers' Confederation, based in Venezuela, recently made a specific call to the Guatemalan government to punish those responsible for threatening trade unionists as well as human rights activists and church figures. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: - urging the authorities to investigate the recent death threats against Macario Mejia Gonzalez and Miguel Angel Gomez and bring those responsible to justice; - calling on the authorities to guarantee the safety of Macario Mejia Gonzalez and Miguel Angel Gomez; - reminding the authorities that under article 211 of the Labour code, as reformed by decree 13, 2001 they are, 'Tomara las medidas apropriadas para proteger el libre ejercicio del derecho de la sindicalizacion, de conformidad con la Constitucion Politica de La Republica, los tratados y convenios internacionales de trabajo ratificados por Guatemala, el presente Codigo, sus reglamentos y demas leyes de trabajo y prevision social;', to take appropriate measures to protect the freedom to unionise, in line with the Constitution of the Repubic, international labour treaties and agreements signed by Guatemala, the present code, its regulations and remaining labour laws and social security. APPEALS TO: President of the Republic of Guatemala: Lic. Alfonso Portillo Cabrera Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala 6a. Avenida 'A' 4-41, Zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala GUATEMALA Telegrams: Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: 011 502 239 0090 Email: mensajes@presidenteportillo.gob.gt Salutation: Senor Presidente/Dear President Minister of the Interior: Sr. Eduardo Arevalo Lacs Ministro de Gobernacion Ministerio de Gobernacion 6a Avenida 4-64, Zona 4 Ciudad de Guatemala GUATEMALA Telegrams: Ministro de Gobernacion, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: 011 502 362 0239 (you may a voice message, this will be followed by the fax tone) Salutation: Senor Ministro/Dear Minister Minister of Labor: Lic. Victor Hugo Godoy Ministro de Trabajo y Prevision Social Ministerio de Trabajo y Prevision Social Edificio Nasa 14a Calle 5-49, Zona 1 Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA Telegrams: Ministro de Trabajo, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: 011 502 230 1363 Salutation: Senor Ministro/Dear Minister COPIES TO: Human Rights Procurator: Lic. Julio Eduardo Arango Escobar Procurador de Derechos Humanos Procuraduria de los Derechos Humanos 12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1 Ciudad de Guatemala 01001, GUATEMALA Telegram: Procurador de Derechos Humanos, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: 011 502 238 1734 E-mail: opdhg@guatenet.net.gt Salutation: Senor Procurador/Dear Procurator News agency: CERIGUA 2a calle 1-42, Zona 1 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: 011 502 221 2521 (if a voice answers, say 'por favor, tono de fax') E-mail: cerigua@guate.net Trade Union Confederation: Central General de Trabajadores de Guatemala (CGTG) 3 Av. 12-22, Zona 1 Cuidad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA Fax: 011 502 251 3212 E-mail: cgtg@guate.net Ambassador Ariel Rivera Irias Embassy of Guatemala 2220 R St. NW Washington DC 20008 Fax: 1 202 745 1908 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 May 24, 2002. Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights. Please do not repost this appeal to any part of the Internet without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for your help with this appeal. Urgent Action Network Amnesty International USA PO Box 1270 Nederland CO 80466-1270 Email: uan@aiusa.org http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/ Phone: 303 258 1170 Fax: 303 258 7881 ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytlab-04.13.02-13:54:57-31045