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Guatemala

Guatemala: Threats, intimidation and false accusations against human rights defender Ms Lucia Carolina Escobar Mejíaposted on: 2011/11/02

On 24 and 28 October 2011 respectively, journalist and human rights defender Ms Lucia Carolina Escobar Mejía was subjected to threats, intimidation as a result of a series of articles she wrote denouncing what she described as the social cleansing being carried out by the Security Commission of Panajachel.

Guatemala: Break-in and robbery at the offices of human rights organisation Fundación Guillermo Toriello (FGT)posted on: 2011/07/01

On the night of the 26-27 June 2011 human rights organisation Fundación Guillermo Toriello – FGT (Guillermo Toriello Foundation) was broken into and valuable equipment, containing sensitive and important information, was stolen. The FGT promotes the rights of poor rural communities in Guatemala, and works to improve the livelihoods of those communities through supporting their claims to access land and offering technical advice, agricultural support and humanitarian relief where necessary. At the national level the FGT lobbies the Guatemalan government to introduce laws and policies that benefit poor rural communities in Guatemala.

Guatemala: Killing of human rights defender Ms Maria Margarita Chub Cheposted on: 2011/06/10

Front Line is deeply saddened by the news of the killing of human rights defender Ms Maria Margarita Chub Che on 4 June 2011. María Margarita Chub Che was a community leader in Parana, in the municipality of Panzós, she participated in the Consejo de Comunidades del Polochic (Community Council of Polochic) and was active in the pursuit of truth and justice for crimes of the past.

Guatemala: Detentions, threats and assaults of members of FREDEMI and ADISMIposted on: 2011/03/04

On 28 February 2011, numerous members of human rights organisations Frente de Migüelense contra la Minería – FREDEMI (Miguelense Front against Mining) and the Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral de San Miguel Ixtahaucan – ADISMI (Association for the Integral Development of San Miguel Ixtahaucan) were reportedly subjected to attacks, detentions, physical assault and other forms of harassment while returning from a peaceful protest in the municipality of San Miguel Ixtahaucan.

Further Information

FREDEMI is an alliance of various communities and organisations opposed to the mining operations in the area.

Guatemala: Threats against human rights defenders Dr Yuri Giovanni Melini Salguero and various staff members of Centro de Acción Legal, Ambiental y Social de Guatemala – CALASposted on: 2010/07/21

Human rights defender Dr Yuri Giovanni Melini Salguero and various staff members of Centro de Acción Legal, Ambiental y Social de Guatemala – CALAS (Legal, Environmental and Social Action Centre of Guatemala) have been subjected to a series of threats and intimidation. Dr Melini is Director of CALAS.

Guatemala: Attempted assassination of human rights defender Ms Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto posted on: 2010/07/16

Human rights defender Ms Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto has been shot in the head in an assassination attempt on 7 July 2010. Deodora Antonia Hernandez Cinto is a member of the Asociación para el Desarrollo de San Miguel Ixtahuacán – ADISMI (Development Association of San Miguel Ixtahuacán) and has previously received threats as a result of the Association's opposition of the mining activities being carried out in the municipality by the Montana Mining Company. The Marlin mine is owned by Montana Explorada de Guatemala, S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goldcorp Inc.

Guatemala: Intimidation and death threat against human rights journalist Mr Marvin del Cid and break-in of his homeposted on: 2010/07/01

On 24 June 2010, the home of human rights journalist Mr Marvin del Cid was broken into, various articles were stolen and a death threat was left behind.

Guatemala: UPDATE - Death threats against human rights defender Ms Norma Angélica Cruz Córdovaposted on: 2010/06/15

Further to the Front Line Urgent Appeal sent on 25 March 2010, Front Line has received the following new information regarding death threats against human rights defender Ms Norma Angélica Cruz Córdova in Guatemala. On 11 June 2010, Norma Angélica Cruz Córdova received a series of seven death threats via text message to her mobile phone.

Guatemala: Threats against human rights defenders Dr Yuri Giovanni Melini Salguero and Mr Pedro Rafael Maldonado Floresposted on: 2010/04/09

Human rights defenders Dr Yuri Giovanni Melini Salguero and Mr Pedro Rafael Maldonado Flores received threats on 5 April 2010. Yuri Giovanni Melini Salguero is the director of the Centro de Acción Legal, Ambiental y Social de Guatemala – CALAS (Legal, Environmental and Social Action Centre of Guatemala) and Pedro Rafael Maldonado Flores is a legal-political environmental coordinator with the same organistation. Yuri Giovanni Melini Salguero received the 2009 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.

Guatemala: Death threats against human rights defender Ms Norma Angélica Cruz Córdovaposted on: 2010/03/26

Human rights defender Ms Norma Angélica Cruz Córdova, director of the Fundación Sobrevivientes (Survivors Foundation) has received a series of death threats against her and her family.

Guatemala: Break-in at the home of human rights defender Ms Erenia Vanegas and threats against Ms Claudia Samayoa and members of SEDEMposted on: 2010/03/10

The home of human rights defender Ms Erenia Vanegas was broken into on 5 March 2010 and the car of Ms Claudia Samayoa was tampered with in an attempt to cause an accident on 2 February 2010.

Guatemala: Death threats against human rights defender Mr Leocadio Juracán and intimidation of other members of Comité Campesino del Altiplanoposted on: 2010/02/17

Human rights defender Mr Leocadio Juracán has received death threats, and his fellow members of the human rights organisation Comité Campesino del Altiplano - CCDA (Peasants’ Committee of the Highlands) have recently been targeted as a result of their human rights activities.

Guatemala - Assault and death threats against human rights defender, Ms Juana Bacá Velascoposted on: 2009/07/10

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of a physical assault on, and death threats against, human rights defender, Ms Juana Bacá Velasco between 30 March 2009 and 6 July 2009. Juana Bacá Velasco is the coordinator of La Red de Mujeres Ixhiles (Association of Ixhil Women), an organisation based in Nebaj which supports female victims of violence and works to empower women in the region.

Guatemala: Death threats against human rights defenders and surveillance by unidentified individualsposted on: 2009/05/08

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that nine human rights defenders from two prominent organisations have received multiple death threats via SMS text message and two have reported surveillance by unidentified men, at least two of whom were armed.

Guatemala – Kidnapping and torture of Ms Gladys Monterroso, wife of Attorney General for Human Rights, Dr Sergio Fernando Moralposted on: 2009/04/03

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that Ms Gladys Monterroso, a lawyer and the wife of Dr Sergio Fernando Morales Alvarado, the Attorney General for Human Rights in Guatemala, was kidnapped and tortured on 25 March 2009.