Guatemala: Death threats against human rights defender José Suasnavar, Deputy Director of FAFG

Your Excellency

I am is deeply concerned following reports of death threats received via SMS text message by José Suasnavar over a three-day period beginning 27 July 2008. José Suasnavar is the Deputy Director of the Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala (Foundation of Forensic Anthropology in Guatemala – FAFG), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to investigating human rights violations through the application of forensic and social sciences, with a view to strengthening the respect and the protection of human rights. I have previously written to you in relation to threats to members of the FAFG, most recently on 21 May and 15 February 2008.

On 27 July 2008, José Suasnavar received a SMS message on his mobile phone that stated “Jose a cada coche le llega su sábado” (Jose your time is up). On 28 July he received another message from stating “Que pasa coche cuidado con los derrumbes” (What's up pig, watch out for the landslides). Later that day he received a third message reading “El antropólogo caba cuidado con los der”, this incomplete message would appear to say “The anthropologist excavates, watch out for the landslides”. On 29 July, José Suasnavar received a fourth message: “Te vamos a hacer caca estas vigilado” (We're going to mess you up, you're being watched).

The members of the FAFG have previously been subject to threats. In May 2008, Fredy Peccerelli (Executive Director), Omar Girón (Head of the Department of Forensic Anthropology) and José Suasnavar received death threats via email. On 20 May 2008, Judge Eduardo Cojulún, the Eleventh Judge of the Penal Courts, received a threatening telephone call, warning him not to carry on with an investigation in which he was sending statements of victims of massacres during the internal armed conflict in Guatemala to the National Audience of Spain. Among the evidence was a forensic photograph taken by the FAFG. The photograph was published in Prensa Libre (Free Press) and contained a logo which identified the organisation.

On 2 February 2008, Omar Girón received death threats via text message on his mobile phone saying: “Les van a quitar la seguridad y mueren Omar... y Fredy hijos de puta (they're going to take away your security and Omar... and Fredy die sons of bitches)“. On the same day as the threat, an article was published in Siglo XXI in which the Deputy Minister of Governance announced that civil servants' security personnel would be reduced to increase the number of agents available to patrol the streets.

I believe that the threats against José Suasnavar are linked to his legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular its forensic investigation into human rights violations, and represent part of a pattern of repeated death threats made against the staff members of the FAFG since 2002. In 2002 the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights instructed the Guatemalan authorities to provide protective measures for Fredy Peccerelli and the staff members of the FAFG. I am concerned that the current levels of protection may be insufficient in view of the continued harassment.

I urge the Guatemalan authorities to:

1. Initiate an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the death threats against José Suasnavar and all the members of the FAFG and their families, with a view to identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice in accordance with the law;

2. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of José Suasnavar, and that of all members of the FAFG as well as their families;

3. Take measures to end any intimidation of the members of the FAFG so that they can continue with their activities in defence of human rights without reprisals, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Yours sincerely,