Guatemala

Front Line 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. Front Line has previously written to you in relation to threats to members of the FAFG, most recently on 21 May and 15 February 2008.  

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of death threats received via email by Fredy Peccerelli, Omar Girón, José Suassnavar and Lionel Paiz, all members 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. Fredy Peccerelli and Omar Girón are the Executive Director of the FAFG and the Head of the Department of Forensic Anthropology respectively.  

Front Line is deeply concerned by information regarding a death threat made against Omar Giron. Omar Giron is the Head of the Department of Forensic Anthropology of the Fundación de Antropología Forense Guatemala (FAFG – Guatemalan Foundation of Forensic Anthropology). He is also the brother-in-law of Fredy Peccerelli, the Executive Director of the FAFG. The FAFG is a non-governmental organisation that investigates human rights violations through the application of forensic science and sociological approaches, with a view to instilling the respect for and the protection of human rights.  

Front Line is gravely concerned following the killing, on 8 December 2007, of community leader Felipe Álvarez of the Community Council for Development (Consejo Comunitario de Desarrollo, COCODES) of the community of Microparcelamiento El Naranjo, Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, in the department of Escuintla in southern Guatemala. Following the death of Felipe Álvarez, there are very serious concerns regarding the safety of the remaining two members of the COCODES, Juan Francisco Almira and Manuel Antonio Aguilar.