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.

Further Information

Six of the human rights defenders work with the Asociación para el Estudio y Promoción de la Seguridad en Democracia – SEDEM (Association for the Study and Promotion of Security under Democracy) and three work with the Unidad de Protección de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos – UDEFEGUA (Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit). SEDEM is a non-governmental organisation, actively engaged in guaranteeing access to security forces archives to help bring those responsible for the crimes committed during the internal armed conflict in Guatemala to justice. UDEFEGUA investigates and reports on attacks against human rights defenders on a national level.

On 30 April 2009, at 3:00 in the morning, a member of SEDEM received what was to be the first of a series of threatening SMS text messages. Since that date, at least 40 threatening text messages have been registered as being sent to nine human rights defenders from SEDEM and UDEFEGUA. Many of the messages have appeared to come from the cellular phone registered to one of the members of SEDEM, including on one day when the phone itself was in the possession of the Attorney General's office.

On 4 May 2009, between 10:45 and 11:50 am, a dark coloured car with tinted windows was parked outside the house of the owner of the aforementioned cellular phone. There were two unidentified men in the car and during this time an SMS message describing the movements of the persons inside the house was sent to a member of each human rights organisation. The police were called to the house and when they arrived the two unidentified men got out of the car, showed their weapons and then left.

On 3 May 2009, a white Toyota Corolla, with registration plate 898BLZ, was stationed outside the home of another of the human rights defenders and was seen taking photographs of the defender's car.

SEDEM has been actively engaged in truth and reconciliation work and bringing those responsible for the crimes committed during the internal armed conflict in Guatemala to justice. UDEFEGUA have worked closely with SEDEM to report on threats and persecution faced by its members as a result of its activities in defence of human rights.

Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of all members of SEDEM and UDEFEGUA.