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.

Further Information

Posted 18/12/2007 Early in the morning of 8 December, Felipe Álvarez left his home in El Naranjo to cycle to a plantation where he worked. His body was found later the same day, at approximately 5.45. a.m. on the side of the road. He had been shot three times in the back and once in the head. Prior to his murder, Felipe Álvarez had been followed a number of times.

It is believed that the killing of Felipe Álvarez is directly related to his work as a member of the Community Council for Development. These councils were created in 2002 as part of the 1996 Peace Accords to promote the participation of civil society in the democratic process. The El Naranjo COCODES played a pivotal role in prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 9 p.m. to attempt to reduce violence and the presence of street gangs. Following the murder of a bar owner in 2004, five members of the COCODES were subsequently prosecuted by the authorities but these hearings were suspended following a complaint from the Private Prosecutor to the Tribunal. In September 2005, COCODES member Moisés Ajbal was killed and a year later, in September 2006, Juan José Atz, then President of the COCODES was also murdered.

Following the killing of Felipe Álvarez, only two members of the Microparcelamiento El Naranjo COCODES remain alive. Front Line fears that, after the deaths of the other three members of their organisation, Juan Francisco Almira and Manuel Antonio Aguilar are at great risk. Furthermore, Front Line believes that the death of Felipe Álvarez may form part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders in Guatemala.