Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of a theft from the office of the Movimiento Ecuménico por los Derechos Humanos (MEDH). The MEDH is composed of a group of churches and has been specifically dedicated to the defence of human rights since its creation in 1976.
Further Information
Posted 23/04/2008 On 17 April 2008, at approximately 7.00 pm, an unknown man entered the offices of the MEDH and stole the computer that was used by the President of the organisation. To gain access to the offices the man had given the name of a member of staff and was allowed entry to wait for him. The computer that he removed contained valuable information on the MEDH and its employees.
The MEDH has taken part in judicial action against Carlos Rico, a retired police inspector who retired from his position as Under-secretary of Security for the Governor of Mendoza, Celso Jaque, on 16 March 2008. On 25 March 2008, Viviana Beigel, a lawyer with the MEDH, presented a case to the federal court against Carlos Rico for having participated in illegal detentions, torture and disappearances between 1976 and 1979.
On 11 April 2008 there was a break-in at the home of Viviana Beigel. In recent months there have also been two burglaries at the home of Alicia Morales, a witness to Carlos Rico's presence at the clandestine detention centre D2.
Front Line believes that the theft from the offices of the MEDH is related to the legitimate work of the organisation in defence of human rights, in particular its work in defending victims of human rights violations during the Argentine dictatorship and in putting an end to impunity in Argentina.
Action Finished:
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
