[Announce-DAN] Guatemala: Women in Solidarity attacked

[John Shafer <buildingbridges@mindspring.com> (by way of Mark Cohen <buildingbridges@mindspring.com>)]

>
>WOMEN ORGANISATION'S MEMBERS ASSAULTED
>
>Dear Friends;
>
>We received an urgent action request from the Guatemalan women's
>organisation, Women In Solidarity (AMES), concerning the attack against
>AMES and another women organisation Mujer Vamos Adelante.
>According to AMES, last October 11 heavily armed men entered their
>office
>at 9 am, threatening and kicking two of the women working there. The men
>stole computer equipment, a television, a video recorder, sound
>equipment,
>medicine from their clinic, and cash. In the office of Mujer Vamos
>Adelante
>the women were also atacked and robbed.  The acts of intimidation were
>perpetrated the same week of the International Women's march.  In
>several
>cities in Guatemala thousands of  women marched demanding an end to
>violence and poverty.
>The first week in November, the Women's organisation working in the
>project
>Reduction of Violence against women in the Province of Izabal was also
>assaulted.
>
>BACKGROUND INFORMATION
>These break-in are the latest in a wave of threats, intimidation,
>violence
>and robberies against human rights and somen organisations in Guatemala
>in
>recent months. Activists point to the fact that General Rios Montt,
>current
>President of Congress, who has been accused by Rigoberta Menchu of
>genocide
>against Mayan people and the recent appointment of Byron Barrientos --
>former military intelligence officer -- as Minister of the Interior as
>one
>of the causes for the rise of violence. Barrientos was a member of the
>G-2
>army intelligence unit, a military structure documented by the
>Historical
>Clarification Commission (CEH) and in the REMHI report as responsible
>for
>acts of violence such as torture, enforced disappearances of children,
>women and men and massacres against the Guatemalan people.
>
>To date, the Alfonso Portillo administration has done little to combat
>or
>investigate escalating violence against human rights workers. For many,
>Prime Minister Chretien's lack of knowledge about Guatemala's background
>and current situation during  his fall visit to the region to discuss
>trade
>issues, set a dangerous precedent .  Prime Minister Chretien did not
>meet
>with representatives of human rights organisations which could be
>interpreted by those in power that Canada is uninterested in human
>rights
>or ending impunity in Guatemala. The same night that Prime Minister
>Chretien left Guatemala, human rights groups were threatened.
>
>Women, in particular, have suffered greatly as victims of violence
>themselves or as survivors of acts of violence against their family
>members
>and loved ones. When a husband or partner is killed, the woman often
>must
>take on the added responsibilities of sole bread-winner, family
>counseller,
>care-giver for elderly parents and in-laws, and single parent. The
>effect
>on women's mental and physical health has been substantial. AMES works
>with
>many women victims of the 36-year long civil war.  AMES' work is with
>people who are excluded from land, education and healthcare.  They
>provide
>service to women working in sweatshops and living in marginal areas.
>
>RECOMMEDATIONS
>Please write to the Guatemalan authorities via fax, email or mail:
>* expressing your concern at these latest acts of intimidation against
>women and human rights workers in Guatemala
>* asking for an objective and complete investigation into the attacks
>and
>intimidation  of members of AMES and Mujer Vamos Adelante organisations
>and
>the robbery of valuable office equipment and files
>* to bring those responsible to justice in order to break the cycle of
>impunity in the country.
>                          * an end to the climate of insecurity and
>impunity caused by the lack
>of respect                              for human rights or for the rule
>of law.
>                          * that the Guatemalan Government, following the
>recommendations from
>the                              Truth Commission, remove and do not
>appoint in positions of power
>those                                            accused of gross human
>rights violations.
>
>Appeals to:
>
>Sr. Alfonso Portillo                    United Nations Mission to
>Guatemala
>Presidente de la Rep?lica              MINUGUA
>Palacio Nacional                                Boulevard Los Pr?eres,
>18-67 zona 10
>Ciudad de Guatemala                             Guatemala City,
>Guatemala
>Guatemala, C.A.                         Tel: 011-502-366-8211
>Fax: 011-502-221-4537                   Fax: 011-502-367-3155
>or:  011-502-230-1508
>
>
>Minister John Manley                    Ambassador  Alain Culham
>Ministry of Foreign Affairs             Canadian Ambassador to C.A.
>House of Commons                                Canadian Embassy
>125 Sussex Dr. , Ottawa, Ont.           13 calle 8-44 zona 10
>K1A 0A6 (no postage needed)             Edyma Plaza, 8th Floor
>Email: Axworthy.1@parl.gc.ca            Apartado Postal 400
>Fax: 1-613-996-3443                             Guatemala City,
>Guatemala 01010
>                                                 Email:
>gtmla@dfait-maeci.g
>
>COPIES TO:
>
>Prensa Libre
>13 calle 9-31, zona 1
>Guatemala City, Guatemala
>Tel/Fax: 011-502-251-8768, 230-2193, 230-2257
>Email: medioselectronicos@prensalibre.com.gt
>         nacional@prensalibre.com.gt
>
>Alliance Against Impunity/Alianza Contra la Impunidad
>1a calle  0-11 zona 2,
>Guatemala City, Guatemala
>Tel/Fax: 011-502-232-2651
>Email: alianza@amigo.net.gt
>
>THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE!
>

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