One year after Mgr Gerardi's murder: Guatemala's investigation at a standstill
The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development today called on Guatemala to step up its investigation of the brutal murder of Mgr Juan José Gerardi and to protect other human rights activists.
Montreal, April 26, 1999 The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development today called on Guatemala to step up its investigation of the brutal murder of Mgr Juan Jos? Gerardi and to protect other human rights activists.
Mgr Gerardi died from repeated blows to the head on April 26, 1998, two days after releasing a controversial report documenting more than 52,000 human rights violations during Guatemala's 36-year civil war. The report attributed 85 per cent of the violations to the government, military and other paramilitary groups, findings that were recently confirmed by the United Nations sponsored Guatemalan Commission for Historical Clarification.
"A year has passed and there have been no arrests in this slaying. Meanwhile the assassins are free and other human rights defenders and their families are constantly threatened," today said Warren Allmand, President of the International Centre for Human Right and Democratic Development (ICHRDD).
Recently, Ronalth Ochaeta of the Office of Human Rights of the Archdiocese of Guatemala City, which was founded by Mgr Gerardi, was openly threatened and intimidated. Three gunmen entered his home on April 16 and took his four-year old son and the child's caregiver hostage for 45 minutes. The gunmen left a rock as a message, a clear reference to the weapon that killed Mgr Gerardi. They also stole his passport.
Mr. Allmand said the International Centre is extremely worried about the fate of many other human rights activists who worked with Mgr Gerardi and who have received death threats, been harassed and, in some cases, routinely followed and intimidated.
The Catholic Church in Guatemala has accused the government of President Arz? of lacking the political will to resolve the murder. From the outset, the government has refused to recognize the political nature of the assassination and the investigation, which has been plagued by mismanagement, drags on.
In a letter to Guatemala's President Arz?, Mr. Allmand urged the government to take appropriate measures to protect all human rights defenders. He stressed that the proper investigation of the priest's death is essential to demonstrate that the rule of law prevails in Guatemala. "The government should remove all obstacles to a proper investigation," he wrote.
The International Centre has also asked President Arz? to recommit his government to the 1996 Peace Accords and to follow up on the recommendations of the UN-sponsored Commission for Historical Clarification, including sweeping changes to the police, military and legal system.
The International Centre manages the Fund for Research on Social Policy in Guatemala. The Fund's main objective is to strengthen the ability of civil society organizations to participate in the implementation of the 1996 Peace Accords. The Fund is financed by the Canadian International Development Agency.
For More Information
Patricia Poirier, Director of communications, ICHRDD Tel : (514) 283-6073 Fax: (514) 283-3792
