EXTERNALAI Index: AMR 24/02/96

16 October 1996

Further information on UA 216/96 (AMR 24/01/96, 5 September 1996) - Fear for safety

COSTA RICAReina Xiomara ZELAYA GONZÁLEZ, and her daughters:

Maryuri Johanna ZELAYA GONZÁLEZ, aged 6 (f)

Stephanía Xiomara CABALLERO ZELAYA, aged 12 (f)

Cynthia Lorena CABALLERO ZELAYA, aged 13 (f)

Amnesty International has received further reports of harassment by unidentified men against Reina Xiomara Zelaya González and her daughters.

On 7 October, two men approached Stephanía Xiomara as she was leaving school with a friend. Stephanía set off running until she reached her house. The headmaster of Stephanía's school told her mother that he had once seen a black car parked outside the school.

On 14 October, Reina Xiomara Zelaya took a taxi home after dining with a friend. An hour and a half later, the friend came to her house, saying that a man had approached him just after she had left and asked where she had gone, where she lived, what her name was and so on.

Reina Zelaya and her daughters are legal residents in Costa Rica, having been granted asylum there and, as such, are entitled to the protection of the state. In spite of appeals, the Costa Rican authorities have failed to give any protection to Reina and her family. Reina has told Amnesty International that she is now desperate to leave Costa Rica: "I can't face any more of this harassment," she said [No puedo más con este hostigamiento].

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Spanish or in your own language:

- expressing alarm at further reports of harassment of Reina Xiomara Zelaya and her daughters, believed to be the work of members of the Honduran security forces;

- asking the Costa Rican authorities what measures they have taken to guarantee the safety of Reina Xiomara Zalaya and her family and urging that every effort be made to protect them from further threats;

- reiterating calls for an investigation into the reports of threats and harassment against the family and urging that anyone found responsible be immediately brought to justice;

- requesting that the Costa Rican authorities raise this as a matter of urgency with the Honduran government.

APPEALS TO:

1) President of Costa Rica

Dr. José María Figueres Olsen

Presidente de la República de Costa Rica

Casa Presidencial

Apartado 10089

1000 San José, COSTA RICA

Telegrams: President Figueres, San José, Costa Rica

Faxes: + 506 253 9078

Salutation: Señor Presidente / Dear President

2) Interior Minister in Costa Rica

Bernardo Arce Gutiérrez

Ministro de Seguridad y Gobernación

Ministerio de Seguridad y Gobernación

Apartado 4768

1000 San José, COSTA RICA

Telegrams: Ministro Gobernación, San José, Costa Rica

Faxes: + 506 253 6243

Salutation: Señor Ministro / Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

1) Human Rights Commissioner (Honduras)

Lic. Leo Valladares Lanza

Comisionado Nacional de los Derechos Humanos

Avda. Los Próceres 3623

Tegucigalpa MDC., HONDURAS

Fax: + 504 36 7213

E-mail: conadeh1@ns.gbm.hn

2) Office for the Defence of the People (Costa Rica)

Sr. Rodrigo Alberto Carazo

Defensoría de los Habitantes de la República

Apdo Postal 1240-1007

San José, COSTA RICA

Faxes: + 506 296 2512

3) UNHCR in Costa Rica

ACNUR

Apartado Postal 12

Ferrocarril Pacífico

1009 San José, COSTA RICA

Faxes: + 506 234 0431 / 224 4891

4) Newspaper in Costa Rica

La Nación

Llorente de Tibás

Apartado 10138

San José, COSTA RICA

Faxes: + 506 240 6480

5) Newspaper in Honduras

Diario Tiempo

Altos del Centro Comercial Prisa

Colonia Miramontés

Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS

Faxes: + 504 31 0422

and to diplomatic representatives of Costa Rica accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 27 November 1996.