PUBLICAI Index: AMR 28/17/00

UA 369/00Fear for safety/Death Threats6 December 2000

ECUADOR

Pedro Geovanny Baque Tuarez

Carlos Wilfrido Jaramillo Mera

Their families

Police officers are on trial for the murder of two men, and the sole witness, Pedro Geovanny Baque, has received death threats. Police have allegedly tortured the dead men’s brother, Carlos Wilfrido Jartamillo Mera, to make him implicate this witness in serious crimes. Amnesty International believes both men and their families are in grave danger.

Carlos and Pedro Jaramillo Mera were killed in February 2000. Eight police officers are now on trial charged with their murder.

Pedro Geovanny Baque was with the brothers but survived the attack, and the police officers on trial are charged with his attempted murder. On 1 December, his family received an anonymous phone call from a man who threatened to kill them, saying: "cuídense que les vamos a poner una bomba" ("Be careful, we are going to blow you up").

Pedro Baque and his family are now under military protection, as are the lawyers working on this case, because of the threats and intimidation that they have suffered. However, despite this protection, the threats are continuing.

It also appears that police are attempting to intimidate Pedro Baque by implicating him in criminal offences. On 3 November police reportedly called on the dead men’s brother, Carlos Wilfrido Jaramillo Mera. They allegedly took him to a police station, where they beat him on the face, arms and legs and tortured him with electric shocks. They also apparently questioned him about a recent armed robbery on a bank, and the killing of a police officer, and tried to get him to implicate Pedro Baque in these crimes.

Under UN Principles the Ecuadorean authorities are obliged to protect witnesses to human rights violations, and their families, from violence or threats of violence. These principles must be upheld, and those responsible for the killing of Pedro and Carlos Jaramillo, and the attempted murder of Pedro Baque, must be brought to justice. Only then will the vicious circle of impunity in Ecuador be broken.

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

- expressing concern for the safety of Pedro Geovanny Baque Tuarez, Carlos Wilfrido Jaramillo Mera and their families;

- asking the authorities to do everything necessary to protect Carlos Wilfrido Jaramillo Mera and his family;

- requesting a prompt and effective investigation into reports that Carlos Wilfrido Jaramillo Mera has been tortured, with the findings published, and those responsible brought to justice;

- requesting a prompt and effective investigation into the intimidation and threats that Pedro Geovanny Baque Tuarez and his family have been subjected to, that the findings be published, and that those responsible be brought to justice.

APPEALS TO:

Minister of the Interior and Police

Dr. Juan Manrique Martínez

Ministerio de Gobierno y Policía

Benalcázar y Espejo

Quito

ECUADOR

Fax: + 593 2 580-067

Salutation: Señor Ministro/ Dear Minister

Head of the National Police

General Inspector

Dr. Mario Romel Cevallos Moreno

Comandante General de la Policía Nacional

Ramírez Dávalos 612 y Av. 10 de Agosto

Quito

Ecuador

Fax: + 593 2 506-066

Salutation:Señor Comandante General/Dear Commander General

COPIES TO:

Human Rights Organization

Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos

"Segundo Montes Mozo S.J."

Av. 10 e Agosto N26-57 y Gral Vicente Aguirre

Edif. Tauro, Of. 802

Quito

ECUADOR

and to diplomatic representatives of Ecuador accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 17 January 2001.