PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 34/002/2009

12 January 2009

UA 7/09 Fear for safety/Death threats

GUATEMALA Fredy Peccerelli (m), Executive Director of the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation (Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala, FAFG)

Gianni Peccerelli (m), his brother, and other relatives

Other members of FAFG staff

Fredy Peccerelli, who heads an organization that carries out forensic exhumations of mass graves from the time of Guatemala's internal armed conflict, received an email death threat on 8 January. Amnesty International believes that he, his family and his colleagues are in grave danger.

Fredy Peccerelli is Executive Director of the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation (Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala, FAFG). On 8 January at 1.13pm he received an email saying: “Bloody son of a bitch fredy, we are watching you fucking revolutionary your families will pay for you we are watching you and we will start with your siblings, first we will kill yani [meaning Gianni] I am sending photos so you don’t think this is bullshit” (Maldito hijo de puta fredy los tenemos controlados revolusionario mierda sus familias lo van a pagar por ustedes los tenemos controlados y vamos a empezar por tus hermanos, primero le quebramos el culo a yani aquí mando fotos para que no piensen que son pajas). Omar Bertoni Girón, head of the FAFG Forensic Anthropology Department, was copied into that email.

The email was accompanied by a photograph showing Gianni Peccerelli’s car parked at a petrol station near where he and Fredy live. The photograph is date stamped 5 January. Gianni Peccerelli is Fredy’s brother.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

FAFG carries out forensic exhumations in mass graves dating back to Guatemala’s internal armed conflict (1960-1996). The uncovering of mass graves and the identification of those buried in them is a key contribution to the pursuit of truth and justice for their relatives and the survivors of the armed conflict.

FAFG staff and some of their relatives have been threatened and attacked since at least 2002, but no-one has been brought to justice. The state has granted them some police protection following requests from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, but this protection has been insufficient and inadequate.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

- expressing concern for the safety of Fredy Peccerelli, his brother Gianni Peccerelli, the rest of his family and his colleagues at the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation, following the death threat received on 8 January;

- urging the authorities to take immediate steps to provide effective protection to FAFG members, in full compliance with the orders of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights;

- calling on them to order an immediate, full and impartial investigation into these and previous threats and bring those responsible to justice;

- reminding the authorities of the right of human rights defenders to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

APPEALS TO:

Minister of the Interior

Sr. Salvador Gándara

Ministro de Gobernación

6ª Avenida 13-71, Zona 1,

Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA

Fax: +502 2413 8658

Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimado Sr. Ministro

Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office

Lic. José Amílcar Velásquez Zárate

Fiscal General de la República y Jefe del Ministerio Público

8ª Avenida 10-67, Zona 1, Antiguo Edificio del Banco de los Trabajadores,

Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA

Fax: +502 2411 9124

+502 2411 9326

Salutation: Dear Attorney General / Estimado Sr. Fiscal General

President of the Presidential Commission of Human Rights

Sra. Ruth del Valle

Presidenta

Comisión Presidencial para los Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH)

2ª avenida 10-50, Zona 9

Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA

Fax: +502 2334 0119

Salutation: Dear President/Estimada Sra. Presidenta

COPIES TO:

Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala (FAFG)

Avenida Simeón Cañas 10-64, Zona 2

Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA

and to diplomatic representatives of Guatemala accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 23 February 2009.