PUBLICAI Index: AMR 43/02/00

2 June 2000

Further information on UA 73/00 (AMR 43/01/00, 29 March 2000) - Fear for safety

NICARAGUAVilma Núñez de Escorcia (f), human rights defender

Vilma Núñez de Escorcia has received further threats as a result of her work in defence of human rights. Amnesty International fears that she, her family and her colleagues are in danger.

An anonymous letter, including many gross insults, stated that she will be executed (ajusticiada) by members of an armed group of ex-soldiers, the Frente Unido Andrés Castro (FUAC), Andres Castro United Front. The letter also insults the director of the national newspaper, El Nuevo Diario, and two deceased activists of the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), Sandinista Front of National Liberation.

Vilma Núñez is President of the non-governmental human rights organisation Centro Nicaragüense de Derechos Humanos (CENIDH), Nicaraguan Centre for Human Rights. The letter arrived at the organisation’s offices on 25 May, but Vilma Núñez did not receive it until 29 May because she was out of the country. She has filed an official complaint with the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations of the National Police, Dirección General de Investigaciones Criminales de la Policía Nacional.

This is the latest in a series of threats intended to intimidate Vilma Núñez de Escorcia and discredit the valuable human rights defence work of CENIDH.

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

-expressing concern about the threats received by Vilma Núñez de Escorcia on 25 May 2000;

-urging the authorities to take immediate steps to guarantee the safety of Vilma Núñez de Escorcia, other CENIDH members and their families;

-calling for a prompt, impartial and exhaustive investigation into the threats, for the results to be made public, and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

APPEALS TO:

President of the Republic of Nicaragua

S.E. Arnoldo Alemán

Presidente de la República de Nicaragua

Casa de la Presidencia

Avenida Bolívar y Dupla Sur.

Managua, NICARAGUA

Telegrams: Presidente, Nicaragua

Fax: + 505 2287 911 / 2282 001

E-mail: presidente@presidencia.gob.ni

Salutation: Sr. Presidente / Dear President

Attorney General

Dr. Julio Centeno Gómez

Procurador General de Justicia

Procuraduría General de Justicia

Frente a la Iglesia San Francisco

Managua, NICARAGUA

Telegrams:Procurador General, Nicaragua

Fax: + 505 277 5313 (if voice answers, ask “me puede dar tono de fax, por favor”)

Salutation:Sr. Procurador / Dear Attorney General

Human Rights Procurator

Dr Benjamín Pérez Fonseca

Procurador de los Derechos Humanos

Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos

Estatua de Montoya,2 cuadras arriba, a mano derecha

Managua, NICARAGUA

Telegrams: Procurador Derechos Humanos, Nicaragua

Fax: + 505 266 4141 (if voice answers, ask “me puede dar tono de fax, por favor”)

COPIES TO:

Nicaraguan Centre for Human Rights

Centro Nicaragüense de Derechos Humanos (CENIDH)

De la Texaco Montoya 1 ½ c. al Sur

Managua, NICARAGUA

and to diplomatic representatives of Nicaragua accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 14 July 2000.