Guatemala
28.02.03
Urgent Interventions
Guatemala: intimidation of a worker and his family
Case GTM 270103.1 ESCR
Follow-up of Case GTM 270103. ESCR
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Attempt killing/Right to Food/Labour Rights/Intimidation
Geneva, February 28th, 2003
The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information regarding the following situation in Guatemala.
New information
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Latin-American Commission for the Rights and Freedoms of the Workers and Peoples (CLADEHLT), a member of the OMCT network, of the of the intimidation of Marcos Alvarez Tzoc and his family by the owner of the El Arco farm, in order to get them to drop the charges being pressed against him in Guatemala.
According to the information received, Mr. Jesus Salazar Pivaral, the owner of the El Arco farm is currently exercising pressure on Marcos Alvarez Tzoc and his family for them to declare that he is not the one who fired two bullets at Marcos Alvarez Tzoc on January 17th 2003, giving rise to fears for their physical and psychological integrity. In this respect, it is reported that Mr. Mr. Jesus Salazar Pivaral also declared to the judge in charge of the case that he is not the one who fired at Marcos Alvarez Tzoc.
Moreover, it is also reported that Mr. Jesus Salazar Pivara denounced his workers for the alleged theft of 38 quintals of bananas.
Brief reminder of the situation
On January 17th 2003, at around 6.00 pm, the owner of El Arco Farm, Jesus Salazar Pivaral (hereafter Mr. Enrique Salazar), fired 2 bullets at his 59 years old worker Marcos Alvarez Tzoc.
According to the information received, Mr. Enrique Salazar shot two bullets at his worker Marcos Alvarez Tzoc after having discovered that he was selling bananas. Mr. Enrique Salazar reportedly started to insult and beat Marcos Alvarez Tzoc, took his gun and shot at him twice, hitting him in the head. It is reported that after having been held during approximately 7 hours in Mr. Enrique Salazar's office, Marcos Alvarez Tzoc was eventually transported to the National Hospital of Mazatenango.
Marcos Alvarez Tzoc was reportedly selling bananas in order to get enough money to feed himself. It is reported that the majority of the workers employed by Mr. Enrique Salazar on El Arco Farm are suffering from hunger because they don't have enough resources to by food for themselves and their families.
Moreover, Mr. Enrique Salazar is reportedly constantly harassing and repressing his employees, he fails to pay them the minimum wages and to provide them with other benefits that they are entitled to receive by law, including holidays.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities in Guatemala urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the afore-mentioned persons;
ii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms, including economic, social and cultural rights throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses:
S.E. Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera, Presidente de la República de Guatemala, Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, Guatemala. Fax : + 502 221 44 23 ; E-mail: secgralp@infovia.com.gt; mensajes@presidenteportillo.gob.gt
Eduardo Aravalo Lacs, Minister of the Interior, Ministerio de Gobernacion, 6a Avenida 4-64, Zona 4, Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Fax: + 502 362 0239 / 362 0237
Lic. Gabriel Orellana Rojas, Minister of Foreign Relations, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Avenida Reforma 4-47, Zona 10, Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Lic. Víctor H. Godoy, Ministro de Trabajo – Fax: +502 230-1363; E-mail: ministro@mintrabajo.gob.gt
Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos, 12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1, Guatemala 01001, GUATEMALA, Fax: + 502 238 17 34/ 253 57 12 ; E-mail: opdhg@guatenet.net.gt
Dr. Sergio F. Morales Alvarado, Procurador de los Derechos Humanos Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos, 12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1, Guatemala 01001, GUATEMALA, Fax:+ 502 238 1734/253 5712 ; E-mail: opdhg@guatenet.net.gt; opdhg@internet.net.gt
Lic. Carlos D. De León Argueta, Fiscal General y Jefe del Ministerio Público, Ministerio Público, 6 Av 3-11, Zona 4, Guatemala. Guatemala. Fax : + 502 331 43 36/221-2718; E-mail: minpub@mp.lex.gob.gt
Lic. Luis A. Pañagua G., Director de la Policía Nacional Civil – Fax: + 502.251-9382
Sr. Victor Hugo Monroy, Director of the Guatemalan Government's Human Rights Office, fax +502-334-1615 ó E-mail: copredeh@guate.net
Note: If you encounter any difficulties when using the fax numbers or e-mail addresses above, please also send your letters to the Mission in Geneva:
Ambassadeur, Arenales Forno, Antonio, Ch. de Sous-Bois 21, CH-1202, Genève, Suisse, e-mail : mission.guatemala@ties.itu.int, fax: +4122 733 14 29
Please also write to the embassies of Guatemala in your respective country.
Geneva, February 28th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Follow-up of Case GTM 270103. ESCR
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Attempt killing/Right to Food/Labour Rights/Intimidation
Geneva, February 28th, 2003
The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information regarding the following situation in Guatemala.
New information
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Latin-American Commission for the Rights and Freedoms of the Workers and Peoples (CLADEHLT), a member of the OMCT network, of the of the intimidation of Marcos Alvarez Tzoc and his family by the owner of the El Arco farm, in order to get them to drop the charges being pressed against him in Guatemala.
According to the information received, Mr. Jesus Salazar Pivaral, the owner of the El Arco farm is currently exercising pressure on Marcos Alvarez Tzoc and his family for them to declare that he is not the one who fired two bullets at Marcos Alvarez Tzoc on January 17th 2003, giving rise to fears for their physical and psychological integrity. In this respect, it is reported that Mr. Mr. Jesus Salazar Pivaral also declared to the judge in charge of the case that he is not the one who fired at Marcos Alvarez Tzoc.
Moreover, it is also reported that Mr. Jesus Salazar Pivara denounced his workers for the alleged theft of 38 quintals of bananas.
Brief reminder of the situation
On January 17th 2003, at around 6.00 pm, the owner of El Arco Farm, Jesus Salazar Pivaral (hereafter Mr. Enrique Salazar), fired 2 bullets at his 59 years old worker Marcos Alvarez Tzoc.
According to the information received, Mr. Enrique Salazar shot two bullets at his worker Marcos Alvarez Tzoc after having discovered that he was selling bananas. Mr. Enrique Salazar reportedly started to insult and beat Marcos Alvarez Tzoc, took his gun and shot at him twice, hitting him in the head. It is reported that after having been held during approximately 7 hours in Mr. Enrique Salazar's office, Marcos Alvarez Tzoc was eventually transported to the National Hospital of Mazatenango.
Marcos Alvarez Tzoc was reportedly selling bananas in order to get enough money to feed himself. It is reported that the majority of the workers employed by Mr. Enrique Salazar on El Arco Farm are suffering from hunger because they don't have enough resources to by food for themselves and their families.
Moreover, Mr. Enrique Salazar is reportedly constantly harassing and repressing his employees, he fails to pay them the minimum wages and to provide them with other benefits that they are entitled to receive by law, including holidays.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities in Guatemala urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the afore-mentioned persons;
ii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms, including economic, social and cultural rights throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses:
S.E. Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera, Presidente de la República de Guatemala, Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, Guatemala. Fax : + 502 221 44 23 ; E-mail: secgralp@infovia.com.gt; mensajes@presidenteportillo.gob.gt
Eduardo Aravalo Lacs, Minister of the Interior, Ministerio de Gobernacion, 6a Avenida 4-64, Zona 4, Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Fax: + 502 362 0239 / 362 0237
Lic. Gabriel Orellana Rojas, Minister of Foreign Relations, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Avenida Reforma 4-47, Zona 10, Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA
Lic. Víctor H. Godoy, Ministro de Trabajo – Fax: +502 230-1363; E-mail: ministro@mintrabajo.gob.gt
Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos, 12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1, Guatemala 01001, GUATEMALA, Fax: + 502 238 17 34/ 253 57 12 ; E-mail: opdhg@guatenet.net.gt
Dr. Sergio F. Morales Alvarado, Procurador de los Derechos Humanos Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos, 12 Avenida 12-72, Zona 1, Guatemala 01001, GUATEMALA, Fax:+ 502 238 1734/253 5712 ; E-mail: opdhg@guatenet.net.gt; opdhg@internet.net.gt
Lic. Carlos D. De León Argueta, Fiscal General y Jefe del Ministerio Público, Ministerio Público, 6 Av 3-11, Zona 4, Guatemala. Guatemala. Fax : + 502 331 43 36/221-2718; E-mail: minpub@mp.lex.gob.gt
Lic. Luis A. Pañagua G., Director de la Policía Nacional Civil – Fax: + 502.251-9382
Sr. Victor Hugo Monroy, Director of the Guatemalan Government's Human Rights Office, fax +502-334-1615 ó E-mail: copredeh@guate.net
Note: If you encounter any difficulties when using the fax numbers or e-mail addresses above, please also send your letters to the Mission in Geneva:
Ambassadeur, Arenales Forno, Antonio, Ch. de Sous-Bois 21, CH-1202, Genève, Suisse, e-mail : mission.guatemala@ties.itu.int, fax: +4122 733 14 29
Please also write to the embassies of Guatemala in your respective country.
Geneva, February 28th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.