Date: Fri, 26 May 1995 18:28:59 -0400 (EDT) From: glevy-AT-acnet.pratt.edu Subject: Urgent action requested > From ctfca-AT-web.apc.org Fri May 26 12:38:59 1995 > Date: Fri, 26 May 95 15:34 EDT > From: ctfca-AT-web.apc.org (Christian Task Force on Central America BC) > To: shniad-AT-sfu.ca > Subject: urgent action > > > > > May 26, 1995 > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > URGENT ACTION - GUATEMALA - URGENT ACTION - > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > TRADE UNIONIST RECEIVES ANOTHER THREAT > > Dear Friends, > > We have received news from Amnesty International that on May 20, > 1995, Debora Guzman Chupen, 23, received a new death threat. She > is a trade unionist at the L y L Modas factory and was abducted in > February. Her husband, Felix Gonzalez, is a trade union leader at > Lunafil S.A. textile factory in Amatitlan, Department of > Guatemala. > > The threat came in the form of an anonymous hand-written letter > delivered to her home and read: "We have given you enough time and > you have not done what we told you to do...We had you in our > hands, but you do not seem to understand., But we are going to > make sure you do understand. We are giving you 8 days to comply. > Start counting the days. Think about your parents and about your > future. It is not worth dying over something you yourself can > prevent happening. Do not leave your house, as we have you under > surveillance...." > > BACKGROUND > When Debora Guzman Chupen was abducted in February, she was told > that she would be killed if she did not convince her husband to > stop his union activities. She was released a day later and > shortly after received a written death threat at her home, warning > her to ensure that her husband resigned from the union within 72 > hours. > > The May 20th threat is the latest in a series of threats and other > acts of intimidation against trade unionists at the Lunafil > factory. They began receiving threats in May, 1994 when 49 of > them began a protest outside the factory against what they claimed > was its illegal and unjustified closure. > > An Amnesty International delegation recently visited Guatemala and > met with the workers who said that despite the threats against > Debora Guzman and her abduction in February, no inquiries have > been initiated by the authorities. It is believed that, as was > the case during previous labour disputes at Lunafil in 1987 and > 1988, private security guards hired by the Lunafil management and > acting with the acquiescence or complicity of the Guatemalan > security forces may be responsible for the abuses against Debora > Guzman and other recent violations against unionists in the > textile sector. > > RECOMMENDED ACTION > Please send messages to the Guatemalan government, expressing > concern at the death threats against Debora Guzman Chupen and > Felix Gonzalez as well as other workers at the Lunafil factory, > requesting immediate measures to guarantee their safety and > calling for an immediate investigation into the reported abuses so > that the perpetrators are brought to justice. > > It is useful to inform the government that you are contacting the > Canadian government about this case. > > Please also send messages to the Canadian Minister of Foreign > Affairs, briefly explaining the case and urging him to express the > concern of the Canadian government and to call for the safety of > the trade unionists and for an immediate investigation so that the > perpetrators are brought to justice. > > Please send copies of this message to the Foreign Affairs critics > for the NDP and Reform Party. (Eastern Canada covers the Bloc > Qubecois.) > > ADDRESSES > Gral. Mario Enrquez Morales, FAX: > 011-502-2-537472 Ministro de Defensa, Ministerio de Defensa, > Palacio Nacional, Guatemala, GUATEMALA > > Hon. Andr Ouellet, FAX:1- 613-996-3443 > Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phone:1-613-995-8872 > House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 > > Bob Mills, M.P. (Reform Party) FAX:1- 613-995-6831 > Svend Robinson, M.P. (NDP) FAX: 1-613-992-5501 > Both are at the House of Commons. No postage is necessary to send > there. > > Thank you for your support. > --- from list technology-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- ------------------
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