From:    William Bowles
Subject: GUAT: Abuse of Rights of Women

6:14 pm  Sep 13, 1991
Source: Peacenet
(Fido:250/222) igc:aicoord
Conf:ai.general
Human Rights Workers: Guatemala

Members and leaders of the Coordinadora Nacional de Viudas
de Guatemala (CONAVIGUA)/National Coordinating Committee of
Widows of Guatemala

CONAVIGUA was founded in 1988 by women whose husbands
"disappeared" or were killed as a result of the government's
counter-insurgency campaigns and has been active in
denouncing human rights violations suffered by their
families and in campaigning for better living conditions for
Guatemalan widows and their children.

Amnesty International is concerned at reports of continuous
harassment and intimidation directed at leaders and members
of CONAVIGUA, National Coordinating Committee of Widows of
Guatemala.

On July 24, 1991, at about 5:00 PM, Maria Morales, one of
CONAVIGUA's leaders had just left CONAVIGUA's offices in
Guatemala City when an unidentified man reportedly blocked
her way and aggressively started questioning her about her
involvement in CONAVIGUA. He warned her that she should not
work with the organization and added that he was a member of
the Policia Nacional (National Police) and an escort to a
colonel. He also reportedly tried to grab hold of her but
she managed to run away. Maria Moreles has allegedly been
the target of abduction attempts and death threats in recent
months. Amnesty International is seriously concerned for her
safety.

A few days later, at about midnight on July 28, several
uniformed police in two cars reportedly arrived at the
offices of CONAVIGUA, and started ringing the doorbell
insistently. Among those sleeping that night at CONAVIGUA's
premises were six children and four leaders of the
organization. When they opened the door, two policemen
forced their was into the building without a warrant and
reportedly started searching everything. They shone their
flashlights in the faces of those still in bed and accused
the women of hiding "someone." Two other policemen stayed at
the door and took down personal details from Fermina Lopez,
one of the leaders. (In 1990 Fermina Lopez was a featured
speaker at the Amnesty International Annual General Meeting
in Boston.) When another woman leaned out from a first floor
window to look towards the street a policeman allegedly
fired a gunshot in the air. The police eventually left.

President Jorge Serrano Elias came to power in January 1991;
during his presidential campaign he had pledged to ensure
protection of human rights. Amnesty International remains
seriously concerned at what appears to be a deterioration in
the human rights situation in the country in the past few
months, including an increased number of killings, death
threats, torture and "disappearances". Members and leaders
of human rights groups, including CONAVIGUA and other
popular organizations, have been particularly targeted.

Action Request:

Please send courteously worded telegrams/telexes and airmail
letters;
-expressing concern at the reported intimidation of Maria
Morales, Fermina Lopez and other members of CONAVIGUA;
-asking that immediate steps be taken to ensure the safety
of Maria Morales, Fermina Lopez and other CONAVIGUA members;
-asking that the threats, intimidating incidents and the
alleged illegal search on CONAVIGUA be investigated and
those responsible be brought to justice.

Appeals to:

Lic. Fernando Hurtado Prem, Ministro de Gobernacion,
Despacho Ministerial, Oficina No. 8, Primer Nivel, Palacio
Nacional, Guatemala, Guatemala

faxes: 011 502 2 518105
telexes: 305 5085 MINGOB GU
telegrams: Ministro Gobernacion, Guatemala, Guatemala

Copies to:

Diario Siglo XXI (this is a newspaper), 7a Avenida 11-79,
Edificio Galerias Espana, 60 piso, Zona 9, Guatemala,
Guatemala