Death Threats to Team Investigating Mass Graves in Guatemala
FACTS OF THE CASE
The Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation (FAFG), and in particularly anthropologist Fredy Peccerelli, its executive director, and his family are once again facing death threats from unknown assailants thought to have been tied to the military during Guatemala's civil war.
On 9January 2006, Fredy Peccerelli received a threatening text message on his mobile phone. The message demanded an end to exhumations and threatened to kill Fredy's brother Gianni. The message mentioned specific information about Gianni's new car that is missing its rear window, indicating that the family is being closely watched by the aggressors.
The next day, on 10 January 2006, Bianka Peccerelli, Fredy's sister and wife of Omar Giron Bertoni, the laboratory coordinator for FAFG, found an anonymous letter addressed to Omar, threatening her, Omar, and Fredy. The letter stated the sender's intention to torture and kill them.
Threats against Fredy and the foundation resumed in August 2005 after a two-year respite. The previous threats might have been related to the 2003 presidential elections. FAFG has been working to exhume the clandestine mass graves of people massacred during Guatemala's 35-year civil conflict.
Exhumations and the analysis of the human remains have played a critical role in providing forensic investigation teams with evidence to scientifically document massacres perpetrated by the Guatemalan military and the paramilitary groups related to the military. Many of those responsible for human rights violations continue to hold positions in the military, government and society.
Since 1992, FAFG has carried out over 200 exhumations of mass grave sites, using forensic anthropology and archeology to search for the estimated 200,000 victims of the conflict. The Guatemalan government has failed to initiate a viable official exhumation program. As such, FAFG, and other non-governmental organizations, are the only entities working to identify victims and return the remains to surviving family members.
AAAS has long been involved in human rights issues in Guatemala and in the recovery of information about the disappeared. It established and trained Guatemala's first forensic anthropology team. In 2004, the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program honored FAFG at the AAAS Annual Meeting.
(Sources of information for this case include: Personal correspondence with Fredy Peccerelli.)
RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS:
The Human Rights Defenders Declaration:
**Article 11: Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession.
**Article 12(2): The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights].
**Article 6(a): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: To know, seek, obtain, receive and hold information about all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including having access to information as to how those rights and freedoms are given effect in domestic legislative, judicial or administrative systems.
**Article 6(b): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
**Article 6(c): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send faxes, letters, or emails:
**Requesting that the government provide the anthropologists and other staff of the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation with
police protection;
**Asking officials to investigate threats against the individuals concerned; and
**Reminding government authorities of the Guatemala Historical Clarification Commission's recommendations that identified exhumations as an important step in achieving a full accounting of the past and national reconciliation. The Commission's report specifically states that the government should support the work of nongovernmental forensic scientists.
APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:
Sr. Julio Godoy
**Vice Secretary of State
**Ministerio de Gobernacion
**Email: magaly@mingob.gob.gt
**Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister:
Sr Juan Luis Florido
**Fiscal General (Attorney General)
**Ministerio Publico
**Email: fiscalgeneral@mp.lex.gob.gt, agudiel@mp.lex.gob.gt
Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Sarah Olmstead, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6787; email shrp@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.
The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation.
Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful. To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.