Guatemala Urgent Action
April 25, 2002
Her father, brother and pregnant sister were kidnapped and disappeared 20 years ago.
Family wants reparation from the State of Guatemala.
Twenty years ago, a young Guatemalan girl, Graciela Azmitia Dorantes, lost three members of her family in the space of 4 days, the 19–22 September 1981. Her 22–year–old–brother, 23–year–old–sister (3 months pregnant) and 51–year–old–father were kidnapped and disappeared.
Graciela, her mother and her younger brother managed to escape and flee to Mexico. She went back to Guatemala in 1982 and the family gave testimony of their ordeal before the Catholic Church's Recuperation of the Historical Memory Project and before the Historical Clarification Commission set up by the Peace Accords.
After that, they decided to present their case to national and international human rights courts. Graciela wants to "know where my father is, where are my brother and sister, and my niece or nephew, born in captivity". They want the Guatemalan government to recognize the many atrocities committed during the years of military repression, and to promote reparation for those who have suffered. Of particular concern is the identification of children who were born while their mothers were imprisoned.
They brought their case to the Inter–American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH). It was accepted in December 2000 (file number 12344). In November 2001, the representative of the Guatemalan government at the CIDH agreed to find an answer to their demands but this has not happened yet. They presented their case to the Guatemalan Human Rights Presidential Commission (COPREDEH) in March 2001. There were meetings with the last three presidents of COPREDEH, but up to now, they have not obtained any answer about the investigation of the case from the Guatemalan government.
They need international support at this time to ensure that the case continues to move forward. Graciela is asking that her message circulate as widely as possible to have international pressure brought on to both human rights courts.
Graciela suggests the following model letter: (translation follows Graciela's original Spanish version)
April 25, 2002
Guatemalan woman asking the Inter–American Commission on Human Rights for justice
Her father, brother and pregnant sister were kidnapped and disappeared 20 years ago.
Family wants reparation from the State of Guatemala.
Twenty years ago, a young Guatemalan girl, Graciela Azmitia Dorantes, lost three members of her family in the space of 4 days, the 19–22 September 1981. Her 22–year–old–brother, 23–year–old–sister (3 months pregnant) and 51–year–old–father were kidnapped and disappeared.
Graciela, her mother and her younger brother managed to escape and flee to Mexico. She went back to Guatemala in 1982 and the family gave testimony of their ordeal before the Catholic Church's Recuperation of the Historical Memory Project and before the Historical Clarification Commission set up by the Peace Accords.
After that, they decided to present their case to national and international human rights courts. Graciela wants to "know where my father is, where are my brother and sister, and my niece or nephew, born in captivity". They want the Guatemalan government to recognize the many atrocities committed during the years of military repression, and to promote reparation for those who have suffered. Of particular concern is the identification of children who were born while their mothers were imprisoned.
They brought their case to the Inter–American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH). It was accepted in December 2000 (file number 12344). In November 2001, the representative of the Guatemalan government at the CIDH agreed to find an answer to their demands but this has not happened yet. They presented their case to the Guatemalan Human Rights Presidential Commission (COPREDEH) in March 2001. There were meetings with the last three presidents of COPREDEH, but up to now, they have not obtained any answer about the investigation of the case from the Guatemalan government.
They need international support at this time to ensure that the case continues to move forward. Graciela is asking that her message circulate as widely as possible to have international pressure brought on to both human rights courts.
Graciela suggests the following model letter: (translation follows Graciela's original Spanish version)
Dr. Alfonso Fuentes Soria
Presidente
Comisión Presidencial de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH)
Guatemala
Por medio de la presente solicitamos a usted información del caso Azmitia Dorantes, reconocido en la CIDH con el número 12344.
Entendemos que el caso esta en proceso de conocimiento e investigación y que han iniciado la negociación para la búsqueda de solución amistosa y que en este momento se encuentra estancado.
Agradecemos de antemano la atención a la presente.
Atentamente,
(firma de quien lo envía)
Cc:
Presidente
Comisión Presidencial de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH)
Guatemala
Por medio de la presente solicitamos a usted información del caso Azmitia Dorantes, reconocido en la CIDH con el número 12344.
Entendemos que el caso esta en proceso de conocimiento e investigación y que han iniciado la negociación para la búsqueda de solución amistosa y que en este momento se encuentra estancado.
Agradecemos de antemano la atención a la presente.
Atentamente,
(firma de quien lo envía)
Cc:
- Dr. Juan Méndez, Presidente de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, OEA (Organización de Estados Americanos)
- Dra. María Claudia Pulido, Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, OEA.
Dr. María Claudia Pulido is the lawyer for the Guatemalan cases at the Commission.
Coordinates for all the recipients can be found after the translation.
Translation:
Dr. Alfonso Fuentes Soria
President
Presidential Commission on Human Rights (COPREDEH), Guatemala
We are asking you for information on the Azmitia Dorantes case, file number 12344 at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
We understand that the case is at the investigation stage and that negotiations have started in an effort to find an amicable solution but, at the moment, it is not progressing.
We thank you for your attention to this letter.
Sincerely,
(signature)
Cc:
Coordinates:
Dr. Alfonso Fuentes Soria
Presidente, Comision Presidencial de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH), Guatemala
15 Ave. 18–38, Zona 13, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
fax: 011 502 334 1615 o 011 502 334 1407
e–mail: copredeh@copredeh.gob.gt
Dr. Juan Méndez, President of the Inter–American Commission on Human Rights, OAS (Organization of American States)
Dr. María Claudia Pulido
The coordinates for both are:
1889 F Street, N.W., Washigton, DC, 2006, USA
fax: 1 202 458 3992
e–mail: cidhoea@oas.org
We suggest that you send a copy to the Canadian Ambassador in Guatemala, (may be with a cover note asking for monitoring of this case by the Canadian Embassy) and to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The coordinates of the Canadian officials are:
Hon. Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2
fax 1 613 996 9607
e–mail Graham.B@PARL.GC.CA
Ambassador Allan Culham
Canadian Embassy in Guatemala
13 Calle 8–44, Zona 10, Edyma Plaza, 8 Nivel, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
fax: 011 502 333 6161
e–mail: GTMLA@DFAIT-MAECI.GC.CA
We strongly suggest that
Gloria Pereira–Papenburg
Central America Programme
Social Justice Committee
1857 Maisonneuve West, suite 320 Montreal, Canada, H3H 1J9
e–mail: gloria@s-j-c.net
Coordinates for all the recipients can be found after the translation.
Translation:
Dr. Alfonso Fuentes Soria
President
Presidential Commission on Human Rights (COPREDEH), Guatemala
We are asking you for information on the Azmitia Dorantes case, file number 12344 at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
We understand that the case is at the investigation stage and that negotiations have started in an effort to find an amicable solution but, at the moment, it is not progressing.
We thank you for your attention to this letter.
Sincerely,
(signature)
Cc:
- Dr. Juan Méndez, President of the Inter–American Commission on Human Rights, OAS (Organization of American States)
- Dr. María Claudia Pulido.
Coordinates:
Dr. Alfonso Fuentes Soria
Presidente, Comision Presidencial de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH), Guatemala
15 Ave. 18–38, Zona 13, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
fax: 011 502 334 1615 o 011 502 334 1407
e–mail: copredeh@copredeh.gob.gt
Dr. Juan Méndez, President of the Inter–American Commission on Human Rights, OAS (Organization of American States)
Dr. María Claudia Pulido
The coordinates for both are:
1889 F Street, N.W., Washigton, DC, 2006, USA
fax: 1 202 458 3992
e–mail: cidhoea@oas.org
We suggest that you send a copy to the Canadian Ambassador in Guatemala, (may be with a cover note asking for monitoring of this case by the Canadian Embassy) and to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The coordinates of the Canadian officials are:
Hon. Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2
fax 1 613 996 9607
e–mail Graham.B@PARL.GC.CA
Ambassador Allan Culham
Canadian Embassy in Guatemala
13 Calle 8–44, Zona 10, Edyma Plaza, 8 Nivel, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
fax: 011 502 333 6161
e–mail: GTMLA@DFAIT-MAECI.GC.CA
We strongly suggest that
- you send a copy of your letter to your Member of Parliament, and
- you make other Canadians aware of your concerns by contacting the media and/or other members of your community.
Gloria Pereira–Papenburg
Central America Programme
Social Justice Committee
1857 Maisonneuve West, suite 320 Montreal, Canada, H3H 1J9
e–mail: gloria@s-j-c.net