IRTF News

Escalating wave of intimidation against legal officials. At 6am on August 15 in Guatemala City, eight armed men posing as police officers forced their way into the house of Ramón Cadena Rámila, Central America Director of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).

The National Federation of Agricultural Workers Unions (Fensuagro), their affiliate and allies in the Department of Putumayo, are in imminent danger from the Colombian Armed Forces.

Death threats to human rights defender Jorge Jiménez, who works for the nongovernmental organization CODEH (Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras).

Death threats issued by the paramilitary group Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) against human rights defenders.

Death threats from an anonymous caller on July 18 to Iván Madero Vergel, President of the Regional Corporation for Defending Human Rights (CREDHOS), in Barrancabermeja, Santander Department.

Killing on June 19 of journalist Elidio Ramos Zárate, age 45, a crime reporter for the regional daily newspaper El Sur, who was fatally shot in the neck by two unknown assailants driving a motorcycle.

Break-in at the offices of the human rights organization Movement for Dignity and Justice (MADJ) in the Barandillas neighborhood of San Pedro Sula in Cortés Department.

Murder of journalist Álvaro Alfredo Aceituno López,Radio Director of Radio Ilusión. His radio show promoted community rights He would take calls during which people would criticize local officials and municipal programs. This is the second attack in the last three months against journalists in this region of Coatepeque.

Murder of Lesbia Yaneth Urquia Urquia, a defender of indigenous and environmental rights. On July 6 she was found dead from head trauma near the municipal dump of Marcala in the department of La Paz.

Invasion of the office of the human rights defense organization Impunity Watch. On June 21, three masked men forced their way into the office of the international organization. The assailants forced a secretary who was on her way out to open the door. They covered her eyes, taped her mouth shut and ransacked the office. Impunity Watch has worked for many years in Guatemala on issues related to human rights violations committed during the country’s long armed internal conflict.