Freedom Socialist Party
4710 University Way NE, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98105March 18, 2005
Presidente de la Republica de Guatemala
Licenciado Oscar Berger Perdomo
Casa Presidential
6a. Avenida, 4-18 zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala,
FAX: 011-502-2221-4423
Sr. Presidente:
The government of Guatemala signed Peace Accords in 1996 that outlawed the use of military force against the citizens of your country. However, you are flagrantly violating this agreement by using military units armed with AK-47s against unarmed demonstrators protesting the ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
We are writing on behalf of the members, branches and international sections of the Freedom Socialist Party to demand that the government of Guatemala withdraw its military forces from the streets of the country and order the Policia Nacional Civil to respect the constitutional rights of Guatemalan citizens.
Furthermore, we call on the government to drop the warrants against union leaders and social movement activists who organized the strikes and protests on March 14. Already, at least two peaceful protesters have been murdered by the Policia Nacional Civil during a nonviolent demonstration in Colotenango, Huehuetenango. Juan Lopez, a member of the Guatemalan Education Workers Union (STEG) was killed by a bullet in the back of his head, another striker was beaten to death, and three other teachers are in the hospital with gunshot wounds. Now journalists covering the protests are receiving death threats, namely Marielos Monzon and Gabriel Mazzarovich.
We hold you and the political parties collaborating to inflict the misery of CAFTA on the Guatemalan people totally responsible for these threats and violence.
Those of us who are working in the United States to oppose the Bush Administration's neoliberal polices know full well that they cost lives in Central America and livelihoods in the U.S. We are in complete solidarity with the citizens in their constant and difficult struggle to feed and educate their children.
For shame! A responsible government would be opposing the World Bank and CAFTA, not punishing those who are trying to defend Guatemalan sovereignty, resources and livelihoods.
We will continue to spread the word of the crimes your government is committing until such time as the human rights of the people are respected.
Sincerely,
Henry Noble
National Secretary, U.S. SectionGuerry Hoddersen
International Secretary, U.S. Section
View anti-CAFTA protest photos.
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