AMR 45/001/2006
UA 201/06
Fear for safety/Death threats
PARAGUAY : The family of Luis MartÌnez (m), murdered community leader
ZacarÌas Vega (m), community leader
Daniel Romero BordÛn (m), community leader, and his family
21 July 2006
Community leaders ZacarÌas Vega and Luis Martinez were shot by members of an armed civilian patrol on 11 July. Luis Martinez was killed, and ZacarÌas Vega was wounded. According to reports, ZacarÌas Vega, community leader Daniel Romero BordÛn and his family, and the family of Luis Martinez have since received death threats in an apparent attempt to stop them pursuing an investigation into the shooting.
On 11 July, Luis MartÌnez and ZacarÌas Vega, both community leaders from San JosÈ del Norte, San Pedro Department, northern Paraguay, were reportedly stopped as they were walking in San JosÈ del Norte, by members of the Comisiones Vecinales de Seguridad, (Neighbourhood Security Commission), an armed civilian patrol, who asked them where they were going. According to reports, the leader of the armed civilian patrol then started shooting at Luis MartÌnez. The rest of the patrol allegedly shot at both Luis MartÌnez and ZacarÌas Vega. Luis Martinez was killed after being shot more than 30 times. However, ZacarÌas Vega, though wounded, managed to escape. The killing of Luis Martinez appears to be linked to his work raising awareness of peasants’ rights, campaigning against the excessive use of agricultural pesticides, and also his opposition to the use of arms by civilian patrols in the area.
The day after the shooting, Daniel Romero BordÛn, another community leader in San JosÈ del Norte, and relatives of Luis Martinez were trying to find out more about the killing. According to reports, they received several threats, passed on by local children, warning them not to go ahead with a complaint about the shooting to the Paraguayan authorities, or else their lives and the lives of their families will be at risk. On 13 July, the wife of Luis MartÌnez and Daniel Romero BordÛn filed a complaint before the District Attorney, calling for an investigation into the actions of the Comisiones Vecinales de Seguridad. The same day, the Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay, CODEHUPY, a non-governmental human rights organization, filed a habeas corpus petition requesting protection for Daniel BordÛn and his family.
According to reports, the alleged perpetrators of the attack are free and continue to live in San Jose del Norte. Amnesty International is not aware of any action that has been taken by the authorities to ensure that ZacarÌas Vega, Daniel Romero BordÛn, his relatives and Luis Martinez’s relatives receive adequate protection ; and that community leaders are able to continue their legitimate activities without fear for their lives or further threats. Daniel Romero BordÛn, his family, the family of Luis MartÌnez and ZacarÌas Vega have left their community as they fear for their safety.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The creation of unarmed civilian patrols such as the Comisiones Vecinales de Seguridad, has been reportedly promoted by the Paraguayan Interior Ministry as a result of increasing crime in isolated areas in the country. According to reports, the Paraguayan authorities do not have means to control these civilian patrols and there have been reports of human right abuses committed by those patrols in areas where there is no presence of the Paraguayan security forces. In June 2006, a member of the Paraguayan Parliament submitted a bill before the Senate proposing a ban on armed civilian patrols.
Amnesty International has received reports of attacks, death threats, harassment and killings of members of peasant farmers’ organizations, community leaders and indigenous groups by armed civilians. The Information received indicates that these armed civilian groups are linked to landowners, private companies or local politicians in the context of disputes over land and social issues (for further Information see UA 209/05, AMR 45/003/2005, 11 August 2005).
RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language :
expressing concern for the safety of ZacarÌas Vega, Luis MartÌnez’ relatives, Daniel Romero BordÛn and his relatives ;
expressing concern that they have all received death threats, which appear to be an attempt to intimidate them into ceasing their pursuit of an investigation into the shooting of Luis Martinez and ZacarÌas Vega ;
urging the authorities to guarantee their safety in accordance with their wishes ;
calling for a full and impartial investigation into the killing of Luis Martinez and the death threats against those seeking justice for his death, for the results to be made public and for those found responsible to be brought to justice.
APPEALS TO :
Interior Minister
Sr. Rogelio Raimundo Benitez Vargas
Ministerio del Interior
Chile esq. Manduvira
AsunciÛn, Paraguay
Fax : +595 21 450 027 (If someone answers, please ask : « Tono de fax, por favor »)
Salutation : Dear Minister/SeÒor Ministro
Minister of Justice
Dr. Derlis CÈspedes
Ministerio de Justicia y Trabajo
Gaspar RodrÌguez de Francia y Estados Unidos
AsunciÛn, Paraguay
Fax : +595 21 208 469 (If someone answers, please ask : « Tono de fax, por favor »)
Salutation : Dear Minister/SeÒor Ministro
Attorney General
RubÈn Candia Amarilla
Fiscal General del Estado
ProcuradurÌa General de la Rep˙blica
San JosÈ 156 c/ Mcal. Lopez
AsunciÛn, Paraguay
Fax : + 595 21 454 603 (If someone answers, please ask : « Tono de fax, por favor »)
Salutation : Dear Attorney General/ Sr. Fiscal General
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sra. Leila Rachid de Cowles
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Palma y 14 de mayo
AsunciÛn, Paraguay
Fax : +595 21 490 676 (If someone answers, please ask : « Tono de fax, por favor »)
Salutation : Dear Minister/SeÒora Ministra
COPIES TO :
Human Rights Organization
Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay - CODEHUPY
ParÌs 1031 c/ ColÛn, AsunciÛn, Paraguay
Email : codehupy codehupy.org
Ambassade de la République du Paraguay
Avenue Louise 475, 1050 Bruxelles
Fax : 02.647.42.48
Email : embapar skynet.be
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 1 September 2006.
Communication au réseau Action Urgente juillet-août 2006
D’abord, une bonne nouvelle ! Adib Abdel Rahman Yusuf, le défenseur des droits humains qui avait fait l’objet de l’AU 285/04 (AFR 54/133/2004 du 8 octobre 2004), a été libéré le 19 avril 2005, après avoir passé sept mois en détention sans inculpation ni jugement. De toute évidence, il a reçu des copies des appels lancés en son nom, puisqu’il a entrepris d’écrire personnellement à chacun des membres du Réseau AU qui sont intervenus en sa faveur ! Fin 2005, il envoyait encore des lettres aux membres du réseau, ce qui donne une idée du nombre d’appels générés par son AU.
Toute l’équipe, à savoir Marie-Françoise, John et Brian vous souhaite de très bonnes vacances 2006 ! Merci de votre soutien.
