THREATS AGAINST CASA ALIANZA LAWYER - GUATEMALA The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Casa Alianza Central America January 27th, 1997 This morning I had a long phone conversation with the Casa Alianza lawyer for our Legal Aid Office in Guatemala, Lic. Gustavo de Leon Rodas. On Wednesday of last week, (January 22nd) Casa Alianza won a 10 year conviction against the ex-Military Commissioner Carlos Morales Sosa for the April 17th, 1993 murder of street youth Henry Yubani Alvarez Benitez (18). After the sentence was read in court and the case concluded, Lic. de Leon went to the defense lawyer to shake hands. Morales moved towards Lic. de Leon and, in front of his own lawyer, stated "Ganastes, pero ahora va a ver, hijo de la gran puta..." ("You won, but now you will see you bastard..."). Lic. de Leon interprets this as a threat on his physical well being. In the same court room, Sebastian Paz Morales, one of the (false) witnesses presented by Morales Sosa, after the sentencing of the ex-military commissioner, stared incessantly at Lic. de Leon for several minutes in an intimidating fashion. He did not say anything. At this point in our conversation, the phone line went dead. There were two principal witnesses who appeared for Casa Alianza: Claudia Jeannette Sosa Lopez (a former street child who now works in a sandwich stand in Zone 1) and Jose Reyes Siqui (street youth, now 18). A few weeks ago, as the date for the trial was set, an unidentified man approached Claudia Sosa and offered her money (not specifying the amount) to not declare "or else" - without specifying what the 'or else' meant, but implying it was a threat. She told the man she was not interested. Jose Reyes was recently in the Zone 18 jail accused of theft, and while he was there he was searched for by Morales Sosa who was being held in the same jail. Morales Sosa also offered money to Jose Reyes to not declare. Jose Reyes told him that he would think about it, not wanting to say no as he was, at that time, in the same jail. Jose has now been released. Approximately one year ago, a lawyer (not giving his name) approached Lic. de Leon and offered him 5,000 quetzales (Approx. US$830) to stop the case against Morales Sosa. Lic. de Leon told him to go to hell. It was on April 17th, 1993, at approximately 18:30 hours, when Henry was walking down 4th Avenue between 18th and 19th streets in Zone 1 of Guatemala City accompanied by street friends Jose Reyes Siqui and Claudia Jeannette Sosa Lopez when a shot was fired by the accused Morales Sosa. The bullet hit Henry in the head (una herida de bala en la region parietal temporal lado derecho, con orificio de entrada). He was taken to the hospital by the Volunteer Ambulance where he died at 20:15 hours. This case has been plagued by incompetent investigations by the police; continual changes of the Fiscales of the Ministerio Publico and extreme indifference in the judicial system. Casa Alianza is extremely concerned that the ex-Military Commissioner is capable of either paying or convincing somebody to cause physical harm against Casa Alianza's lawyer, Gustavo de Leon Rodas. I would appreciate any help you can give us on this issue. You can send a polite e-mail message urging to take necesary steps to ensure Casa Alianza's lawyer safety to : Marta Altolaguirre, President, COPREDEH (Guatemalan government's human rights office) at the following e-mail address Please send a copy to Casa Alianza at Thank you for your concern. Bruce Harris ------------------------------------------------- Casa Alianza/Covenant House Latin America San Jose, Costa Rica Phone:+506-253-5439 Fax :+506-224-5689 Mailing address: SJO 1039/POBox 025216 Miami FL, 33102-5216 USA Email:machen@casa-alianza.org Home Page : http://www.casa-alianza.org --------------------------------------------- "In their little worlds in which children have their existence, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice..." Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" ===================================================== Human Rights in Guatemala www.derechos.org/nizkor/guatemala/