The Human Rights Actions Network http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ CHILD CONCERN Case BRA 300896 . CC The International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Brasil. Brief description of the situation On 23 April 1996, the youths Robson GUERREIRO BITTENCOURT and Isaias TEIXEIRA ROSA, both 16 years of age, were killed with gun shots in the calle Novo Mundo, between the suburbs of Botafogo and Laranjeiras, in Río de Janeiro. This act was initially attributed to presumed agents of the private security and military police, financed by local shop owners. According to information received from reliable sources, Mr. Jamil Warwar, chief of the Special Homicides Section of the Life Defense Delegation, recently informed of the conclusion of the investigation and of the transfer of the case to the Rio de Janeiro State Public Ministry. Mr. Jamil Warwar has also allegedly stated that he does not exclude the possible implication of drug smugglers in the death of the two youths. This hypothesis, while perhaps not completely unfounded, leads to the general concern that previous suspicions of private security and state agents' involvement will not be followed up. Action requested Please write to the Brasilian authorities urging them to : i. Fully clarify the alleged facts in order to identify those responsible, whatever their identity or condition, bring them before a civilian court, and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions in accordance with the law; ii. Guarantee the victims' families's right to appropriate redress and compensation; iii.Ensure at all times the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country, in accordance with national laws and international standards. Addresses Exmo. Sr. Nelson Jobim, Ministro da Justica, Esplanada dos Ministerios, Bloco 23, 70.064-900 Brasilia, DF, Brasil. Fax : (+ 55 61) 321 5172 ó/or 224 24 48 E-mail: njobim@ax.apc.org Exmo. Sr. Sepulveda Pertence, Presidente do Supremo Tribunal Federal, Praça dos Tres Poderes, Ed. Anexo 3 andar, Gabinete da Presidencia, Brasilia - DF-70175-900, Brasil. Fax : (+ 55 61) 316 55 08 Exmo. Sr. Geraldo Brindeiro, Procurador Geral da República, SGAS L2 Sul. Q.603 Lote 23, 3 andar, Brasilia - DF - 70200- 901, Brasil. Fax : (+ 55 61) 223 61 19 Exmo. Sr. Governador do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Sr. Marcelo Alencar, Palacio Guanabara, Rua Pinheiro Machado s/n, 22.231 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Fax : + 55 21 553 6090 Diplomatic representatives in your country. Geneva, 30 August 1996 Please inform us of any action undertaken, quoting the code number of the present appeal. Ben Schonveld Projects Manager OMCT - SOS Torture Tel: +41-22-733 31 40 Case Postale 119 Fax: +41 22-733 10 51 CH 1211 Geneva 20 Conf: omctsostorture@conf.igc.apc.org Switzerland OMCT@iprolink.ch OMCT is the l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture