Guatemala: Open letter to Government re killings of human rights defenders and state of insecurity

Human rights defenders and members of the international human rights community have sent a Joint Open Letter to the Guatemalan authorities demanding action on foot of killings of human rights defenders and protesting at the general climate of insecurity.

Further Information

Octavio Roblero was the third prominent human rights defenders killed in the Department of San Marcos in Guatemala. Previously Evelinda Ramirez Reyes was killed in January 2010 while Victor Galvez was killed in November 2009.

Members of FRENA - Front for the Protection of Natural Resources and the Rights of the Peoples have been in dispute with the national gas company, Unión Fenosa - Gas Natural, and its subsidiaries Deocsa and Deorsa. The members of FRENA are concerned at the high cost of electricity and the lack of service to local communities.

The open Letter, in Spanish, signed by Guatemalan and international organisations is attached.