Themes & Campaigns | Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala

Human Rights Defenders
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URGENT ACTION: Lawyer and Leader of Organized Vendors are Murdered
NISGUA
1/21/2009

URGENT ACTION:

Lawyer and Leader of Organized Vendors Are Assassinated

Leaders Continue to Face Threat: Vendors Continue to Defend the Popular Market in Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango

Recent Events:

On December 23, 2008 Armando Sanchez was murdered at 11:00 AM near his office in the center of Coatepeque. While getting into his vehicle, gunmen on a motorcycle shot him four times, following a series of death threats that had been made against him in recent weeks. Armando Sanchez provided legal advice to the organized vendors of Coatepeque's traditional markets, the Coordination of United Vendors of Coatepeque, and to the Committee of Campesino Unity (CUC), fighting forceful evictions by the municipal government.

On January 13th a leader of the organized vendors, Amado Corazon Monzon, was murdered while opening his stand in the market when gunmen shot him three times in the head. He had also been involved in organizing the vendors of Coatepeque in efforts to resist forced relocation to a "mega market."

Amongst telephone calls and other direct threats against leaders, a list of targets has been distributed by parallel groups in the streets of Coatepeque. Monzon and Sanchez appeared on this list. Other leaders, including a lawyer that remains in the area, continue to work under threat.

In response to the conflict the central government declared martial law on October 5, 2008, a declaration that has since been extended a number of times. In Coatepeque and other regions, this governmental tactic has been criticized as repressive, ineffective in resolving conflicts, and contributing to the criminalization of the social movement.

Background:

Since 2006 formal and informal vendors have been resisting being forcefully evicted from their traditional location in the center of the town of Coatepeque, department of Quetzaltenango. While the three traditional markets were legalized in Coatepeque over 50 years ago and then declared "patrimony of the people", the municipal government received an initial loan of 50 million Quetzals in 2004 from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to construct a mega market on the outskirts of town, to which the small producers and vendors would be forced to move.

The small and medium-sized vendors claim, however, that the new mega market would mean great losses to their livelihoods. The new market charges more rent for vendor stands, is located far from the center of town, and is in close proximity to a large garbage dump and two cemeteries. Contamination threatens the hygiene of the goods being sold and the health of those who work in the market and consume its goods. In fact, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources with the University of San Carlos conducted an impact study that confirmed dangerous levels of contamination on the site.

The first forced evictions of the traditional markets took place in November 2007, when police and workers from nearby plantations destroyed vendor stands and allegedly robbed much of their material, while protestors were gassed and heavily repressed. Since then, there have been over 10 forced evictions of the traditional markets and the government continues to extend martial law in Coatepeque, thereby facilitating these acts of repression. The current mayor has refused all attempts to dialogue with vendors, including those requested by the Human Rights Ombudsman. Many vendors continue to resist the forced displacement, which they claim only serves the interests of large businesses and chains that want access to the town center.

PLEASE SEND FAXES AND EMAILS TO THE ADDRESSES BELOW, URGING THE GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT TO:

Ensure the immediate safety of CUC members, leaders, and other individuals currently facing threats in Coatepeque.

Investigate immediately the recent deaths of Armando Sanchez and Amado Corazon Monzon, as well as all other acts of violence and intimidation related to the conflict in Coatepeque.

Conduct an in-depth investigation into the mega market, including environmental and human rights impacts and the material and intellectual authors of violent incidents.

Immediately revoke the martial law in Coatepeque, which only furthers impunity and violence against community leaders and the general population.

Take all measures possible to prevent further repression in Coatepeque against campesino and indigenous social movements, while protecting the rights of the small producers and vendors.

Sample Letter:

His Excellency, President Alvaro Colom,

I am deeply concerned about the current situation in Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango and the ongoing conflict over the traditional market. I understand that small and medium-sized vendors have been forcefully evicted from their market over ten times in recent years, often suffering great damages to their property at the hands of the police and military. I also understand that martial law (estado de prevencion) has been declared repeatedly in Coatepeque, denying vendors and community members the right to hold meetings and protests, two fundamental rights in a democratic society. Using martial law as a means to deal with a conflict between the municipal government and the vendors in Coatepeque only serves to open space for violent attacks, impunity, and the negation of the vendors' right to organize.

I also understand, and strongly denounce, that two people related to this conflict have been assassinated in recent weeks, indicating an extremely dangerous and urgent situation for community organizers in the region. I urge the government to investigate immediately and thoroughly the assassination of Armando Sanchez, a lawyer who had worked with the vendors in Coatepeque and who had received repeated death threats before being murdered near his office on December 23rd, as well as the assassinations of Amado Corazon Monzon, other leaders, and CUC members related to this case.

In a democratic society that values economic freedom, the rights of small and medium-sized vendors should be respected. Small-scale vendors should be protected from mega projects that directly threaten their livelihoods against their will.

In response to this situation, I urge the Guatemalan government to:

Ensure the immediate safety of CUC members, leaders, and other individuals currently facing threats in Coatepeque.

Investigate immediately the recent deaths of Armando Sanchez and Amado Corazon Monzon, as well as all other acts of violence and intimidation related to the conflict in Coatepeque.

Conduct an in-depth investigation into the mega market, including environmental and human rights impacts and an investigation into the material and intellectual authors of violent incidents.

Immediately revoke the martial law in Coatepeque, which furthers impunity and violence against community leaders and the general population.

Take all measures possible to prevent further repression in Coatepeque against campesino and indigenous social movements, while protecting the rights of the small producers and vendors.

I await a public response from the government on this matter.

Thank you for your time,

Send to:

Sr. Presidente Alvaro Colom

Casa Presidencial

6a. Avenida 4-18, Zona 1

Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala

Fax 011 502 2221 4423

With Copy to:

Inter-American Development Bank

Juan Jose Taccone

Fax (202) 623-1928