English  |  Français  |  Español
 
OMCT LogoOMCT logo
Make a donationRSSOMCT on FacebookOMCT on TwitterOMCT BlogHomeAbout OMCTActivitiesCATOMCT NetworkOMCT EuropeContactsMake a donation
  • Urgent campaigns
  • Assistance to victims
  • Human rights defenders
  • ESCR
  • Rights of the child
  • Violence against women
  • Monitoring protection mechanisms
 Save as PDF Print version
ESCR / Urgent Interventions / Guatemala / 2003 / January

Guatemala: Guatemala: attempted killing of a worker by the owner of the El Arco Farm

Case GTM 270103. ESCR
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concern
Attempted killing/ Right to Food/Labour Rights



The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Guatemala.


Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Latino American Commission for the Rights and Freedoms of the Workers and Peoples (CLADEHLT), a member of the OMCT network, that the owner of the El Arco Farm attempted to kill one of his worker, wounding him in the head, in Guatemala.

According to the information received, on January 17th 2003, at around 6.00 pm, the owner of El Arco Farm, Jesus Salazar Pivaral (hereafter Mr. Enrique Salazar), fired 2 bullets at his 59 years old worker Marcos Alvarez Tzoc.

It is reported that Mr. Enrique Salazar shot two bullets at his worker Marcos Alvarez Tzoc after having discovered that he was selling bananas. Mr. Enrique Salazar reportedly started to insult and beat Marcos Alvarez Tzoc, took his gun and shot at him twice, hitting him in the head. It is reported that after having been held during approximately 7 hours in Mr. Enrique Salazar's office, Marcos Alvarez Tzoc was eventually transported to the National Hospital of Mazatenango.


Background Information

According to the information received, Marcos Alvarez Tzoc was selling bananas in order to get enough money to feed himself. It is reported that the majority of the workers employed by Mr. Enrique Salazar on El Arco Farm are suffering from hunger because they don't have enough resources to by food for themselves and their families.

Moreover, Mr. Enrique Salazar is reportedly constantly harassing and repressing his employees, he fails to pay them the minimum wages and to provide them with other benefits that they are entitled to receive by law, including holidays.


Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Guatemala urging them to:

i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Marcos Alvarez Tzoc, including access to adequate medical assistance;

ii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;



iii. guarantee adequate reparation to Marcos Alvarez Tzoc;

iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms, including economic, social and cultural rights, throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.


Addresses

Lic. Alfonso Portillo, Presidente de la República - E-mail: mensajes@presidenteportillo.gob.gt

Dr. Sergio F. Morales Alvarado, Procurador de los Derechos Humanos – Fax: 502.238-1734. E-mail: opdhg@internet.net.gt

Lic. Alfonso Portillo, Presidente de la República - E-mail: mensajes@presidenteportillo.gob.gt

Dr. Sergio F. Morales Alvarado, Procurador de los Derechos Humanos – Fax: 502.238-1734. E-mail: opdhg@internet.net.gt

Lic. Carlos D. De León Argueta, Fiscal General y Jefe del Ministerio Público – Fax: 502.221-2718. E-mail: minpub@mp.lex.gob.gt

Lic. Víctor H. Godoy, Ministro de Trabajo – Fax: 230-1363. E-mail: ministro@mintrabajo.gob.gt

Lic. Luis A. Pañagua G., Director de la Policía Nacional Civil – Fax: 502.251-9382



Please also write to the embassies of Guatemala in your respective country.



Geneva, January 27, 2003


Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

Properties

Date: January 27, 2003
Activity: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Type: Urgent Interventions
Country: Guatemala
Subjects: Criminalisation of the poor, Employment and working conditions, Threats, intimidation and harassment

Share this

Tweet

Related articles

  • Guatemala:  Guatemala: repeated harassment and attacks against workers of the El Arco farm
    Urgent Interventions / June 27, 2003

Languages

This page is available in:

English


You can also translate it on the fly:

Recently Viewed Articles

OMCT International Secretariat
PO Box 21, 8, rue du Vieux-Billard, CH-1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 809 4939
Fax: + 41 22 809 4929
E-mail:
OMCT Europe
Rue Franklin 111
1000 Brussels
Tel. / Fax: +32 2 218 37 19
E-mail:
OMCT TUNIS
3, Rue Hassen Ibn Nooman
Cité Jardins | Tunis 1002
Tel: +216 71 791 114
Fax: +216 71 791 115
E-mail:
  • Blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Rss
  • Privacy Policy