Press Conference, June 11, 1997, Guatemala
Carlos Gomez Case
CIDH Holds Guatemala Responsible For One More Human Rights Violations Case
Ex Guatemalan Unionist Wins Suit Against State of Guatemala
CIDH Holds Guatemala Responsible For One More Human Rights Violations Case
June 12, 1997 - From CDHG Bulletin
Guatemala - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) found the State of Guatemala guilty one more time, this time in the case of the unionist Carlos Ranferi Gomez Lopez. According to the CIDH, the State of Guatemala is responsible for the violations to life, personal integrity, judicial guarantees, freedom of thought and expression, freedom of association, freedom of movement and residence and for judicial protection of the unionist.
On February 25 of 1993, Gomez traveled in a bus close to Quetzaltenango, after having completed a visit to the Communities of Population in Resistance in Quiche. During the visit, he had recorded a video and taken photographs in the area. Some of his documentation showed members of the army intimidating and beating members of the communities.
The bus in which Gomez was riding was stopped and boarded by armed men dressed partially in military uniforms. They shot him close to the heart, took the materials that he had obtained about the communities, left him for dead and made their escape.
In order to sustain his recovery, and because of danger to his life, the victim was brought to the United States. He returned to Guatemala a few months later, but went back into exile within days, having been the target of renewed threats and intimidation.
On June 7, 1994, Gomez presented his case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH). This is the case which was decided last week in a condemnation against the State of Guatemala. The CIDH report found that the State of Guatemala had not fulfilled the obligations imposed by the Convención Americana which guarantee respect of rights which it outlines, so as to guarantee liberty and full exercise of those rights.
In a press conference on June 11, representatives of the group, Convergence for Truth indicated that the attempt on Gomez's life gives evidence of the lack of will of the Government to compensate victims.
It was also mentioned that, for the past 15 months, a bill has been before Guatemalan Congress which would provide compensation or assistance to victims of human rights violations. Congress's Commission for Human Rights has not announced favor or disfavor, which itself is a violation of a Guatemalan law which binds the legislature to make a decision within two months.
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Ex Guatemalan Unionist Wins Suit Against State of Guatemala
Guatemalan Daily, "La Hora" - June 12, 1997
By Edgar Gabriel Rosales O.
Guatemala - The State of Guatemala was found guilty by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) in the case of union leader Carlos Gómez López, who was shot on February 25, 1993, aboard a bus near the municipal center of Quetzaltenango. The information was presented at a press conference given by the Mutual Support Group (GAM), the National Coordination on Human Rights (CONADEHGUA) and the group, Convergence for Truth. Speaking also was Douglas W. Cassell, executive director of the International Institute for Human Rights (in the United States), who provided legal consultation to Gómez López during his processing of the case.
According to Cassell, Gómez López was shot close to the heart and left for dead. He was then stripped of his video camera and some photographs which he had taken in one of the Communities of People in Resistance (CPR), accompanied by international journalists. After receiving medical treatment in guatemala, Gómez López traveled to Chicago to complete his recovery. He returned after Ramiro de León Carpio had been elected president. But he remained only 22 days. He was forced to leave the country again because of constant threats from the military who maintained a presence near his house and the union headquarters.
However, during his stay in Guatemala, and in spite of the military pressure, he was able to file a case in the Guatemalan courts requesting investigation into the attempt on his life. But there was no investigation. He finally brought his demands before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH).
After investigation of the facts, the Commission decided that the State of Guatemala is indeed responsible for the human rights violations to Carlos Ranferí Gómez López. These rights include the right to life, to personal integrity, to judicial process, to personal opinion and expression, to association, to freedom of movement, to residence and to judicial protection.
The Commission ordered the government of Guatemala to conduct an immediate, impartial and effective investigation of the facts; to use all means at its disposal to determine responsibility and to sanction those responsible for the event and consequent lack of investigation; and to make restitution for the violations, including adequate financial compensation for the damages suffered by Gómez López.
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