An Interview With Carlos Gomez

A Foundation For Human Rights in Guatemala Interview

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.