10 January 2003
United Nations human rights experts today condemned the assassinations of two prominent Guatemalan indigenous leaders whose bodies were found in December.
Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights defenders, and Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of indigenous people, said the deaths of Antonio Pop Caal and Diego Velásquez Brito constituted “an enormous loss for the Guatemalan people”.
Ms. Jilani and Mr. Stavenhagen called on the Guatemalan authorities to investigate the killings thoroughly and to do more to protect human rights’ defenders and indigenous people.
The body of Mr. Velásquez Brito was found on 21 December, three days after the discovery of Mr. Pop Caal’s corpse. 10 January 2003
The full text of the statement follows:
“The Special Representative of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights’ defenders and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people wish to express their deep concern and condemn the assassinations of Diego Velásquez Brito and Antonio Pop Caal in Guatemala. The death of these two prominent indigenous personalities constitutes an enormous loss for the Guatemalan people.
“We call on the Guatemalan authorities to continue making the necessary efforts to clarify the circumstances of these assassinations through a thorough investigation and to ensure those guilty are brought to justice.
“Furthermore, we trust that precautions will be taken to guarantee the protection of those who defend human rights in general and of indigenous people in particular in Guatemala, in the future.”
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