Guatemalan human rights organisations offices attackedposted on: 2007/02/08

The office of the National Movement for Human Rights (MNDH) in Guatemala City was physically attacked and ransacked during the weekend of the 3-5 February 2007. The office is also shared with the Human Rights Defenders Unit and the Association for Communication of Art and Peace.

Reportedly the doors of the premises were forced open, and in some cases, holes were made in the walls between office rooms. Thirteen computers containing information on human rights violations and on mining issues, including encrypted information on financial and operational details of the member organisations of the MNDH were stolen.

A number of paper files relating to mining from MNDH and the Association for Communication of Art and Peace Asociacíon (COMUNICARTE) were also taken. The master tapes of COMUNICARTE’s entire documentary collection, cameras, projectors, and money were also taken from the office. Those responsible for the break-in left human faeces and gloves behind them. While staff waited for the police to arrive outside the building, a red car drove by.

Death threats against Guatemalan human rights organisationposted on: 2006/03/29

30 March 2006

A Guatemalan anthropologist and members of his family and staff have recently received death threats because of his work investigating gross human rights abuses committed during Guatemala’s 36-year civil war.

Front Line is concerned about the safety of Fredy Peccerelli, head of the Guatemala Forensic Anthropology Foundation (FAFG), his sister Bianka Peccerelli, his brother-in-law and colleague Omar Giron de Leon, his brother Giani Peccerelli, his ex wife Jeannette Peccerelli and all the staff at the FARG.

FAFG is a non-governmental organisation that investigates, documents and raises awareness of human rights violations through forensic examination. FAFG’s forensic anthropologists exhume clandestine mass graves and analyse human remains in order to enable criminal prosecutions to be brought against the perpetrators: many of whom are walking Guatemala’s streets freely.

Front Line Mission report on the case of Pascal Kabunguluposted on: 2006/02/06

6 February 2006

Pascal Kabungulu - findings & recommendations of Front Line/Amnesty International mission in DRC: 1 – 11 November 2005

People interviewed:

Lt. Col. Majaliwa Mulindwa (Auditeur Supérieur or Military Prosecutor): Président de la Commission d’Enquête [phone interview]

Meli Meli Idumbo (Avocat Général): Vice-Président de la Commission d’Enquête

Anicet Muhimuzi Rutebuka (Major P2): Membre de la Commission d’Enquête

Didace Kaningini, Gouverneur (p.i.) de la Province du Sud-Kivu

Lt-Col Thierry Ilunga (Commandant de la 105e Brigade)

Maître Bisimwa (lawyer for the wife of Pascal Kabungulu)

Maurice Bahati, Chargé de l’Administration & Finances, Héitiers de la Justice

Maître Roger Muchuba (Héritiers de la Justice)

Roger Anderson (“petit frère” de Pascal Kabungulu)

Facts relating to the case:

· Pascal Kabungulu’s house is located about halfway down a hill (approximately 50 metres) & is accessed by a steep muddy footpath from the upper road. The track continues down to a lower road. · There are a number of other private houses in the same area.

DR Congo: Prominent Human Rights Defender Assassinatedposted on: 2005/09/12

1 August DR Congo: Prominent Human Rights Defender Assassinated Transitional Government Must Investigate, Bring Killers to Justice

(London -- August 1, 2005) -- The Congolese government must immediately start thorough and independent investigations into yesterday’s assassination of human rights activist Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Front Line said today.

Pascal Kabungulu was the Secretary-General of Héritiers de la Justice (Heirs of Justice), a leading human rights organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was also the Vice-President of the regional umbrella Ligue des Droits de l’Homme dans la Région des Grands Lacs (LDGL).

Pascal Kabungulu was assassinated in his home in Bukavu, eastern Congo, in the early hours of July 31. Three armed men in uniform broke into his house, dragged him out of his bedroom and shot him in front of his family. Family members reported that just before his execution the attackers said, “We were looking for you and today is the day of your death.” The men stole Mr.