Amilicar Mendez

Fight Impunity in Guatemala...

I first traveled to Guatemala in 1988 and returned just after the Peace Accords were signed. It had been nearly 10 years since my last visit so I was eager to return to the country that had sealed my desire to commit my life to advocating for human rights.

Over the years I have been transformed by the compassion, love, commitment, sorrow, strength and determination of others struggling for justice and an end to impunity. Despite the constant use of intimidation, threats, violent and psychological retaliation against them, they continue to work for a better, more peaceful tomorrow. I am constantly humbled by their stories and by what I have witnessed.

Guatemala was the first of 3 countries I visited with my three colleagues Roy, Lisa and Carlos. Because our time in Guatemala was so limited I decided to stay behind as they traveled to Honduras; I eventually traveled by bus to meet up with them in El Salvador. I felt it was important to stay on and better understand why Guatemala has turned into one of the most violent regions in the world. In fact, on a daily basis, there are as many violent deaths occurring today as occurred during their brutal civil war.

The majority of my time was divided between working with forensic teams photographing exhumed bodies - unearthed victims of massacres that took place in the 1980’s and 90’s - and spending time with Amilcar Mendez and his family visiting indigenous communities, as well as investigating the disappearance of workers from a finca located on the coastal region of Guatemala.

The Mendez family is one of the families that fit all the descriptions I mentioned early. Amilcar is an internationally recognized human rights advocate whose outreach focuses on the rural indigenous populations; he is the founder of CERJ and the recipient of the RFK Human Rights Award. His wife, a nurse, his two daughters and son, Pepe have always been committed to these same struggles despite years of death threats and other intimidation tactics.

Our trip to the finca with Amilcar included meeting with governmental human rights workers to interview individuals regarding atrocities that happened during the war. We were accompanied enroute by a government appointed bodyguard since the frequency of death threats against Amilcar had increased significantly. During the long trip Amilcar made light hearted jokes about how I too was risking my life by accompanying him. Though the risks were real, it was an honor having the opportunity to accompany him.

The day prior to this trip Amilcar, his wife and Pepe’s twin children and I took advantage of the beautiful afternoon and visited ruins, spent time with an indigenous community and shared a meal with the backdrop of lively marimba music and traditionally donned dancers.

His daughters went out of their way to help me arrange meetings and assisted me with translations and transportation. The hospitality and the friendship that was extended by the entire family made this trip quite memorable.

I don't usually go into this much detail in my emails, but the conclusion of this story is both unique and at the same time sadly cyclical. Shortly after returning from my recent trip to El Salvador my housemate, who is also Guatemalan, gave me the sad news that Pepe, Amilcar’s 28 year old son, had been assassinated. He was killed by gunmen as he left work in mid-August after he helped his father alert rights groups in Washington to death threats against candidates.

"Our complaint was the political detonator in my son's murder," Amilcar, who is also an advisor to the running mate of center-left presidential candidate Alvaro Colom, was quoted as saying.

Though no one has been prosecuted for this cowardly act that killed Pepe, some speculate that he was targeted so as to send a message to his father. Some also believe this was yet another politically motivated killing related to the elections in a country where more than 50 people have already been targeted for assignation thus far in the weeks leading up to the elections.

What I can tell you for certain is that Pepe was a devoted son, an amazing big brother, and a loving and committed husband and father of two beautiful children. He worked relentlessly for justice, often at the side of his father.

My heart goes out to the Mendez family. And I ask all that read this to please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Please also take a moment to visit:   “Justice for Human Rights Defenders in Central America”

In Solidarity,
Linda Panetta