Call on Guatemala over attack on rights activist

AN OIREACHTAS committee is to call on the Guatemalan government to investigate the case of activist Dr Yuri Melini.

The Guatemalan director of Calas (Centre for Environmental Law and Social Action) was presented with an award by Irish organisation Front Line last week.

Dr Melini has led a campaign against contamination of water and occupation of land in nature reserves. His group has won a constitutional case against open-cast mining for gold and other metals.

Dr Melini appeared before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday and described the aftermath to an attempted assassination attempt last September in which he was shot seven times. The attack has been linked to his campaigning. “I was hospitalised for 28 days, lost 40 lb and 150 centimetres of intestine, needed 18 blood transfusions,” he said.

“My left knee was completely destroyed and I have so far had six surgeries and will soon go back for another one,” he explained through an interpreter.

“This is the price I pay for my work as a human rights defender,” he continued. He appealed to the committee to make a pronouncement on his case to the Guatemalan government, as he said no progress had been made on the investigation.

“We will ask the government of Guatemala to investigate fully and bring to justice the culprits of this awful crime,” Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ardagh said.

“It’s a long distance between here and Guatemala city, but I hope he brings back every indication of solidarity with the people,” Labour TD Michael D Higgins said.

Yesterday a group of some 20 people, mainly members of the Irish Tamil community, protested outside the Dáil at what they called the “total silence by the international community to the continued Tamil genocide”.