Date: September 12, 2008
From: Lori Maddox
To: Gail Zappa

ELAW partner attacked in Guatemala

Dear Friends:

A colleague of ELAW in Guatemala has been viciously attacked for his environmental advocacy. Yuri Melini, the Director General of the Center for Environmental, Social and Environmental Action (CALAS) was shot outside the home of a relative as he was getting out of his car. The gunman called his name and opened fire. Yuri is in intensive care in a hospital in Guatemala City.

Yuri is an outspoken advocate for the environment in Guatemala, and is frequently quoted in the media. A week before the attack, Yuri wrote a column that was published in the Central American Diary calling attention to threats against people working to protect the human right to a healthy environment. Yuri noted threats against Guatemala's Minister of Natural Resources, Dr. Luis Ferraté.

Dr. Ferraté is one of many voices in the media calling for a full investigation of Yuri's attack. Kyung-wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said of the attack: "The biggest concern, in addition to the life and security of the environmentalists and defenders of human rights, is that environmental issues would be rejected in this way; we are sure that the attack is linked to the recent threats against Minister Luis Ferraté and his team."

This crime is an attack against defenders of the environment and human rights all over the world. The perpetrators of this attack must be brought to justice. For more information about this attack and Yuri's condition, visit: www.calas.org.gt

Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,

Lori Maddox
Associate Director
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide

P.S. The following is a recent news report from Guatemala.

Click here for a previous "This Just In"