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December 21, 2005Urgent Action: Violence Against TransvestitesI just received the following Amnesty International Urgent Action appeal from the folks at NISGUA. The gay community in Guatemala, especially the transvestite sex workers who toil the city streets at night, are often the targets of abuse, attacks and even assassinations. I have heard the insults, and even seen the glass bottles, hurled at them. This particular attack, where two transvestites were shot repeatedly by four men in police uniforms, took place half a block from my former office in Zone 1. These acts of discrimination and violence have their roots in the "culture of machismo" that sadly still reigns in Guatemala, especially within the nation's security forces. I would urge all of you to take a moment to read, and respond to, the following Urgent Action. ----------------------- Amnesty International FEAR FOR SAFETY: Sulma (legal name Kevin Josue Alegria Robles) Other transvestite sex workers in Guatemala City Other members of the Organizacion de Apoyo a una Sexualidad Integral frente al SIDA, Integral Sexuality AIDS Support Organization (OASIS) KILLED: Paulina, aged 22 (legal name Juan Pablo Mendez Cartagena), OASIS worker Transvestite sex worker Sulma (legal name Kevin Robles) was shot in the head, allegedly by police, on 17 December, and remains in hospital in a serious condition. Another transvestite sex worker was killed in the attack. As Sulma witnessed the killing, the attackers are likely to attempt to silence her, but the authorities have not responded to requests to give her protection. In the early hours of 17 December Sulma was in Zone One of Guatemala City, at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and 11th Street, with another transvestite sex worker, Paulina (legal name Juan Pablo Mendez Cartagena). Four men on motorbikes, who witnesses say were in police uniform, ordered them to stop, and then shot them. Paulina was hit twice in the head: she died minutes later. Sulma was hit three times but survived, and is in a serious but stable condition in hospital. She can only speak with difficulty, as one of the bullets reportedly smashed all her front teeth. Several other transvestite sex workers witnessed the shooting, but are reportedly too scared to give testimony, fearing police reprisals. Police have reportedly been patrolling the streets near the shooting, in an apparent effort to intimidate the witnesses. Since 1999 Sulma has been member of, and worked as a volunteer for, the Guatemala City-based Organizacion de Apoyo a una Sexualidad Integral frente al SIDA, Integral Sexuality AIDS Support Organisation (OASIS), which works on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and provides support to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. Paulina had started paid work at OASIS in 2004 and since then had only occasionally had to make money as a sex worker. OASIS has requested police protection for Sulma in hospital and the Human Rights Ombudsman's office has reportedly requested protection from the Interior Ministry. However, to date no protection has been provided. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The LGBT community in Guatemala regularly faces attacks and threats. Transvestite sex workers have been particularly vulnerable to attack. Police officers are often allegedly involved, raising fears of a clandestine policy of "social cleansing" within the police force, intended to drive sex workers off the streets. According to OASIS, this year seven transvestite sex workers have been killed on the streets of Guatemala City. Police have intimidated OASIS members many times in an attempt to stop them from carrying out their legitimate work of promoting the rights of Guatemala's LGBT community. In May 2003 two men attempted to kidnap OASIS director Jorge Lopez, but he managed to escape from the car they had forced him into. OASIS has often publicly condemned the police for abuses against male, female and transvestite sex workers. In June 2005 Guatemala's Evangelical and Catholic Churches proposed a law that would prevent same-sex couples from marrying. Since then, the number of threats and attacks against the LGBT community has increased. On 7 October transvestite sex worker Michelle (legal name Juan Manuel Villa Soto) died after she was so severely beaten that her head was crushed. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: - expressing grave concern for the safety of Sulma, other sex workers and members of OASIS; - calling on the authorities to take immediate measures to protect Sulma in accordance with her own wishes; - calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the attack against Sulma and Paulina, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice; - urging the authorities to take immediate measures to end the intimidation of sex workers and LGBT people; and of those working with OASIS so that they can carry out their lawful activities without fear of intimidation. APPEALS TO: Minister of the Interior: Ministro de Gobernación Attorney General: Fiscal General de la Republica y jefe del Ministerio Publico Director General of the National Civil: Director General de la Policía Nacional Civil COPIES TO: Human Rights Procurador: Procurador de los Derechos Humanos OASIS (organización de apoyo a una sexualidad Integral Frente al Sida): 6ª AV. 1-63 Zona 1 Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo Please send appeals immediately. Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights. This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable). Thank you for your help with this appeal. Urgent Action Network ---------------------------------- Tags: Guatemala, Transvestite, Sex, Workers, Violence Posted by elcanche at December 21, 2005 03:05 PMComments
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