As can be seen from the Guatemalan press articles cited below, the
Director of the Guatemalan police has ordered the detention of
all street children in Guatemala City to "avoid vandalism during the
Easter Week celebrations".
On Tuesday, April 7th more than 40 street children were detained by
members of the National Police and transported to the "Las Gaviotas"
juvenile detention center.
Casa Alianza considers these detentions to be illegal and is
concerned that such an order should be given by the Director of the
police. No-one is guilty of a crime until he or she has been condemned
by a court, plus the only time a person can be legally detained is
when s/he is caught committing the crime or if there is an arrest
warrant.
A secondary concern is that during Easter Week, Guatemalan government
services are with a skeleton crew and the State run "orientation
centers" are unable to cope with potentially scores of children.
PLEASE send an immediate message to the e-mail addresses listed below
stating:
- your concern for the detention of forty street children and the
immenent detention of the several thousand street children in
Guatemala City as ordered by the Director of the National Police
- asking why street children are being victims of prejudice by the
Director of the National Police when they have not committed a crime
- Demanding an immediate cancellation of this illegal order by the
Director of the National Police and that the government set up
rehabilitation centers for the children.
Please direct your messages to:
Marta Altolaguirre, Director of the Guatemalan Government´s Human
Rights Office or fax +502-334-7364
The following media:
El Grafico
El Periodico
Siglo XXI
Prensa Libre
Cronica
La Hora
And a copy please to
CONTE COJULUN ORDERS DETENTION OF ALL STREET CHILDREN
Guatemala, April 7th, 1998 (El Grafico): Angel Antonio Conte
Cojulun, Director of the National Civil Police, ordered the detention
of all the street children to avoid vandalism during the Easter Week
celebrations. He indicated that all the children captured will be
taken to orientation centers where they will be attended by
specialised personnel.
