Guatemalan mayor moved by support of Amnesty members
Posted: February 28, 2007
Dominga Vásquez with the Urgent Action that was issued on her behalf. She had received death threats after speaking out on behalf of her community. Photo: Amnesty International
“After the Urgent Action, there were no more threatening phone calls,” Guatemalan mayor Dominga Vásquez told Amnesty International members and staff while on a recent visit to Amnesty's International Secretariat in London, UK. “The authorities' attitude seemed to change... the pressure on us was reduced.”
Dominga Vásquez began receiving death threats after speaking out in January 2005 against the impact of mining activity on her community.
Concerned for her safety, Amnesty International mobilized the members of the Urgent Action Network to write letters to the Guatemalan authorities. Results came quickly.
When presented with a copy of her Urgent Action at the International Secretariat, she said, “I am so excited and very moved that so many people took action to help me and my colleagues ... Please thank your members very much.”