EMBASSY GUATEMALA SUPPORTS APPLICATIONS FOR

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002716

SIPDIS

FOR WHA, WHA/CEN AND VO/F/P, INFO DHS-KEN LEUTBECKER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL GT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY GUATEMALA SUPPORTS APPLICATIONS FOR
HUMANITARIAN PAROLE FOR ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE OTONIEL DE LA
ROCA MENDOZA FAMILY



1. Eleven members of the Otoniel De La Roca Mendoza Family
have applied for humanitarian parole in the United States.
Otoniel De La Roca Mendoza is a witness to the 1992 detention
and torture of Efrain Bamaca Velasquez by Guatemalan military
authorities. In 1997 Mr. De la Roca Mendez sought and gained
legal residency in the United States after continuous threats
against him made it impossible for him to continue living in
Guatemala. Now that he is beyond the reach of those who wish
to intimidate him, his family members still in Guatemala have
become the subject of threat. In the last four years, four
members have been murdered after receiving threats against
them made on account of Mr. De La Roca Mendoza's testimony.
The most recent murder took place in July 2004. Embassy
Guatemala believes that the threats, intimidation and murders
are directly related to Mr. De La Roca Mendoza's knowledge
and testimony against those responsible for human rights
violations and extrajudicial killings during Guatemala's
armed conflict. We believe that the it is in the interest of
the United States to grant humanitarian parole to the eleven
members of the De La Roca Mendoza family. Doing so will
preserve life, enable Mr. De La Roca Mendez to continue
giving testimony against human rights violators, and will
send a clear signal to human rights victims and perpetrators
in Guatemala that the United States will do everything it can
to stop the cycle of violence and impunity.


2. The eleven persons applying for humanitarian parole are:
- Clara Luz Solares Alvarado
- Saira Aydee Alvarado Diaz
- Higinia Alvarado Vasquez
- Jimena Estefania De La Roca Archila
- Maria Guadalupe De La Roca Archila
- Oralia De La Roca Archila
- Gerson David Escobar De La Roca
- Abraham De La Roca Solis
- German Anibal De La Roca Melendez
- Sulmy Mabeli Perez Alvarez
- Jose Oswaldo Perez Alvarez


3. We understand that documentation, including I-131 forms
and I-134 affidavits have already been forwarded to DHS
Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch offices in
Washington, DC.


4. Thanks you for your positive consideration of these
important application for humanitarian parole.

HAMILTON