Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUATEMALA305
2007-02-14 15:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
GUATEMALAN FM ROSENTHAL WRITES THE AMBASSADOR
VZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #0305 0451521 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141521Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1887 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 3994 RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DAN FISK
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, G/TIP, AND CA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KJUS KCRM PHUM SMIG GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN FM ROSENTHAL WRITES THE AMBASSADOR
ABOUT FATAL ATTACK ON IMMIGRANTS IN ARIZONA
REF: GUATEMALA 2471
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DAN FISK
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, G/TIP, AND CA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KJUS KCRM PHUM SMIG GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN FM ROSENTHAL WRITES THE AMBASSADOR
ABOUT FATAL ATTACK ON IMMIGRANTS IN ARIZONA
REF: GUATEMALA 2471
1. Summary: Guatemalan Foreign Minister Rosenthal wrote the
Ambassador urging the prompt investigation and prosecution of
those responsible for the February 8 armed attack on a group
of undocumented immigrants in a desert area near Tucson,
Arizona. One Guatemalan was killed, while another Guatemalan
was injured during the early morning attack. End summary.
2. Background: On February 8, a group of more than 20
undocumented aliens, including an undetermined number of
Guatemalans, was attacked by masked armed gunmen in a desert
area about 20 miles northwest of Tucson, Arizona. Three
persons, including Guatemalan Rudi Raxaleu, were killed.
Another Guatemalan, Sebastiana Quixtan, who was injured
during the attack, is reportedly in stable condition and
recuperating in a hospital in Tucson. Guatemalan media are
portraying this incident as confirmation that there is open
season on immigrants. Conservative, pro-business daily
"Siglo XXI" ran a banner headline on page one screaming "They
fear xenophobia."
3. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Marta Altolaguirre told
local press of her suspicion that the killers belong to a
criminal group that extorts Guatemalans seeking to illegally
immigrate to the U.S. and that organized crime is using new
methods to profit from alien smuggling.
4. Embassy's informal translation of the letter:
BEGIN TEXT
Mr. Ambassador:
I present my compliments and have the honor to refer to the
incident that occurred in the city of Tucson, Arizona in the
early morning hours of February 8, which resulted in the
death by firearm of Mr. Rudi Otoniel Raxaleu Castro, and
injury to Ms. Sebastiana Quixtan Gomez, both Guatemalan
citizens.
We understand that the incident occurred when two pick-up
trucks were traveling to Phoenix through the area of the
Tohono O'dham Reservation. The first vehicle was intercepted
by masked armed gunmen and forced off the road into the
desert. U.S. authorities have located a minor, Olinda
Arsenia Mateo Gomez, and Celvin Ernesto Boj, to whom U.S.
immigration authorities have offered visas to remain in the
U.S. The whereabouts of the other immigrants are unknown.
The Guatemalan Government condemns this attack and requests
your intervention so that the described facts can be
investigated by the proper authorities and that those
responsible for the armed aggression can be brought to
justice in accordance with the law.
I take this opportunity to renew the assurances of my highest
consideration.
Gert Rosenthal Koenigsberger
Minister of Foreign Affairs
cc: Ambassador Guillermo Castillo
Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.
END TEXT
Derham
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DAN FISK
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, G/TIP, AND CA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KJUS KCRM PHUM SMIG GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN FM ROSENTHAL WRITES THE AMBASSADOR
ABOUT FATAL ATTACK ON IMMIGRANTS IN ARIZONA
REF: GUATEMALA 2471
1. Summary: Guatemalan Foreign Minister Rosenthal wrote the
Ambassador urging the prompt investigation and prosecution of
those responsible for the February 8 armed attack on a group
of undocumented immigrants in a desert area near Tucson,
Arizona. One Guatemalan was killed, while another Guatemalan
was injured during the early morning attack. End summary.
2. Background: On February 8, a group of more than 20
undocumented aliens, including an undetermined number of
Guatemalans, was attacked by masked armed gunmen in a desert
area about 20 miles northwest of Tucson, Arizona. Three
persons, including Guatemalan Rudi Raxaleu, were killed.
Another Guatemalan, Sebastiana Quixtan, who was injured
during the attack, is reportedly in stable condition and
recuperating in a hospital in Tucson. Guatemalan media are
portraying this incident as confirmation that there is open
season on immigrants. Conservative, pro-business daily
"Siglo XXI" ran a banner headline on page one screaming "They
fear xenophobia."
3. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Marta Altolaguirre told
local press of her suspicion that the killers belong to a
criminal group that extorts Guatemalans seeking to illegally
immigrate to the U.S. and that organized crime is using new
methods to profit from alien smuggling.
4. Embassy's informal translation of the letter:
BEGIN TEXT
Mr. Ambassador:
I present my compliments and have the honor to refer to the
incident that occurred in the city of Tucson, Arizona in the
early morning hours of February 8, which resulted in the
death by firearm of Mr. Rudi Otoniel Raxaleu Castro, and
injury to Ms. Sebastiana Quixtan Gomez, both Guatemalan
citizens.
We understand that the incident occurred when two pick-up
trucks were traveling to Phoenix through the area of the
Tohono O'dham Reservation. The first vehicle was intercepted
by masked armed gunmen and forced off the road into the
desert. U.S. authorities have located a minor, Olinda
Arsenia Mateo Gomez, and Celvin Ernesto Boj, to whom U.S.
immigration authorities have offered visas to remain in the
U.S. The whereabouts of the other immigrants are unknown.
The Guatemalan Government condemns this attack and requests
your intervention so that the described facts can be
investigated by the proper authorities and that those
responsible for the armed aggression can be brought to
justice in accordance with the law.
I take this opportunity to renew the assurances of my highest
consideration.
Gert Rosenthal Koenigsberger
Minister of Foreign Affairs
cc: Ambassador Guillermo Castillo
Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.
END TEXT
Derham