Bruce Harris Under Attack

[Deborah]

You may remember Bruce Harris/Casa Alianza- pushed for the investigation of Dundee. He's under attack in Guatemala for an unrelated issue.

Please find below an Advocacy Alert on the Bruce Harris case.  You will see there a model letter to the Guatemalan President.  
http://www.lchr.org in the Guatemala section  http://www.lchr.org/defenders/hrd_guate ... temala.htm

Should you wish to sign up to receive all Lawyers Committee Advocacy Alerts in the future, please go to http://www.lchr.org/defenders/hrd_appea ... cipate.htm


January 15th, 2004
Rights Group Asks President to Focus on Case of Bruce Harris

NEW YORK ? The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights today sent a letter to the new Guatemalan President, Oscar Berger, urging him to ensure the right to freedom of expression.  The letter focused attention on the case of Bruce Harris, Latin America Programs Director of the children's rights organization Casa Alianza.  Harris was charged with criminal defamation in 1997, and is due to go on trial in Guatemala City on January 22.  Neil Hicks, Director of the Lawyers Committee's Human Rights Defenders Program, described the charges against Harris as constituting "a violation of his fundamental right to freedom of expression and as a form of persecution against those who promote human rights in Guatemala."

Harris is being prosecuted for criminal defamation on the complaint of Ms. Susana Maria Luarca Saracho de Umaña and, if convicted, may be sentenced to five years imprisonment.  The complaint is based on statements made by Harris at a 1997 press conference given jointly by Casa Alianza and the Guatemalan Solicitor General's office.  This press conference was organized to announce the results of an investigation conducted by Casa Alianza and the Solicitor Generalâ's office into the trafficking of children through Guatemala.  During the conference, Mr. Harris is said to have alleged that Ms. Umaña had used "undue influence" with the government authorities in facilitating international adoptions.  Ms. Umaña was among several other lawyers named in criminal accusations related to child trafficking filed after the joint investigation. In 1999, Guatemala's Constitutional Court ruled that only journalists are entitled to freedom of expression and Mr. Harris should be prosecuted in the criminal courts.

In its letter to President Berger, the Lawyers Committee states that the 1999 ruling of the Constitutional Court is overly restrictive and contravenes international human rights law.  It further argues that criminal sanctions for defamation may be excessive and that the defense of truth should be available to answer a defamation charge.  The letter further describes Bruce Harris' important work with Casa Alianza and demands that all human rights defenders must be permitted to operate without obstruction or fear of retaliation, as required by the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

"Human rights defenders in Guatemala face serious persecution by powerful individuals and groups who feel threatened by their work, on a daily basis," commented Hicks.  "These charges against Bruce Harris are simply one form of such persecution and the new Guatemalan president should recognize this and take action to ensure that all human rights defenders are able to express themselves freely and to continue their vital work without fear of violence, threats or spurious criminal charges."

Contact: David Danzig 212/845-5252, danzigd@lchr..org

[Kiwi]

http://http://www.casa-alianza.org/EN/noticias/lmn/noticia827

"The case against Harris, which was attended by scores of people in a very cramped space, was suspended at 11am due to a scheduling conflict in the court. The case was ordered to re-start at 13:30 hours tomorrow, Friday January 23rd where two witnesses will be presented before sentencing."

So they are not going to bother with a verdict!

[Anonymous]

30th of January 2004

Guatemalan Tribunal absolves Bruce Harris

Guatemala: 15:15pm  After two days of deliberation, the 12th Tribunal of
Criminal Sentencing absolved Bruce Harris, Latin American Regional Director
for Casa Alianza, of all crime and responsibility, of which he was accused
of by Susana Luarca de Umaña, for calumny, slander and defamation.

The members of the Tribunal, headed by Judge Ana María Guadrón, read out the
sentence a few moments after 3:00pm this afternoon, in front of dozens of
people who were present in the court room.

In 1997 the name of the ex wife of the then president of the supreme Court
of Justice in Guatemala appeared in a list of 19 lawyers who were accused of
being connected to irregularities in the international adoptions of
Guatemalan children.

Three days ago, the lawyer had requested, through her attorney, a sentence
of an 8 years jail term for Harris, as well as his immediate arrest, his
expulsion from Guatemala once having completed his sentence and a fine of
Q1,000,000 (USD$125,000), but without indicating how she had reached such a
sum.

More information, please contact to Rocío Rodríguez at +506 253-5439 or in
this email address rocio@casa-alianza.org