The Action of the Day: Ambassador Prudence Bushnell, the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, and Ambassador Ariel Rivera Irias, the Guatemalan Ambassador to the U.S. I have the letters below, please notice that there are two. Although they look similar, they have slight differences directed to each one. For Ambassador Bushnell: You can send an email to Steve Hubler, at the State Department Guatemala Desk, at hublersa (at) state.gov or to Jason Donavan, the human rights officer in Guatemala, at DonavanJA2 (at) state.gov. Or you can
always email both. Simply ask that they forward them on to her, there shouldn't be any problems.

For Ambassador Rivera Irias: You can send an email to
ambassador (at) guatemala-embassy.org or a fax to 202-745-1908.

Hopefully there won't be any problems with the email addresses or fax number.

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Dear Ambassador Bushnell,

As a member of the United States human rights community, I am writing to voice my concern for the Gerardi case. As you know, the trial is set to conclude next week and there is an increasingly urgent need for international observers. I urge you and other Embassy officials to be
present during the last days of the trial, to support the Guatemalan justice system and pressure for the safety of those involved.

The human rights community here shares a profound concern for the violent situation surrounding the trial. Throughout the case, the judges have received threats and the house of Judge Barrios was attacked. Several witnesses have been forced to flee the country and some have mysteriously
disappeared. In addition, the defense lawyers have had to work in an oftentimes intense environment: Mynor Melgar, from the Archbishop's Office on Human Rights (ODHAG), has received several threats against himself and his family.

I am both relieved that this trial has been able to progress despite the threats and excited that we shall soon hear a verdict. I urge you and the Embassy to do all in your power to defend justice and support the Gerardi trial. I, and those in my community, will vigorously follow the progress of the trial and will continue to support those working for justice.

Sincerely,
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Dear Ambassador Ariel Rivera Irias,

As a member of the United States human rights community, I am writing to voice my concern for the Gerardi case. As you know, the trial is set to conclude next week and there is an increasingly urgent need for observers.

I urge you and other Embassy officials to be present during the last days of the trial, to support the Guatemalan justice system and pressure for the safety of those involved.

The human rights community here shares a profound concern for the violent situation surrounding the trial. Throughout the case, the judges have received threats and the house of Judge Barrios was attacked. Several witnesses have been forced to flee the country and some have mysteriously
disappeared. In addition, the defense lawyers have had to work in an oftentimes intense environment: Mynor Melgar, from the Archbishop's Office on Human Rights (ODHAG), has received several threats against himself and his family.

I am both relieved that this trial has been able to progress despite the threats and excited that we shall soon hear a verdict. I urge you and the Embassy to do all in your power to defend justice and support the Gerardi trial. I, and those in my community, will vigorously follow the progress of the trial and will continue to support those working for justice.

Sincerely,