HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS STRONGLY CONDEMNS ASSASSINATION OF MONSIGNOR JUAN GERARDI CONEDERA IN GUATEMALA

HR/98/30
28 April 1998




The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of Monsignor Juan Gerardi Conedera, a courageous defender of human rights and an important figure of the Guatemalan peace process. A man driven by his search of justice and reconciliation, his death saddens all those who shared his ideals in Guatemala and the world. The High Commissioner requests the Government of Guatemala to make all efforts to bring to justice those responsible for this heinous crime and extends her sincere condolences to the family of Monsignor Gerardi, to his colleagues in the Human Rights Office of the Archbishopric and to the Catholic Church of Guatemala.