JHONNY JIMENEZ JIMENEZ and other members of Servicio de Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice Service – SERPAJ) – Human rights defenders
Amnesty International has expressed concern for the safety of Jhonny Jiménez Jiménez, President of the Servicio de Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice Service – SERPAJ), his colleagues and family following recent attempts to intimidate the human rights defender. These acts of intimidation are believed to be linked to SERPAJ’s human rights work in Ecuador.
On 31 March 2006, unknown individuals broke into Jhonny Jiménez Jiménez’s home searching through drawers and wardrobes before throwing the contents on the floor. Nothing was taken, despite the presence of valuables in the house, leading human rights observers to believe the incident was an act of intimidation. In an earlier incident (9 December 2005), SERPAJ’s offices were broken into by unknown individuals. They stole a laptop used by Jhonny Jiménez Jiménez, which contained valuable information. It is not known whether investigations into these incidents have been opened.
Both events are regarded by Amnesty International as acts of intimidation linked to the monitoring work done by SERPAJ on the impact in Ecuador of the US-backed military aid package dubbed Plan Columbia.
LRWC ACTION
Letter by Isabel Stramwasser sent on May 2, 2006
