The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ SHOOTING OF TWO GUATEMALAN STREET CHILDREN At approximately two in the morning on January 27th, 1997, the street boys Hugo Humberto Lopez Castillo (16) and Alfredo (aka Luis) Bonilla (15) were walking along 18th street, between 9th and 10th Avenues, in Zone 1 of Guatemala City with two female friends named Carmen and Lupe, when they were fired upon by an unidentified male. Hugo was shot in the right knee, fracturing the femur, and Alfredo received two bullets in the right buttock. Hugo and Alfredo were taken by ambulance to the Hospital San Juan de Dios. Alfredo was later released and taken by Casa Alianza street educators to the Crisis Center for recuperation. Alfredo explained to the Casa Alianza Legal Aid Office investigators that as the four of them were walking along, several people tried to rob the pedestrian, and the man took out a gun and started firing, hitting the two boys. Casa Alianza, in light of the lack of a police investigation, is trying to piece together the crime. PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL MESSAGE TO THE GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING OF THE TWO BOYS. Please send a copy of your message to ---------------------------------------- Casa Alianza Latin America SJO 1039 PO Box 025216 Miami FL, 33102-5216 USA In Costa Rica: Phone :+506 / 253-5439 Fax :+506 / 224-5689 http://www.casa-alianza.org ===================================================== Human Rights in Guatemala www.derechos.org/nizkor/guatemala/