US embassy cable - 04GUATEMALA2716

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002716 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA, WHA/CEN AND VO/F/P, INFO DHS-KEN LEUTBECKER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, GT 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY GUATEMALA SUPPORTS APPLICATIONS FOR 
HUMANITARIAN PAROLE FOR ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE OTONIEL DE LA 
ROCA MENDOZA FAMILY 
 
 
1.  Eleven members of the Otoniel De La Roca Mendoza Family 
have applied for humanitarian parole in the United States. 
Otoniel De La Roca Mendoza is a witness to the 1992 detention 
and torture of Efrain Bamaca Velasquez by Guatemalan military 
authorities.  In 1997 Mr. De la Roca Mendez sought and gained 
legal residency in the United States after continuous threats 
against him made it impossible for him to continue living in 
Guatemala.  Now that he is beyond the reach of those who wish 
to intimidate him, his family members still in Guatemala have 
become the subject of threat.  In the last four years, four 
members have been murdered after receiving threats against 
them made on account of Mr. De La Roca Mendoza's testimony. 
The most recent murder took place in July 2004.  Embassy 
Guatemala believes that the threats, intimidation and murders 
are directly related to Mr. De La Roca Mendoza's knowledge 
and testimony against those responsible for human rights 
violations and extrajudicial killings during Guatemala's 
armed conflict.  We believe that the it is in the interest of 
the United States to grant humanitarian parole to the eleven 
members of the De La Roca Mendoza family.  Doing so will 
preserve life, enable Mr. De La Roca Mendez to continue 
giving testimony against human rights violators, and will 
send a clear signal to human rights victims and perpetrators 
in Guatemala that the United States will do everything it can 
to stop the cycle of violence and impunity. 
 
2.  The eleven persons applying for humanitarian parole are: 
- Clara Luz Solares Alvarado 
- Saira Aydee Alvarado Diaz 
- Higinia Alvarado Vasquez 
- Jimena Estefania De La Roca Archila 
- Maria Guadalupe De La Roca Archila 
- Oralia De La Roca Archila 
- Gerson David Escobar De La Roca 
- Abraham De La Roca Solis 
- German Anibal De La Roca Melendez 
- Sulmy Mabeli Perez Alvarez 
- Jose Oswaldo Perez Alvarez 
 
3.  We understand that documentation, including I-131 forms 
and I-134 affidavits have already been forwarded to DHS 
Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch offices in 
Washington, DC. 
 
4.  Thanks you for your positive consideration of these 
important application for humanitarian parole. 
 
HAMILTON