Bolivia: Human Rights Ambassador Shared Concern About Death Threats Against Ms Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera

The intimidation and threats against ITEI and its director are not isolated threats.

Evo Morales

(WASHINGTON, DC) - On 23 January 2014, the Instituto de Terapia e Investigación sobre las Secuelas de la Tortura y la Violencia Estatal – ITEI (Institute of Therapy and Investigation into the After-effects of Torture and State Violence) publicly and internationally denounced the continuous intimidation and death threats to which its director, Ms Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera, and staff have been subjected since 15 November 2013.

The ITEI is an independent organisation which works on defending citizens against violations of their human rights by the State. The institution denounces instances of torture in police and military centres, carries out forensic medical inspections in torture cases, has presented a draft law on Torture and is working on the creation of a National Prevention Mechanism which would be independent of the state. Recently, Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera has publicly worked on and denounced a case of alleged police torture.

Since 15 November 2013, Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera has been receiving anonymous telephone calls. These calls serve to let her know that her movements are being monitored. On the weekend of 7 and 8 December 2013, she suffered a burglary at her home. Two days later, the human rights defender received a telephone call during which she was asked how she felt about what had happened. On 12 December 2013, she received a death threat over the telephone. Between 18 and 27 January 2014, the human rights defender received 20 anonymous phone calls. Two other members of staff have also received anonymous calls with similar content. Additionally, every day from 6:30pm, the ITEI office is monitored until the director leaves.

@boliviaenuk investigate the death threats against Emma Bolshia & #ITEI staff,bring those responsible to justice @carlosdmesag @GrigsbyUN

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) February 4, 2014

The intimidation and threats against ITEI and its director are not isolated threats. On 17 January 2014, a group of people supposedly affiliated with the government infiltrated a convention of the Asamblea Permanente de Derechos Humanos de La Paz – APDHLP (Permanent Assembly for Human Rights of La Paz). The XX Ordinary Convention of this entity had just begun when it was violently interrupted. Since then, it is reported that members of APDHLP have been receiving threats from the police.

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com, William Nicholas Gomes is concerned that the above-mentioned incidents are aimed at silencing the voices of those who denounce torture and other human rights violations in Bolivia, as well as those who are fighting for justice and against impunity.

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Sr. Evo Morales Ayma, Presidente de la República de Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia. E-mail: correo@presidencia.gov.bo FAX: +591 2 2201211 Your Excellency, I am William Nicholas Gomes,Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com. On 23 January 2014, the Instituto de Terapia e Investigación sobre las Secuelas de la Tortura y la Violencia Estatal – ITEI (Institute of Therapy and Investigation into the After-effects of Torture and State Violence) publicly and internationally denounced the continuous intimidation and death threats to which its director, Ms Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera, and staff have been subjected since 15 November 2013. The ITEI is an independent organisation which works on defending citizens against violations of their human rights by the State. The institution denounces instances of torture in police and military centres, carries out forensic medical inspections in torture cases, has presented a draft law on Torture and is working on the creation of a National Prevention Mechanism which would be independent of the state. Recently, Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera has publicly worked on and denounced a case of alleged police torture. Since 15 November 2013, Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera has been receiving anonymous telephone calls. These calls serve to let her know that her movements are being monitored. On the weekend of 7 and 8 December 2013, she suffered a burglary at her home. Two days later, the human rights defender received a telephone call during which she was asked how she felt about what had happened. On 12 December 2013, she received a death threat over the telephone. Between 18 and 27 January 2014, the human rights defender received 20 anonymous phone calls. Two other members of staff have also received anonymous calls with similar content. Additionally, every day from 6:30pm, the ITEI office is monitored until the director leaves. The intimidation and threats against ITEI and its director are not isolated threats. On 17 January 2014, a group of people supposedly affiliated with the government infiltrated a convention of the Asamblea Permanente de Derechos Humanos de La Paz – APDHLP (Permanent Assembly for Human Rights of La Paz). The XX Ordinary Convention of this entity had just begun when it was violently interrupted. Since then, it is reported that members of APDHLP have been receiving threats from the police. I am concerned that the above-mentioned incidents are aimed at silencing the voices of those who denounce torture and other human rights violations in Bolivia, as well as those who are fighting for justice and against impunity. I urge the Bolivian authorities to: Carry out an investigation into the death threats received by human rights defender Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera and ITEI staff, and bring those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards; Take all necessary measure to guarantee at all times the physical and psychological integrity of Emma Bolshia Bravo Cladera and that of the entire staff of ITEI; Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Bolivia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions. Yours sincerely, William Nicholas Gomes Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com Twitter @wnicholasgomes Email: william@williamnicholasgomes.com williamnicholasgomes.com

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