Guatemala City - Today the kidnapping of Gladys Monterroso, wife of Sergio Morales, Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, was confirmed. She was abducted yesterday evening and released this morning. For health reasons she was hospitalized.
The Vice President of Guatemala, Dr. Rafael Espada was at the private hospital where she is recovering, so was the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, Stephen McFarland and her husband Sergio Morales.
In brief, Sergio Morales, Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, will offer a press conference to state his position.
Gladys Monterroso is the metropolitan secretary of the political Party "Encuentro por Guatemala". Monterroso is a lawyer by profession and has been a columnist for a mayor Guatemalan newspaper. So far it is only known that her condition is stable.
Vice President Rafael Espada said that he came to show his support and solidarity for Gladys Monterroso.
The Vice President Rafael Espada also stated that this case is being investigated, and that at this time they do not want to give any further details until the government has the relevant facts. "The current situation of violence is being used by other sectors," said Espada.
The Interior Minister, Salvador Gándara, informed that investigations about this case are ongoing.
Stephen McFarland, U.S. Ambassador, lamented the situation that the wife and family of the Human Rights ombudsman of Guatemala are currently facing. The diplomat offered the full support of his country to investigate this violent act. McFarland declined to comment on the current situation of violence in the country, he stated that he was worried.
A few days ago, Sergio Morales, the Guatemalan government's human rights ombudsman, released the first report on the contents of 80 million documents unearthed four years ago that dated from the 1960-1996 conflict.
Source: La Hora, Prensa Libre
