NEWS RELEASE Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Date: Nov. 4, 1997

EMBASSY VIGIL FOR FATHER CARNEY

** BISHOP, PRIEST, RELATIVES, AND FRIENDS ENTER SEVENTH DAY OF FAST; TWO SISTERS AND PRIEST JOIN

** EMBASSY VIGIL CONTINUES, AWAITING SERIOUS RESPONSE FROM CLINTON ADMINISTRATION

** VIGILERS PRESENT CASE TO UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER OF HUMAN RIGHTS

For more information, contact COFADEH (379800) or EPICA in Washington, DC, at: (202) 332-0292. Come to the entrance of the U.S. embassy in Tegucigalpa between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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A religious sister in Detroit, an American religious sister working in Nicaragua, and a Catholic priest in Lansing, Mich., have entered the fast, while the original group of five entered the seventh day of their fast. In addition, a priest who was a close friend of Fr. Carney has vowed to fast one day a week for the rest of his life or until Fr. Carneys remains are found and the case solved.

Bishop Samuel Ruiz of Chiapas has expressed his solidarity with the embassy vigil and with the groups demands.

At 10 a.m. Matthew Eisen and Father Joseph Mulligan, S.J., presented documents concerning the case to the Tegucigalpa office of the United Nations, asking that the documents be forwarded to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (letter follows). The Resident Coordinator of the UN officially received the material and assured the two that she would forward it. The letter follows.

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Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Nov. 4, 1997

Ms. Mary Robinson

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Dear Ms. Robinson:

Through the UN headquarters in Honduras, we wish to present to you some documents concerning the case of Father James (Guadalupe) Carney, who disappeared here in 1983.

We would be very grateful if you would consider this material and determine whether the UN Commission on Human Rights might be able to help to discover the truth in this case and to achieve justice.

We have been engaged in a vigil at the U.S. embassy here and are now entering our seventh day of a fast, along with Sister Jean Brenner (Father Carney's cousin), John Patrick Carney (his brother), and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton (auxiliary bishop of Detroit).

Enclosed is a copy of our letter to President Bill Clinton, our demands to the U.S. government, and some sample pages of the documents which the U.S. government has presented thus far to the Honduran government, in response to the latter's official request for assistance.

While continuing with full vigor our efforts to encourage the U.S. government to fulfill its responsibilities in this case and other cases of disappeared persons, we appeal to you for assistance, in view of the fact that the U.S. government thus far has not responded seriously to the requests of the Honduran government, the family of Father Carney, and the Church.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Sincerely,

Matthew Eisen

Apdo. Postal 2944

Centro de Gobierno

San Salvador, El Salvador

Father Joseph Mulligan, S.J.

Apdo. 2419

Managua, Nicaragua

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On Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m., the Fr. Carney case will be brought to the local headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS). A press conference will be held at that time, which will include statements by three Americans who have arrived today in Tegucigalpa to join the embassy vigil.

EPICA

1470 Irving St., NW

Washington, DC 20010

Tel: 202/332-0292

Fax: 202/332-1184

Email: epica@igc.apc.org

Web: www.igc.apc.org/epica