Case MEX 110297
The International Secretariat of the OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Mexico.
Brief description of the situation
The LIMEDDH ( Mexican League for the Defence of Human Rights), a
member of the SOS-Torture network, has expressed its concern at the
detention and presumed forced disappearance of the following persons:
Arturo PEREZ VELAZQUEZ and Armando ROBLERO GALVEZ and the presumed
extrajudicial execution of Jose RAMIREZ DE LA TORRE. All these events
occurred in the state of Chiapas.
According to the information received, which were based on the
complaint of the Commission for Human Rights of the Broad Front for
the Reconstruction of the National Liberation Movement (FACMLN). The
reports document the cases of Arturo PEREZ VELAZQUEZ and Armando
ROBLERO GALVEZ, two peasants who were detained on 5 February 1997 in
the community of Piedra Blanca, municipality of La Concordia, State of
Chiapas. .Members of the armed forces, the public security forces and
the "white guards" are believed to be Responsibility for the
detention. Up to now, the authorities have given no information
concerning the situation of these persons whose whereabouts are
unknown.
According to the same reports, the indigenous community "Casa del
Pueblo", which is part of the Emiliano Zapata Peasant Organization
(OCEZ) (FAC-MLN) denounced the death on 6 February 1997 of Jose
RAMIREZ DE LA TORRE, a peasant. The events are allegedly connected to
a conflict over land tenure. They accused Mario and Virgilio ARIZMENDI
GONZALEZ of the killing and blame the police authorities and the
forces of public security on the orders of Jorge GAMBOA SOLIS.
Moreover, the reports mention the presence of paramilitary groups such
as the "Alianza Bartolome de los Llanos ", "Paz y Justicia",
"Chinchulines" and "Tomas Munzer", which it is claimed act with the
tolerance and the financial support of the local authorities in the
State of Chiapas. This situation has been denounced by political,
social and human rights organizations. And to date the authorities
have taken no actions against these groups.
Action requested
Write to the Mexican authorities urging them to:
i. adopt all necessary measures in order to determine the whereabouts
of Arturo PEREZ VELAZQUEZ and Armando ROBLERO GALVEZ and guarantee
their physical and psychological integrity in all circumstances;
ii. order their immediate release if they are detained without valid
charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before a competent and
impartial civil tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all
times;
iii. carry out a thorough and impartial inquiry into the detention and
presumed forced disappearance of Arturo PEREZ VELAZQUEZ and Armando
ROBLERO GALVEZ PEREZ VELA.ZQUEZ and the presumed extrajudicial
execution of Jose RAMIREZ DE LA TORRE in order to identify those
responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or
administrative sanctions provided by legislation;
iv. put an end to the actions of paramilitary groups as well as to any
form of cooperation of such groups on the part of civil, military
police or other authorities;
v. ensure in all circumstances the full respect of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and
international standards.
Addressses :
S.E. Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, Presidente de la Republica,
Palacio Nacional, C.P. 06065, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Fax (+ 52 5) 515
17 94 o/or 271 17 64 o/or 515 47 83 o/or 516 57 62 . Correo
electronico: webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx
Lic. Emilio Chuayffet Chemor, Secretario de Gobernacion, Secretaria de
Gobernacion, Bucareli 99, 2 piso, Col. Juarez, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
Fax (+ 52 5) 546 53 50 o/or 592 42 30
Lic. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar, Presidente Comision Nacional de Derechos
Humanos, Perif?rico sur 3469, Col. San Jer?nimo Ledice, Deleg.
Magdalena Contreras, C.P. 10200, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Fax.: (+ 52 5)
681 8490
Direcciones autoridades del Estado de Oxaca
Lic. Diodoro Carrasco Altamirano, Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca. Fax
(+ 951) 5 50 77 o/or 6 37 37 Lic. Roberto Pedro Martinez Ortiz,
Procurador General del Estado de Oaxaca. Fax (+ 951) 1 51 21 Jose
Luis Acevedo, Presidente de la CEDH del Estado de Oaxaca. Fax (+ 951)
5 22 52
The Mexican embassy in your respective countries .
Geneva, 11 February 1997
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of
this appeal your reply.