The International Secretariat of the OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Mexico.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat has been informed of the arrest of
Victor FELICIANO DE LOS SANTOS, an indigenous child of 12 years old,
during a police operation in the State of Guerrero.
According to the Mexican League for the Defence of Human Rights
(LIMEDDH), a member of the network, on 18 February 1997 the Committee
for the Defence and Support for the Indian Communities and People
("Comite de Defensa y Apoyo a Comunidades y Pueblos Indios - CODACPI)
denounced the arrest of several indigenous people "Mixtecos" in the
State of Guerrero.
According to the information, Victor FELICIANO DE LOS SANTOS was
arrested in the community of Guadalupe Mano de Le?n, municipality of
Tlacoachistlahuaca, during a police operation (which apparently took
place on 15 February 1997) commanded by Tomas Herrera Basurto and
Reynaldo Lozano Cruz, commanders of the Judicial Police of Acapulco
and Abelardo Estevez Garc?a, commander of the Judicial Police of
Ometepec (for more information about the other persons arrested, see
Case MEX 250297).
Action requested
Please write to the Mexican authorities urging them to :
i. guarantee in all circumstances respect for the physical and
psychological integrity of Victor FELICIANO DE LOS SANTOS and order
his immediate release, if he is still being detained;
ii. take appropriate measures to prevent the illegal or arbitrary
arrest of minors and adolescents;
iii. carry out a thorough and impartial inquiry into the facts in
order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the
penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by legislation;
iv. ensure in all circumstances the full respect of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and
international standards.
Addresses :
S.E. Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Le?n, Presidente de la Rep?blica,
Palacio Nacional, C.P. 06065, M?xico, D.F., M?xico. Fax : (+ 52 5) 515
17 94 or 271 17 64 or 515 47 83 or 516 57 62 . Correo electr?nico :
webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx Lic. Emilio Chuayffet Chemor,
Secretario de Gobernaci?n, Secretar?a de Gobernaci?n, Bucareli 99, 2?
piso, Col. Ju?rez, M?xico, D.F., M?xico Fax : (+ 52 5) 546 53 50 or
592 42 30 Dra. Mirelle Roccatti Vel?squez, Presidenta Comisi?n
Nacional de Derechos Humanos, Perif?rico sur 3469, Col. San Jer?nimo
L?dice, Magdalena Contreras, C.P. 10200, M?xico, D.F., M?sixo. Fax :
(+ 52 5) 681 8490
The Mexican embassy in your respective countries.
Geneva, 25 February 1997
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of
this appeal your reply.