The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in connection with the following situation in Mexico.
Brief description of the situation :
Reports from various sources, including the Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez
Centre (PRODH) member of the network, give rise to grave concern for
the life and safety of the Jesuit priest, Jose Luis SERRA, and Angel
CALDERON, leader of the Popular Front of Southwest Veracruz
Organizations (FREPOSEV) and Fernando FLORES MADRID, leader of the
Democratic Peasants' Union, recently detained in Chihuahua.
1. According to reports received, after the trans-isthmus road was
blocked on May 12th 1997 in the Jaltipan-Minatitlan sector, Veracruz,
by Nahuatl peasants from Pajapan II and supported by peasants from
other Veracruz municipalities, the Government Secretary Miguel Angel
Yunes threatened to issue warrants for the arrest of the priest Jose
Luis SERRA and of Angel CALDERON. He accused them, falsely, of
"manipulating" the events and being their "intellectual authors".
Yunes Linares threatened them saying that "they would pay for this
very dearly" and that they "should not go crying to the Jesuits" etc.
Such threats also give rise to concern for the safety of the residents
of Pajapan II, their authorities and other leaders of the FREPOSEV and
the Indigenous Agrarian Zapatista Movement (MAIZ-Veracruz), organisers
and participants in the protest particularly from possible reprisals.
The reason for the blocking of the highway, which was carried out
peacefully, was the constant delaying of various authorities in
legalising the transfer of land to the Pajapan and a wish to protest
at the persistently negative attitude of the State Government in
dealing with the social and economic demands of the residents.
Although as a result of this action it became possible to reach
agreement with some of the authorities, over certain claims, the
population and the local organizations fear a repressive reaction on
the part of the government against the organizations mentioned above
and the Jesuits working in the region.
2. A wave of accusations and persecution against regional leaders of
the Democratic Peasants Union and in particular Fernando FLORES
MADRID, in charge of agrarian questions led to his recent arrest. He
was detained on May 12th , with the use of force, taken to the State
penitentiary and there detained on the orders of the judge of the
seventh criminal court.
Fernando FLORES MADRID is handling land grants cases for 118 families
residing in the Nuevo Palanganas , municipality of Casas Grandes and
28 other families residing in El. Garabato, under the jurisdiction of
the village of Arturo Gamiz, municipality of Madera.
Action requested
Write to the Mexican authorities expressing concern over these events
and urging them to:
i. guarantee in all circumstances the respect of the physical and
psychological integrity of the Jesuit priest, Jose LUIS SERRA, as
well as of Angel CALDERON, Fernando FLORES MADRID and the other
leaders and members of the organisations mentioned above;
ii. ensure the immediate release of Fernando FLORES MADRID in the
absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring him
before a competent and impartial civil court which will rule on the
case in accordance with due process;
iii. take every measure in their power in order to prevent and
forestall any form of intimidation, detention or act of violence
against the residents of the communities mentioned above or the
members and leaders of the various organisations.
iv. guarantee the full respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms throughout the count in accordance with national laws and
international standards.
Addresses:
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
57 29 o/or 516 57 62
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 547 03 21 o/or 546
Dr. Antonio Lozano Gracia, Procurador General de la Republica
Mexicana, Procuraduria General, violeta y Reforma s/n 2? piso, Col.
Guerrero, Mexico, D.F. CP 06300 Mexico. Fax: (+ 52 5) 626 44 26
Lic. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar, Presidente Comision Nacional de Derechos
Humanos, Periferico sur 3469, Col. San Jeronimo L?dice, Deleg.
Magdalena Contreras, C.P. 10200, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Fax.: (+ 52 5)
631 26 33
Geneva 19th May 1997
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of
this appeal in your reply.
Ben Schonveld
Projects Manager
OMCT-SOS-Torture
Fax 4122 733 1051
Ph 4122 733 3140
OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture
The World Organisation Against Torture
omct@iprolink.ch
http://www.omct.org/