URGENT ACTION ON OAXACA
Violations of Human Rights and Authoritarian Acts are dramatically increasing in Oaxaca
November 27, 2006
The Oaxacan Network for Humand Rights and the Center for Human Rights ‘Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez A.C' denounce the following:
1. On November 25, 2006 in the city of Oaxaca the seventh massive march which had been called by the Popular Assembly of the Qaxacan Peoples (APPO) to demand the resignation of Governor Ulises Ruiz and the departure of the Federal Police from the city.
2. During the demonstration there were violent confrontations between the demonstrators and the Federal Police. During the confrontations rockets, rocks and Molotov cocktails were launched against a variety of buildings. The federal Police used tear gas against the demonstrators and detained several people.
3. The Oaxacan Human Rights Network (RODH) knows of several arbitrary detentions. Additionally, several of them were done using torture and violence. Those detained had no access to their constitutional rights. There whereabouts is unknown.
4. The families of those detained, not knowing of the whereabouts of their family members went to the jails on the outskirts of Oaxaca, especially to Tlacolula and Mihuatlan. At both jails, they were denied access and all information regarding the whereabouts of the detained was arbitrarily withheld.
5. At the request of family members of those detained, yesterday at 2pm, members of the Human Rights Network tried to go to the Tlacolula jail. On the highway, before arriving at the jail, they were intercepted at a barricade which had been posted by the Federal Police. The lawyers from RODH identified themselves and explained the motive of their visit. The order which came from one of the agents was to write down their names and not grant them access to the jail. One of the Police said that "they had orders to not permit members of RODH to enter, because the NGOs are unconstitutional."
6. There were about 30 family members of the detainees in the road. The ‘general visitor' from the State Commission on Human Rights from Oaxaca came out from the jail. He said that "the prisoners are all fine." However, no doctors or psychologists had accompanied him. The family of the prisoners and other members of the Network protested about this omission.
7. Based on a request from the family members, the State Visitor offered to make the necessary arrangements so that they could visit the prisoners and their lawyers could also enter. After making several phone calls he indicated that the prison authorities had refused to honor his request. At that point, he went into the city of Oaxaca to "have a meeting with the Secretary of Citizen Protection."
8. At 8:40pm the General Visitor from the State Human Rights Commission of Oaxaca came back again to the female jail of Tlacolula. He told the family members of the detainees to "wait, because he had gotten permission for them to see the prisoners, to wait another moment because he was going in to speak with the director of the prison." The family members decided to wait.
9. A few minutes later a group of State Police came up and in a very gross way told the people to "leave the location or risk being arrested." The family members moved to the side of the road. A few moments later police came by, who seemed to be from the State Ministry, dressed all in black, wearing hoods and carrying R-15 pistols. In a very offensive way they said "if you don't leave we are going to bust heads, we have orders from our superiors to oust you and throw you in jail with your family members."
10. Due to the attitude of the police, the family members of the detained decided to leave the area, some of whom stayed in the town of Tlacolula, waiting for the Visitor. Minutes later, the Visitor told the family members to follow him to the prison. They did. Suddenly, the Visitor stopped the truck and told them, "for everyone's security you should turn back, because something serious could happen." Given such intimidation, they decided to go back.
11. Today, 141 detainees were transferred to the San José del Rincón prison, located in Nayarit. No family member was notified. Still, the detainees have yet to have communication with family members.
Given these facts, the Oaxacan Network of Human Rights and the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez A.C. Center of Human Rights demand:
- A cease to the authoritarian acts of intimidation committed by the Federal Preventive Police, the Oaxaca State Police, and a variety of federal authorities.
- That the Mexican State assumes its responsibility of respecting the human rights of all people and all Oaxacans, especially the detainees.
- That the detainees have an opportunity to communicate with family members.
- That in the cases where no crime has been committed, the detainees are immediately released.
- That the physical and psychological integrity of the detainees be guaranteed, as well as medical attention in cases of injury resulting from the November 25th incident.
We ask that you send urgent messages to:
FELIPE CALDERÓN HINOJOSA
PRESIDENTE DE MÉXICO
FAX. + 55 52 77 23 76, felipe@felipe.org.mx
LIC. CARLOS ABASCAL CARRANZA
SECRETARIO DE GOBERNACIÓN
FAX + 55 50 93 34 14, cabascal@segob.gob.mx
DR. JOSÉ LUIS SOBERANES
PRESIDENTE DE LA COMISIÓN NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
FAX + 55 56 81 71 99, correo@cndh.gob.mx
LIC. ULISES RUIZ ORTÍZ
GOBERNADOR DEL ESTADO DE OAXACA
Fax: + 951 5020530, gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx