The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Derechos Human Rights Equipo Nizkor San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, November 5, 1996 NEW ATTEMPT, KIDNAPPING AND DEATH THREATS AGAINST CONPAZ MEMBERS CONPAZ REQUESTS URGENT ACTION Once again, the offices of CONPAZ (Coordinator of non-governmental organizations for peace) has been broken into and vandalized. On November 4 at 4:00 am, unknown persons entered the offices and set fire to the administration and meeting rooms. Office material, medications, food, blankets and documents were destroyed as a result of the fire. Graffiti was painted on the walls of the office that said, "Get out Zapatistas, we don't want you". The fire could have extended throughout the entire area but was extinguished in time by firefighters who arrived at the scene at 1:30 am. On Oct. 7, (one month ago), we denounced another arson attempt. As on the previous occasions, this attempt was also reported to the Ministerio Publico (the Public Ministry, who is in charge of criminal investigations and prosecutions), and the only response has been silence. Yesterday, November 4, the accountant of Conpaz, Javier Lopez Montoya and his family (wife and two children) left their residence at 5:00 pm and have not been seen since, their whereabouts are not known. A report of a suspected kidnapping has been filed with the Ministerio Publico. Later in the evening, the general coordinator of Conpaz received 4 death threats via telephone. Today, November 5 telephone death threats were received in Conpaz^Ò office. These intimidating actions are the latest in a long list of threats against individuals and organizations related to Conpaz. We want to point out, however that the nature of these recent attempts has become very critical, and represents an increase in the level of intimidation. It is troubling that both in the state of Chiapas as well as on a national level there exists a climate of constant intimidation against defenders of human rights and civil organizations that carry out activities in favor of indigenous communities and that encourage proposals to bring democracy to our country. It is a matter of concern for Conpaz that while throughout the country a political solution is being sought for the conflict in Chiapas and pronouncements are being made in favor of peace, intransigent sectors are searching to create a climate adverse to the peace process. We hold the state government of Ruiz Ferro and the federal government responsible for these acts. Conpaz demands: - An end to the intimidating actions against Conpaz, and guarantees for the physical and psychological integrity of each one of its members. - An end to the campaign of hostilities against the civil organizations in the country, especially those working for the respect of human rights. - A thorough investigation of every one of these acts that have been denounced and those responsible be brought to justice. We ask the national and international community to take urgent action and advise the following authorities of your repudiation of these incidents. (Within Mexico dial 91 before the number listed. Outside of Mexico dial +52 before the numbers). Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leo'n Presidente de la Repu'blica Fax: +52.5.515-1794 Lic. Emilio Chauyfet Chemor Secretario de Gobernacio'n Fax: +52.5.546-5350 Lic. Antonio Lozano Gracia Procurador General de la Repu'blica Fax: +52.5.626-4419 Lic. Julio Ce'sar Ruiz Ferro Gobernador del Estado de Chiapas Fax: +52.961.2-0917 Eraclio Zepeda Ramos Secretario General de Gobierno de Chiapas Fax: +52.961.3-2458 Lic. Jorge E. Herna'ndez Aguilar Procurador General de Justicia del Estado de Chiapas Fax: +52.961.6-5376 Lic. Jorge Madrazo Cue'llar Presidente de la Comisio'n Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CNDH) Fax: +52.5.681-8490 Lic. Norma Paulina Montan-o Navarro Coord. Gral. en los Altos y Selva de Chiapas, CNDH Fax +52.967.8-0429 Carmen Lira Saade Directora General del diario La Jornada Fax: +52.5.535-1776 correo electro'nico: jornada@condor.dgsca.unam.mx Diputado Juan Guerra Comisio'n de Concordia y Pacificacio'n (COCOPA) TelFax: +52.967.80252 Obispo Samuel Ruiz Garci'a Comisio'n Nacional de Intermediacio'n (CONAI) TelFax: +52.967.86070 SINCERELY, COORDINATION OF NGOS FOR PEACE (CONPAZ) Recent history of intimidation against Conpaz 1995 - During the early morning hours of February 10, heavily-armed Federal Judicial Police violently raided the Conpaz office. The authorities stated that this act was carried out with a search warrant, but which did not allow police to search file cabinets or documents. - During May-June 1994, women from Kinal Antzetik, NGO member of Conpaz were under constant surveillance, received death threats and were approached by military personnel in the cooperative store run by women. These intimidations continue until now. At the end of 1995 their store was robbed of artesanry and photographs of members of the organization. - During late June a member of Conpaz found the exterior was and door of his home stained with blood. The way the stains appeared would indicate that it was a premeditated act. - The evening of August 16 a Dodge-Ram vehicle, owned by Conpaz was robbed while parked in front of the office. This act was denounced to the police. - On September 27, at noon, the windows of a vehicle owned by a member of Conpaz were broken and a civil band radio robbed. - On October 8 the brake hose of a vehicle owned by a Conpaz worker was cut, which could have caused a serious accident had it not been that this was discovered in time. This act was also denounced to the police but so far nothing has been revealed. 1996 - On September 2 two bicycles of Conpaz workers were robbed; on September 12 computer equipment was robbed, also property of a Conpaz worker. - On October 7, at approximately 1 am, unknown persons tried to burn the Conpaz offices. A Conpaz member happened on the scene and saw that the street window had been forced open, gasoline poured through and set afire. The member was able to put out the fire before greater damage was done. - Throughout this year, members of the Kinal Antzetik NGO have received telephone death deaths in their homes and office. The coordinator of Kinal has been assaulted, interrogated and robbed of documents, tape recorders and other work materials; her vehicle has been robbed or damaged on ten occasions this year, and she has been sexually threatened. The women artisans of the cooperative have also received death threats and supposed judicial officers have constantly turned up in their office, and who presumably have been involved in three robberies of their store. - Today, November 5, telephone death threats have come directly to the Conpaz office.