The Human Rights Actions Network

SOS-Torture

			Police Violence in Argentina
                             Case ARG 260896	
		  

  The  International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture requests  your
  intervention in the following situation in Argentina.
  
  Brief description of the situation:
  The  CLADEHLT  (Comision  Latinoamericana  por  los  Derechos   y
  Libertades  de los Trabajadores y los Pueblos), a member  of  our
  network,  has reported to the International Secretariat  acts  of
  violence  perpetrated by the police force and  the  detention  of
  various  trade union militants and leaders including Juan  Carlos
  SCHMID.
  
  According to the information, on 8th August 1996, members of  the
  police force, using assault vehicles, attacked participants in  a
  peaceful  demonstration convened by three of the main Argentinian
  trade  union  organizations (CGT, MTA and CTA). This  ocurred  in
  various   places   in   Buenos  Aires  where  demonstrators   had
  assembled.
  
  In  the course of these events, during which several persons were
  injured,  37  were  detained, including  Juan  Carlos  SCHMID,  a
  member  of the Executive Committee of the Latin American  Central
  Workers'  Organizations (CLAT), Deputy Secretary General  of  the
  Latin  American  Federation of Transport  Workers  and  Secretary
  General of the Trade Union of Onboard Dredging and Marking  Staff
  .
  
  The  majority  of  those detained was released  by  the  19th  of
  August
  
  Action requested:
  Please write to the Argentinian authorities urging them to:
  
  i.  order  the  immediate release of Juan Carlos SCHMID  and  the
      other  persons who may still be detained, in the  absence  of
      valid judicial charges;
  
  ii. ensure  that  the  injured  persons  receive  the  care   and
      assistance  required by their state of health  and  safeguard
      their right to obtain appropriate compensation;
  
  iii.carry  out an exhaustive and impartial investigation of these
      events in order to identify those responsible, bring them  to
      trial  and  apply  the  penal,  civil  and/or  administrative
      sanctions prescribed by the laws in force;
  
  iv. put  an  end to arbitrary or illegal actions on the  part  of
      State  agents,  as well as the unnecessary uses  of  coercive
      measures and ensure the effective respect of human rights  in
      accordance with national laws and international standards.
  
  Addresses:
  S.E.  Presidente  de la Republica, Dr. Carlos  Saul  Menem,  Casa
  Rosada  Balcarce 50, Buenos Aires, CF, Argentina.  Fax : (+  541)
  331 67 35    /  331 0474   /   331 18 49

  Sr.  Ministro  del  Interior, Dr. Carlos Corach,  Ministerio  del
  Interior,   Casa   de  Gobierno,  Balcarce  50,   Buenos   Aires,
  Argentina. Fax : (+ 541)  331 1156  /  312 93 28
  
  The Argentinian embassy in your respective countries.
  
  Geneva, 26th August 1996
  Kindly  inform  us  of  any action undertaken  quoting  the  code
  number of this appeal in your reply.


Ben Schonveld
Projects Manager
OMCT - SOS Torture Tel: +41-22-733 31 40 
Case Postale 119   Fax: +41 22-733 10 51
CH 1211 Geneva 20  Conf: omctsostorture@conf.igc.apc.org
Switzerland        OMCT@iprolink.ch