The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights
http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/


HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS


Case MEX 240297

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Mexico.

Brief description of the situation
The Mexican League for the Defence of Human Rights (LIMEDDH), a member
of the network, has expressed its grave concern over the recent acts
of aggression and threats committed against human rights defenders in
Chiapas.

According to information received, the social association "Estacion
Norte de Distención y Reconciliacion" constituted by Chiapas NGOs -
CEDIAC, CDHFBC, SIPASZ, CONPAZ - and the student organisation GLOBAL
EXCHANGE sent a mission of inquiry in Chiapas to observe the situation
of conflict between members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
("Partido Revolucionario Institucional" - PRI) and the Democratic
Revolutionary Party ("Partido Revolucionario Democratico" - PRD).

On 15 February, in the Paraiso community, municipality of Sabanilla,
Chiapas, the 12 members of the mission were surrounded and threatened
by armed men, members of the paramilitary group Peace and Justice
("Paz y Justicia"). This paramilitary group has alleged links with the
PRI. The 12 people were forced to get out of their vehicle and had
their cameras, clothes and a clock stolen. The other members of the
mission of inquiry tried to request assistance from the deputy officer
of the public security, Nicolas García Mantufar. However, they were
stopped by the aggressors who shot at the vehicle. A lawyer Jose
Montero Solano was injured, as well as another member of the mission,
whose name is unknown, who is suffering from a head injury caused by a
hunting knife.

The facts were reported to the Federal Public Ministry which refused
to initiate the preliminary investigation and only agreed  to treat
the facts as circumstantial events. The persons who reported the
facts, Jose Antonio Montero Solano, Guillermo Godines and Maria
Patricia Jimenez " identified the PRI deputy, Samuel Sanchez, as the
leader of the paramilitary group "Peace and Justice" and amongst the
organisers of the acts described above.

Action requested :
Please write to the Mexican authorities urging them to :

i.	take the appropriate measures to safeguard the security and freedom
of the injured parties and, in particular those involved in reporting
the events;

ii.	guarantee an exhaustive and impartial enquiry into the facts in
order that those responsible be tried and sanctioned in accordance
with the legislation;

iii..	to put an end to the acts perpetrated by paramilitary groups and
any kind of co-operation of State organisms or authorities with such
groups;.

iv.	ensure in all circumstances the respect of human rights and
fundamental freedoms 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, México, D.F., Mexico. Fax : (+ 52 5) 515
17 94 or 271 17 64 or 515 47 83 or 516 57 62. Correo electrónico :
webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx

Lic. Emilio Chuayffet Chemor, Secretario de Gobernacion, Secretaria de
Gobernacion, Bucareli 99, 2º piso, Col. Juarez, Mexico, D.F., México
Fax : (+ 52 5) 546 53 50 or 592 42 30

Dra. Mirelle Roccatti Velasquez, Presidenta Comision Nacional de
Derechos Humanos, Periférico sur 3469, Col. San Jeronimo Lídice,
Magdalena Contreras, C.P. 10200, Mexico, D.F., Mésixo. Fax : (+ 52 5)
681 8490

Lic. Julio Cesar Luis Ferro, Gobernador sustituto del Estado de
Chiapas. Fax: (+52) 961 210 92 or 96123352 or 96123978

The Mexican embassy in your respective countries.

Geneva, 24 February 1997

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of
this appeal 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/