from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
subject: msn:Mexico Solidarity Network Oct 15-21
Delivered-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: "Mexico Solidarity Network" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001
MEXICO SOLIDARITY NETWORK WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY
OCTOBER 8-14, 2001
1. POLITICIANS SIGN AGREEMENT ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2. STATE ELECTIONS IN CHIAPAS AND OAXACA
3. TRUTH COMMISSION ON HOLD
4. SHORTS
1. POLITICIANS SIGN AGREEMENT ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT In an annual
right of passage demonstrating national unity, President Fox and
leaders of eight parties signed the Political Agreement for
National Development. The agreement covered political, social,
economic, and foreign affairs, and included broad promises to reform
the tax system, root out corruption, improve public security, and
develop the energy sector. Though the document was written in broad
enough language to satisfy nearly every politician, disagreements about
its meaning began before the ink was dry.
The economic section skated delicately around President Fox�s
controversial proposal to reform the tax system by calling for
�strengthening the capacity of public finance to attend to social
demands� and �advancing the system of federal finances under a
redefinition of attributes and responsibilities.� In fact, it avoided
any real policy proposals by calling for economic measures that would
generate sustained growth, long term measures for dealing with the
unique problems of the countryside, modernization of the productive
sector, and strengthening of small and medium businesses. Later in the
week, Fox announced that his economic reforms would not include
tax increases but would generate additional income for the government.
The following day he clarified this apparent contradiction by
announcing that his reform of the tax system would end �tax
exemptions.� This was widely interpreted to mean that the unpopular
15% taxes on food and medicine would be included in the package.
The pact avoided Fox�s controversial proposals to privatize the
energy sector by blandly calling for policies that favor development
and modernization, particularly in the gas and electricity sectors.
So that no one was left out, the pact called for extension of
social spending for the most vulnerable groups, with special attention
to Indigenous populations.
2. STATE ELECTIONS IN CHIAPAS AND OAXACA The PRI regained momentum in
Chiapas state elections held on October 7, winning 24 seats in the
state assembly, a majority, and 71 municipal presidencies. The left-
leaning PRD won 7 seats in the state assembly, while the President
Fox�s PAN took 5, the Partido del Trabajo took 2, the Green Party took
one and the Partido Alianza Social took one. PRI leaders credited
their electoral triumph to �the expectations generated by alliances of
other parties did not reach the population. There is discontent with
the government, both at the state and federal level.� PRI leaders
were referring to the PRD/PAN alliance that won the governorship of
Chiapas for Pablo Salazar last year.
In a surprise victory, Enoch Hernandez of the little-known Partido
Alianza Social won the mayorality of San Cristobal de las Casas. The
victory marked the first time in over seven decades that the PRI lost
this key city.
In an election declared clean and fair by the State Electoral
Institute (IEE), statewide abstentions exceeded 60% with an even higher
percentage in Zapatista communities. In the municipality of Ocosingo,
an area that includes many Zapatista communities, only 35 of 67 voting
booths actually opened, and, according to the IEE, �probably less than
50% of the electorate of this zone was able to vote.�
3. TRUTH COMMISSION ON HOLD President Vicente Fox assured that nation
that �we have not discarded, as a decision of the government, the
possibility of beginning a Truth Commission tomorrow,� however he
clarified that for the moment the government will opt for institutional
mechanisms to resolve the past. Last week�s announcement that the Fox
administration would release millions of documents related to the 1968
Tlatelolco massacre revived demands for a truth commission with powers
to prosecute government lawbreakers from previous PRI administrations.
Fox assured that there are �other alternatives,� namely existing
institutional mechanisms that today �are totally democratic.�
The National Human Rights Commission, a government entity, is in charge
of producing a report on the `68 massacre, including information on
disappeared political activists from the era. Fox promised to
introduce a Public Information Access Law in the �coming weeks� but not
until �we form a consensus, a broad consensus, around this law.�
4. SHORTS ECONOMY Forecasts for Mexico�s economy continued to
deteriorate as Guillermo Ortiz, head of the Bank of Mexico, predicted
the gross national product would grow less than one percent in 2002.
Ortiz used the prognostication to justify the lack of an emergency plan
to deal with the current economic crisis, saying that the crisis left
finances too precarious to afford en emergency plan. Ortiz did not
fail to promote President Fox�s public finance reforms, including 15%
taxes on food and medicine, as the only solution to the crisis.
CONGRESS AT WORK By a party-line vote of 211 to 169, Congress called on
President Vicente Fox to clean up his letterhead, in particular the
mutilated eagle that is the national symbol of Mexico. The PAN bench
found the letterhead to be in order, while the opposition called on the
president to include the entire national symbol rather than just the
eagle�s head. This has been a burning issue since December 14 of last
year when Deputies from the opposition PRD and PRI called on the
Secretary of Government to stop circulating letterhead with the
offending symbol. Extensive debate preceded the vote and interviews
with the press followed.
*****
This report is a product of the Mexico Solidarity Network.
Redistribution is authorized and encouraged provided that the source is
cited.
Comments: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
This and previous news updates are archived at:
http://www.mexicosolidarity.org "
*****
from: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
subject: msn: Mexico:Emergency Response to Assassination-Digna Ochoa
Delivered-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: "Mexico Solidarity Network" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Emergency Response to the Assassination of Digna Ochoa
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001
Emergency Response to the Assassination of Digna Ochoa
For more info: Mexico Solidarity Network, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Global Exchange, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On October 19, human rights attorney Digna Ochoa from Mexico
was assassinated. The international community must respond to this
horrible act. The Mexico Solidarity Network calls for the following
actions:
1) Sign the accompanying petition directed at President Vicente
Fox demanding justice for the assassins of Digna.
2) Organize a demonstration or meeting at your local Mexican
consulate. Go to http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm for a complete
list of Mexican consulates. Please let us know about your local
actions by contacting: Mexico Solidarity Network, 415/621-8100,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or Global Exchange, 415/558-8682 x.239,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Information that will be helpful in
organizing a meeting is attached below.
3) Join the demonstration on October 25 at 5:00 pm in front of the
US Embassy in Washington, DC, 1911 Pennsylvania Ave, NW.
4) Fax a letter to President Fox and the US Embassy demanding
justice for the assassination of Digna. Global Exchange has a simple
fax action available
at http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/mexico/digna102201.html.
5) Distribute the attached op-ed to local newspapers.
6) Call the US State Department at 202-647-9894. Demand justice for
Digna�s assassins and an end to US military aid, training and sales to
Mexico.
Background information on the assassination of Digna Ochoa is attached
at the bottom of this email. For more information on Digna�s
assassination and how to respond, please contact the Mexico Solidarity
Network, Tel: 415-621-8100 or 773-583-7728, email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
1) PETITION TO FOX
President Vicente Fox Quesada,
We express our most profound sadness and outrage at the assassination
of human rights advocate Digna Ochoa. This crime directly threatens
the struggle in defense of human rights in Mexico and every other part
of the world.
The execution of Digna leads us to question the commitment of
your administration to the protection of human rights. Her kidnapping,
the threats directed against her, and, finally, her assassination, are
a direct result of ineffectiveness and/or lack of political will on the
part of the justice system to prevent these hideous deeds and to
sanction those who are responsible. At this moment of crisis, we are
especially concerned about the safety of other Mexican human rights
activists who have received similar threats, including Maria Patricia
Jimenez of the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center, members
of the Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Center, members of the
Fray Lorenzo de la Nada Human Rights Center, members of the Bartolome
Carrasco Center, Arturo Solis, Barbara Zamora, and Pilar Noreiga.
We are further concerned that the justice system of Mexico, under
the direction of former army General Rafael Marcial Maceda de la
Concha, is not up to the task of defending human rights. For example,
in the case of Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera, General Maceda
refused to consider compelling testimony that the army used torture to
force �confessions� from the campesino environmentalists. It appears
that General Maceda�s loyalty to the army may out-weigh his commitment
to justice. We question the political will of the Attorney General�s
office to carry out a complete investigation of the assassination,
especially if the investigation leads to possible involvement of
members of Mexico�s security forces.
We demand the following measures:
- A thorough and transparent investigation of the assassination of
Digna Ochoa and the threats leveled against other human rights
activists, and the prosecution of those responsible for these hideous
acts. - The immediate protection of human rights advocates,
especially those mentioned above, and development of public policies
for the long term protection of human rights advocates. - Immediate
compliance with the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders prepared by
the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Sincerely,
(Please forward signatures to [EMAIL PROTECTED] This letter
is useful for consulate visits.)
2) CONSULATE VISITS
How to meet with your Consulate
Set up a meeting:
� Find the consulate in your area. For a list, go to:
http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm
� Fax a letter requesting a meeting. Be sure to follow up with
phone calls. A sample letter is below.
� If you are unable to fax the letter, it is also appropriate to
call. Use
the sample letter below for talking points.
� Appoint a point person to contact the Consulate and inform other
delegates of the meeting time and place.
Put together a delegation:
� Your meeting will be most successful if the delegation is
diverse. Try to invite local activists, religious leaders, student
activists, union representatives, and other groups to participate.
� Have a briefing before your consulate meeting to decide who will
raise each point. This will help you appear prepared, educated and
unified. � For the campaign to protest the assassination of Digna
Ochoa y Placido, please contact the Global Exchange or the Mexico
Solidarity Network (listed below) and let us know when you meeting is.
At the meeting: � Bring some materials to leave. For the campaign to
protest the assassination of Digna Ochoa y Pl�cido, you may want to
bring a copy of the sign on letter circulated by the Mexico Solidarity
Network. Please call 415/621-8100 to get a copy of the letter before
you meeting. � Most meetings will have a half hour or less, so your
points should be clear and to the point. � Your meeting should
include a description of your concerns and a request for the consulate
to take action. For the campaign to protest the assassination of Digna
Ochoa y Pl�cido, see the sample talking points below. �
FOLLOW UP: After your meeting, have someone call from your delegation
call to thank the consulate for the meeting and remind them of the
actions you suggested.
Still have questions?
Contact:
Carleen Pickard, Global Exchange
415/558-8682 x.239, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Jessica Marques, Mexico Solidarity Network
415/621-8100, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sample letter of request for a meeting:
(Your letter should be brief and include a description of the
group requesting the meeting, a statement of your concerns, the number
of people expected, the preferred date and time of the meeting, and a
contact person for the consulate to call to schedule the meeting.
Below is a sample from a Global Exchange request).
Date
Dear (Consular�s Name):
Global Exchange is a San Francisco based grassroots organization
dedicated to promoting environmental, political, and social justice
around the world with human rights programs in California, Haiti,
Brazil, Palestine, Colombia, and Mexico. We have had a presence in
Mexico since the beginning of the conflict in Chiapas in 1994 and
continue to focus on human rights and peaceful democratic change in the
area through public education in the US around the realities of Mexico
and the need for change in US trade and military policy toward Mexico.
In Mexico, we support organizations working for democratic transition
and peace in Chiapas.
(It is not necessary for an organization to request the meeting. If
you are a point person requesting the meeting, state that you are a
requesting the meeting on behalf of a group of concerned individuals in
your community.)
We have been asked by members of the Bay Area community to schedule
a meeting with you concerning the assassination of internationally
known human rights attorney Digna Ochoa y Pl�cido in her office on
Friday, October 19. We are alarmed that the assassination appears to be
part of a pattern of attacks on human rights activists throughout the
country.
A group of 15 local community leaders wish to detail our concerns to
you in a meeting in your office. The preferred time and day of this
visit is: ____. Please let us know if this date is convenient for you
as we wish to begin confirming the participation of community members
who have expressed interest as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
TALKING POINTS Talking points for meetings regarding the assassination
of Digna Ochoa y Pl�cido (Includes Background and Demands)
BACKGROUND: Internationally known human rights attorney Digna Ochoa
y Pl�cido was assassinated in her office on Friday, October 19. Ochoa
worked with the Miguel Agustin Pro Human Rights Center (PRODH) in
Mexico City until a year ago when she formally separated from the
Center after receiving death threats. She represented some of the most
difficult and politically charged human rights cases in Mexico, many
involving torture or murder by Mexico's military and security forces,
including the widows of the Aguas Blancas massacre, the campesino
ecologists of Guerrero, and, most recently, the Cerezo brothers who are
accused of setting small bombs in front of CitiBank offices. Fellow
attorney Gerardo Gonzalez discovered the body in her office at about
5:30 pm with gunshots to the head, apparently from a .22
caliber weapon. Mexico City's Attorney General characterized the crime
as "without a doubt" political in nature.
Next to Ochoa was a letter containing death threats directed against
members of the Miguel Agustin Pro Human Rights Center. The note read,
"Sons of bitches, if you continue, this will also happen to another.
You have been advised. This is not a trick." Edgar Cortez, Director of
PRODH, demanded a thorough investigation. The Center began receiving
death threats in 1996. In October of 1999, Ochoa was kidnapped in her
own home, tied up, and interrogated for nine hours about contacts in
Oaxaca, Guerrero, Hidalgo and Puebla, about EZLN and EPR safe houses,
and about members of the ERPI. The perpetrators opened gas valves in
the apartment, then left, apparently with the intention of killing
Ochoa in a gas explosion. She was able to free herself and escape
without life-threatening injuries. In September of 2000, Ochoa left
Mexico for the U.S., waiting for "the danger to pass," and returned to
Mexico in April of this year.
During her years as a human rights activist, the 38-year-old Ochoa
received numerous death threats, including a number of recent letters.
Jose Lavanderos, a close colleague of Ochoa, said, "When she told me
that she had received new threats I suggested that she file a formal
complaint, that she publicize the letters. But the deception she felt
from the justice system was overwhelming. 'Why?' she told me, 'nothing
ever happens, a formal complaint won't accomplish anything.'" Edgar
Cortez affirmed the disposition of the Fox administration: "The
official reaction has always been to treat us, the ones who are
threatened, as the suspicious ones. They never followed up with any
sort of investigation."
The assassination appears to be part of a pattern of attacks on human
rights activists throughout the country. Edgar Cortez called the
killing "an ominous sign" that impunity continues to undermine justice.
Cortez cited several recent incidents of assaults on human rights
activists in Chiapas, including a lawyer whose home was set on fire and
another who was nearly run down by a speeding vehicle. Mr. Cortez said
that law enforcement agencies conducted only half-hearted
investigations into such attacks. The Federal District Department of
Justice (PGJDF) conducted several inquiries over the years, which led
nowhere.
The assassination calls into question President Fox's campaign
commitments to investigate human rights violations by government
officials and to root out government corruption. Ten months into the
Fox presidency, his promise to create a truth commission remains
unfulfilled, and his appointment of a military general as federal
attorney general was widely criticized. Government officials are widely
suspected of complicity in the assassination.
DEMANDS: � President Fox should ensure that the authorities initiate
an exhaustive and independent investigation and that all the necessary
measures are taken to ensure the preservation of vital evidence that
could lead to the identification of those responsible for the
killing. � President Fox should ensure the safety of members of the
PRODH and human rights lawyers who worked with Ms Ochoa, as many
members of the PRODH were directly targeted with death threats in the
note left by the body. The authorities should adopt the necessary
protection measures in accordance with the wishes of human rights
defenders. � The international community will be closely
monitoring the judicial investigation into the murder of Ms Ochoa. Ms
Ochoa received numerous death threats and was kidnapped twice. This
should have put the Fox administration on notice that Ms. Ochoa, and
many other human rights defenders, were in serious danger, yet
government officials performed only cursory investigations with
absolutely no results.
5) OP-ED
Op-Ed on Digna Ochoa Assassination
On October 19, Digna Ochoa, an internationally known human rights
attorney from Mexico, was assassinated. Digna worked with the Miguel
Agustin Pro Human Rights Center in Mexico City until a year ago, when
she formally separated from the Center after receiving death threats.
She represented some of the most difficult and politically charged
human rights cases in Mexico, many involving torture or murder by
Mexico�s military and security forces. Digna�s murder was clearly
political - she was killed for her activism in support of the most
disenfranchised. A note found at the murder site read, in part, �If
you continue, this will also happen to another. You have been advised.
This is not a trick.�
Her assassination ends any pretense of democratic reforms by our
southern neighbor. Vicente Fox assumed Mexico�s presidency last year,
ending 71 years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, with
promises to clean up the nation�s corruption, in particular the
impunity of security forces. Ten months after assuming power, Fox�s
promises ring hollow. Amid widespread criticism, he appointed a former
army general as Federal Attorney General. He failed to implement a
promised �truth commission� which would investigate past abuses of
power, including over 500 disappeared. And his administration ignored
repeated pleas for protection from human rights activists, including
Digna.
Digna was a true heroine. During her years as a human rights advocate,
the 38-year-old Ochoa received numerous death threats, including a
number of recent letters, yet she continued her work. A close
colleague reported, �When she told me that she had received new threats
I suggested that she file a formal complaint, that she publicize the
letters. But the deception she felt from the justice system was
overwhelming. �Why?� she told me, �nothing ever happens, a formal
complaint won�t accomplish anything.�� Another colleague affirmed the
disposition of the Fox administration: �The official reaction has
always been to treat us, the ones who are threatened, as the suspicious
ones. They never followed up with any sort of investigation.�
Over the years the Justice Department of Mexico City conducted
several half-hearted investigations, which lead nowhere. This is not
surprising, given an ex-army officer as Federal Attorney General. The
army is widely recognized as among the worst violators of human rights,
and Digna broke much new ground exposing army abuses. Recently she
defended two campesino environmentalists, Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro
Cabrera, whose grassroots activism forced the trans-national forestry
company, Boise Cascade, to abandon clear-cutting of old growth forests
in the southern state of Guerrero. Montiel and Cabrera received the
prestigious Goldman Award for their environmental work, but are now
serving jail terms of eight and ten years on fabricated weapons and
drugs charges. Digna exposed the use of torture by the army to extract
�confessions� from the environmentalists, a common practice in Mexico.
However, the Federal Attorney General refused to admit medical reports
prepared by internationally recognized experts proving torture.
Apparently his loyalty to the army out-weighs his commitment
to justice.
In Mexico, it is widely assumed that government security forces
are complicit in the assassination of Digna, perhaps directly but at
least through willful ignorance. It is long past time for the Bush
administration to end military aid, sales and training for these
security forces. Last year our State Department licensed over $240
million in military sales to Mexico, and our tax dollars funded over
$16 million in outright grants and training. These programs should be
terminated immediately. The Bush administration should also pressure
for a full investigation, and for protection of other human rights
activists.
Digna�s own words may offer us some guidance: �I�ve always felt anger
at the suffering of others. For me, anger is energy, it�s a force. If
an act of injustice doesn�t provoke anger in me, it could be seen as
indifference, passivity. It�s injustice that motivates us to do
something, to take risks, knowing that if we don�t, things will remain
the same.� The Bush administration should respond forcefully and
quickly to the injustice of Digna�s assassination. Otherwise things
will remain the same, and that�s not acceptable.
BACKGROUND INFO ON THE ASSASSINATION OF DIGNA OCHOA
Internationally known human rights attorney Digna Ochoa y Pl�cido
was assassinated in her office on Friday, October 20. Ochoa worked
with the Miguel Agustin Pro Human Rights Center (PRODH) in Mexico City
until a year ago when she formally separated from the Center after
receiving death threats. She represented some of the most difficult
and politically charged human rights cases in Mexico, many involving
torture or murder by Mexico�s military and security forces, including
the widows of the Aguas Blancas massacre, the campesino ecologists of
Guerrero, and, most recently, the Cerezo brothers who are accused of
setting small bombs in front of CitiBank offices. Fellow attorney
Gerardo Gonzalez discovered the body in her office at about 5:30 pm
with gunshots to the head, apparently from a .22 caliber weapon.
Mexico City�s Attorney General characterized the crime as �without a
doubt� political in nature.
Next to Ochoa was a letter containing death threats directed against
members of the Miguel Agustin Pro Human Rights Center. The note read,
�Sons of bitches, if you continue, this will also happen to another.
You have been advised. This is not a trick.� Edgar Cortez, Director of
PRODH, demanded a thorough investigation. The Center began receiving
death threats in 1996. In October of 1999, Ochoa was kidnapped in her
own home, tied up, and interrogated for nine hours about contacts in
Oaxaca, Guerrero, Hidalgo and Puebla, about EZLN and EPR safe houses,
and about members of the ERPI. The perpetrators opened gas valves in
the apartment, then left, apparently with the intention of killing
Ochoa in a gas explosion. She was able to free herself and escape
without life-threatening injuries. In September of 2000, Ochoa left
Mexico for the U.S., waiting for �the danger to pass,� and returned to
Mexico in April of this year.
During her years as a human rights activist, the 38-year-old Ochoa
received numerous death threats, including a number of recent letters.
Jose Lavanderos, a close colleague of Ochoa, said, �When she told me
that she had received new threats I suggested that she file a formal
complaint, that she publicize the letters. But the deception she felt
from the justice system was overwhelming. Why?� she told me, nothing
ever happens, a formal complaint won�t accomplish anything.�� Edgar
Cortez affirmed the disposition of the Fox administration: �The
official reaction has always been to treat us, the ones who are
threatened, as the suspicious ones. They never followed up with any
sort of investigation.�
The assassination appears to be part of a pattern of attacks on human
rights activists throughout the country. Edgar Cortez called the
killing �an ominous sign� that impunity continues to undermine justice.
Cortez cited several recent incidents of assaults on human rights
activists in Chiapas, including a lawyer whose home was set on fire and
another who was nearly run down by a speeding vehicle. Mr. Cortez said
that law enforcement agencies conducted only half-hearted
investigations into such attacks. The Federal District Department of
Justice (PGJDF) conducted several inquiries over the years, which led
nowhere.
The assassination calls into question President Fox�s campaign
commitments to investigate human rights violations by government
officials and to root out government corruption. Ten months into the
Fox presidency, his promise to create a truth commission remains
unfulfilled, and his appointment of a military general as federal
attorney general was widely criticized. Government officials are widely
suspected of complicity in the assassination. " JC
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