And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes:
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From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 17:06:04 +0100
Subject: OMCT Case MEX 040399/Mexico/Indigenous people at risk
Case MEX 040399
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your urgent intervention
regarding the following situation in Mexico.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat has just been informed by the =93=0ELiga
Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (LIMEDDH)=0E=94, member of
the OMCT network, of the presence of a group of gunmen who are frightening
families of peasants and indigenous Nahuas, inhabitants of the municipality
of Ixhuatlan de Madero, north of Veracruz.
According to the information, since 8 February 1999, about 15 gunmen have
been stationed near the community of Plan del Encinal, on the way to San
Lorenzo, in the municipality of Ixhuatlan de Madero. To date, they are
still in the area and are also obstructing the road. According to the
LIMEDDH, the people cannot pass through and children who are studying at
San Lorenzo are no longer going to the school out of fear of this gunmen
group.
In addition, on 10 February, at 11 a.m., ten gunmen seemingly belonging to
the same group, along with 70 or 80 members of the Mexican Army (74
Infantry Battalion), arrived at the New Communal Peoples Center (Nuevo
Centro de Poblaci=F3n Ejidal),=0E Ing. Heberto Castillo, in the
municipality= of
Ixhuatlan de Madero. The gunmen smashed posts which had been put up a day
before by the indigenous people and left. The militia surrounded the area,
while stating that they were carrying out orders given by the Federal
government, without specifying what these were.
Subsequently, on 12 February, at 8 a.m., judicial state police, the gunmen
as well as members of the Mexican Army returned to the same area and
without search warrant, they entered the houses of the indigenous people
allegedly to seek arms, ransacking and steeling sugar, corn and peanuts.
Before leaving the place, they threaten the indigenous people with eviction
and with taking possession of the New Communal Peoples Center, the land of
which was taken over by the indigenous people a year ago.
According to the LIMEDDH, the indigenous people stated that the gunmen
receive orders from the =93=0Ecaciques=0E=94 of the region: Ismael Arango
Rub=ED, Ezequiel Barrag=E1n, Ra=FAl Monrroy, Tranquilino Hern=E1ndez Reyna
y Servando Mar=EDn. The indigenous people also stated that since 8 February
1999, members of the Cavalry are patrolling the communities of
Otlamalacatl, Cuexcontitla, Cuachumoc, Xochi Oloco, Doroteo Arango and
Ricardo Flores Mag=F3n, in the municipality of Benito Ju=E1rez, Veracruz by
day, and during the night, they are at the roads, which connect these
communities.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities of Mexico urging them to=0E:
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the families of
peasants and indigenous Nahuas, inhabitants of the municipality of
Ixhuatlan de Madero, in the north of Veracruz=0E;
ii. put and end to the harassment by armed groups in collaboration with the
army and the judicial police of the State to these inhabitants;
iii.put an end to the illegal and arbitrary activities of state and
federal agents, in particular any form of threat, intimidation and
violation of human rights whatsoever.
iv. carry out a thorough investigation into the acts alleged in order to
identify those responsible, bring them to trial before an ordinary and
competent court, and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions
according to the law and to international human rights standards.
v. ensure in general the effective compliance of the obligations of the
State with respect to human rights and fundamental liberties in accordance
with the Constitution, the national laws and international standards with
regard to human rights.
Addresses
Lic. Miguel Aleman Velasco, Gobernador del estado de Veracruz, Palacio de
Gobierno, Zaragoza esquina con Leandro Valle s/n, Col. Centro, C.P. 91009,
Jalapa, Veracruz, Tel: (28) 17 01 76, 17 32 81
=46ax: (28) 18 21 67
Rodolfo Duarte Rivas, Procurador General de Justicia del estado de
Veracruz, Tel: (28) 17 61, 17 35 76
=46ax: 17 20 58, 18 21 67
Lic. Margarita Herrera Ort=EDz, Presidenta de la CEDH-Veracruz, Calle
Justino Sarmiento 3, Col. Aguacatal, 91130, Jalapa, Veracruz, Tel: (28) 14
76 66, 14 03 21, Fax: 14 54 86
Presidente de la Republica de Mexico, Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon,
Palacio de la Republica Mexico, D.F., Fax: (52 5) 515 17 94, 2 77 23 76 y 3
95 67 90
tel 52-5-395-6700
Secretaria de Gobernacion, Lic. Francisco Labastida Ochoa, Fax: (52 5) 588 75 07
Procurador General de la Republica, Dr. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar, Ave.
Reforma, esquina Violeta Mexico, D.F., C.P. 06300, Tel: (52 5) 626 41 47
=46ax: (52 5) 627 44 19, 626 44 26
CNDH, Dr. Mireille Rocatti, Periferico Sur 3469, Col. San Jeronimo Lidice,
Deleg. Magdalena Contreras, C.P. 10200, Mexico, D.F., Tel: 631 00 40, Fax:
681 81 25, 6 81 71 99, e mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Geneva, 4th March 1999
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this
appeal in your reply.
Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
Organizaci=F3n Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)
37-39 Rue de Vermont
Case postale 119
CH-1211 Geneve 20 CIC
Suisse/Switzerland
Tel. : 0041 22 733 31 40
Fax : 0041 22 733 10 51
E-mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2
EMAIL : <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html
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