Mexico
09.01.02
Urgent Interventions
Mexico: excessive use of force by the riot police and the Mexican Preventive Federal Police against demonstrators
Case MEX 090102
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Mexico.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (LIMEDDH), a member of the OMCT network, of the excessive use of force by the riot police and the Mexican Preventive Federal Police against numerous demonstrators in Quintana Roo, Cancun, Mexico. Following these events 70 people were detained and dozens were hurt, some by firearms, women were ill-treated, and several persons intoxicated with tear gas.
According to the information received, on December 9th, 2001 between 8h00 and 9h00, several members of the Asociación de Chiapanecos Residentes en Quintana Roo (ACHIRQROO), peacefully demonstrated and closed down the Cancun– Chetumal highway. The demonstrators were demanding to negotiate with the Mayor Miguel Ramon Martin Aueta, so that they could be allowed access to the Rancho known as “Los Gavilanes” that they owned, and that they had been evicted from by members of the public security police, who continued to guard its entrance.
According to the report, even though the demonstrators requested the Mayor’s presence, he never came, and the riot police and the Preventive Federal Police proceeded to evict them arbitrarily and violently, without any legal warrant. They attacked women and men who were protesting, causing confrontations that because of the police’s use of firearms, tear gas, and toletes (clubs), resulted in several wounded, including children and women. Some persons were reportedly kicked, beaten, and ill-treated, after their arrest and transfer, when they were already detained and handcuffed, and some women were allegedly pulled by the hair, sexually molested, and threatened with rape. Some demonstrators declared they had their cash and personal effects stolen.
According to the report, around 70 people were detained, among them 16 women, and two minors (17-year old Jorge Servin De la Cruz, and 15-year old José Luis Rodríguez Gómez). 12 demonstrators reportedly disappeared. It is believed that they might have run away in fear from the place, but they have allegedly not yet appeared. 37 people were wounded, some with fractures and contusions, and several detainees that complained from suffering serious pain were not given any medical attention.
According to the information received, the following persons are among those that were wounded:
· Rosalba Gómez Solorzano, 48 years old, was beaten and then shot on her right arm, she was left in a grave state and was hospitalised in the emergency room of the Social Security.
· Carmen Martínez García, was reportedly severely beaten in the stomach although she was pregnant. She was then thrown into a vehicle and detained, she was lined up with other women and molested, the men touched her buttocks and inserted their fingers inside her vagina. Because of the seriousness of her condition she was taken to the local Health Centre, fearing a premature abortion.
· Alberto de la Cruz de la Cruz, 43 years old, was severely beaten on the head, arms, and spinal cord, he was hospitalised in a serious condition.
· María Roberta Zavala Chan was hospitalised after she was beaten. She had 15 stitches on a wound on the head, and suffered internal contusions.
· José María Cárdenas López, was shot on his right foot, and can no longer walk.
· Hortensia García Rodríguez, was beaten with toletes in various parts of her body. After failing to rape her, she was beaten on the back and her watch, and gold chain worth $1800 were stolen.
· María del Pilar Franco Castillo, 56 years old, her personal belongings, including a gold chain, were stolen. The police violently attempted to remove her rings, hurting her in various parts of her body, she was thrown to the floor, kicked and threatened with rape.
· Andrés Domínguez Pio, was hospitalised in the emergency service on December 10th, 2001. at 12:20, and was released on December 13th, 2001, she was diagnosed: occipital fracture, trauma in the left eye, lesion in the tear duct, and possible vitreous haemorrhage (lesions considered grave).
· Raúl Castillejos de la Torre, 40 years old, hospitalized on December 12, 2001, and had a 6 c.m. wound stiched. Has problems moving his right arm, and suffers posttraumatic vertigo when walking. He needed about 48 to 72 hours hospital care.
Furthermore, Mr. Roselino Lorenzo Torre, had a "suzuki100/2001 “ motorbike that has disappeared, and is not reported among the goods seized by the police.
The International Secretariat of the OMCT shares the concern of the LIMEDHH and of other Human Rights organizations, for the security and physical and psychological integrity of the persons detained, and in general for all the members of the Asociación de Chiapanecos Residentes en Quintana Roo, Cancún (ACHIRQROO), and condemns these extremely violent new events, the persecution against civil society, as well as the apparent impunity of the authors, and the omission of effective protection measures by the municipal, governmental, and national authorities, to prevent these events.
Action Requested:
Please write to write to the authorities of Mexico urging them to:
· take all necessary measures to guarantee physical and psychological integrity of the people arrested in connection to these events, as well as all the detained members of ACHIRQROO ;
· order that all persons arrested in connection with this affair, be released immediately in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
· order a thorough and impartial investigation into the reports of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
· guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards, in particular with the Convention Against Torture, ratified by Mexico, and conform to all recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee.
Addresses:
· Dr. Vicente Fox Quezada, Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Palacio Nacional, Patio de Honor, Piso 1, Col. Centro 06067 México, D.F., Tel. (+ 52 5) 395 67 00, 272 69 03, 515 57 14. Fax : (+ 52 5) 277 23 76. Webpage http://www.presidencia.gob.mx
· General Rafael Macedo de la Concha, Procurador General de la República, Ave. Reforma esq. Violeta, México, D. F. C.P. 06300, Tel.: (+ 52 5) 626 44 26. Fax: (+ 52 5) 346 09 06
· Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández, Presidente de la CNDH, Periférico Sur 3469, Col. San Jerónimo Lídice, 10200, México, D.F. Tel: (+ 52 5) 631 00 40, (+ 52 5) 681 81 25 Fax: (+ 52 5) 681 84 90, Lada sin costo: 01 800 00 869 Email:correo@fmdh.cndh.org.mx
Quintana Roo :
· Lic. Ernesto Joaquín Hendricks Díaz, Palacio de Gobierno 3er., piso 77000 Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México, Tel. (+ 52 9) 832 06 20. Fax : (+ 52 9) 832 58 82
· Lic. Carlos Humberto Pereira Vásquez, Procurador General de Justicia, Av. Adolfo López Mateos No. 500 con Nápoles, Col. Italia, C.P. 77030, Chetumal, Q. Roo. Tel: (+ 52 9) 832 30 63, (+ 52 9) 832 99 74, (+ 52 9) 832 31 99. Fax: (+ 52 9) 832 31 74
· Lic. Miguel Ramón Martín Azueta, Presidente Municipal de Solidaridad, C.P. 77710, Playa del Carmen, Q. Roo. Tel: (+ 52 9) 873 00 73, (+ 52 9) 873 02 90. Fax: (+ 52 9) 873 02 42
Please also write to the embassies of Mexico in your respective country.
Geneva, January 9th, 2002
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Mexico.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (LIMEDDH), a member of the OMCT network, of the excessive use of force by the riot police and the Mexican Preventive Federal Police against numerous demonstrators in Quintana Roo, Cancun, Mexico. Following these events 70 people were detained and dozens were hurt, some by firearms, women were ill-treated, and several persons intoxicated with tear gas.
According to the information received, on December 9th, 2001 between 8h00 and 9h00, several members of the Asociación de Chiapanecos Residentes en Quintana Roo (ACHIRQROO), peacefully demonstrated and closed down the Cancun– Chetumal highway. The demonstrators were demanding to negotiate with the Mayor Miguel Ramon Martin Aueta, so that they could be allowed access to the Rancho known as “Los Gavilanes” that they owned, and that they had been evicted from by members of the public security police, who continued to guard its entrance.
According to the report, even though the demonstrators requested the Mayor’s presence, he never came, and the riot police and the Preventive Federal Police proceeded to evict them arbitrarily and violently, without any legal warrant. They attacked women and men who were protesting, causing confrontations that because of the police’s use of firearms, tear gas, and toletes (clubs), resulted in several wounded, including children and women. Some persons were reportedly kicked, beaten, and ill-treated, after their arrest and transfer, when they were already detained and handcuffed, and some women were allegedly pulled by the hair, sexually molested, and threatened with rape. Some demonstrators declared they had their cash and personal effects stolen.
According to the report, around 70 people were detained, among them 16 women, and two minors (17-year old Jorge Servin De la Cruz, and 15-year old José Luis Rodríguez Gómez). 12 demonstrators reportedly disappeared. It is believed that they might have run away in fear from the place, but they have allegedly not yet appeared. 37 people were wounded, some with fractures and contusions, and several detainees that complained from suffering serious pain were not given any medical attention.
According to the information received, the following persons are among those that were wounded:
· Rosalba Gómez Solorzano, 48 years old, was beaten and then shot on her right arm, she was left in a grave state and was hospitalised in the emergency room of the Social Security.
· Carmen Martínez García, was reportedly severely beaten in the stomach although she was pregnant. She was then thrown into a vehicle and detained, she was lined up with other women and molested, the men touched her buttocks and inserted their fingers inside her vagina. Because of the seriousness of her condition she was taken to the local Health Centre, fearing a premature abortion.
· Alberto de la Cruz de la Cruz, 43 years old, was severely beaten on the head, arms, and spinal cord, he was hospitalised in a serious condition.
· María Roberta Zavala Chan was hospitalised after she was beaten. She had 15 stitches on a wound on the head, and suffered internal contusions.
· José María Cárdenas López, was shot on his right foot, and can no longer walk.
· Hortensia García Rodríguez, was beaten with toletes in various parts of her body. After failing to rape her, she was beaten on the back and her watch, and gold chain worth $1800 were stolen.
· María del Pilar Franco Castillo, 56 years old, her personal belongings, including a gold chain, were stolen. The police violently attempted to remove her rings, hurting her in various parts of her body, she was thrown to the floor, kicked and threatened with rape.
· Andrés Domínguez Pio, was hospitalised in the emergency service on December 10th, 2001. at 12:20, and was released on December 13th, 2001, she was diagnosed: occipital fracture, trauma in the left eye, lesion in the tear duct, and possible vitreous haemorrhage (lesions considered grave).
· Raúl Castillejos de la Torre, 40 years old, hospitalized on December 12, 2001, and had a 6 c.m. wound stiched. Has problems moving his right arm, and suffers posttraumatic vertigo when walking. He needed about 48 to 72 hours hospital care.
Furthermore, Mr. Roselino Lorenzo Torre, had a "suzuki100/2001 “ motorbike that has disappeared, and is not reported among the goods seized by the police.
The International Secretariat of the OMCT shares the concern of the LIMEDHH and of other Human Rights organizations, for the security and physical and psychological integrity of the persons detained, and in general for all the members of the Asociación de Chiapanecos Residentes en Quintana Roo, Cancún (ACHIRQROO), and condemns these extremely violent new events, the persecution against civil society, as well as the apparent impunity of the authors, and the omission of effective protection measures by the municipal, governmental, and national authorities, to prevent these events.
Action Requested:
Please write to write to the authorities of Mexico urging them to:
· take all necessary measures to guarantee physical and psychological integrity of the people arrested in connection to these events, as well as all the detained members of ACHIRQROO ;
· order that all persons arrested in connection with this affair, be released immediately in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
· order a thorough and impartial investigation into the reports of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
· guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards, in particular with the Convention Against Torture, ratified by Mexico, and conform to all recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee.
Addresses:
· Dr. Vicente Fox Quezada, Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Palacio Nacional, Patio de Honor, Piso 1, Col. Centro 06067 México, D.F., Tel. (+ 52 5) 395 67 00, 272 69 03, 515 57 14. Fax : (+ 52 5) 277 23 76. Webpage http://www.presidencia.gob.mx
· General Rafael Macedo de la Concha, Procurador General de la República, Ave. Reforma esq. Violeta, México, D. F. C.P. 06300, Tel.: (+ 52 5) 626 44 26. Fax: (+ 52 5) 346 09 06
· Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández, Presidente de la CNDH, Periférico Sur 3469, Col. San Jerónimo Lídice, 10200, México, D.F. Tel: (+ 52 5) 631 00 40, (+ 52 5) 681 81 25 Fax: (+ 52 5) 681 84 90, Lada sin costo: 01 800 00 869 Email:correo@fmdh.cndh.org.mx
Quintana Roo :
· Lic. Ernesto Joaquín Hendricks Díaz, Palacio de Gobierno 3er., piso 77000 Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México, Tel. (+ 52 9) 832 06 20. Fax : (+ 52 9) 832 58 82
· Lic. Carlos Humberto Pereira Vásquez, Procurador General de Justicia, Av. Adolfo López Mateos No. 500 con Nápoles, Col. Italia, C.P. 77030, Chetumal, Q. Roo. Tel: (+ 52 9) 832 30 63, (+ 52 9) 832 99 74, (+ 52 9) 832 31 99. Fax: (+ 52 9) 832 31 74
· Lic. Miguel Ramón Martín Azueta, Presidente Municipal de Solidaridad, C.P. 77710, Playa del Carmen, Q. Roo. Tel: (+ 52 9) 873 00 73, (+ 52 9) 873 02 90. Fax: (+ 52 9) 873 02 42
Please also write to the embassies of Mexico in your respective country.
Geneva, January 9th, 2002
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.