Flagstaff-Oaxaca Support

Mixtecan human rights activist threatened

2007-02-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

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Urgent Action: Support CACTUS organizer Omar Esparza Zarate
http://elenemigocomun.net/858

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http://elenemigocomun.net/858#action

en espa?ol
http://elenemigocomun.net/858#espanol

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Fear for the safety of Mixtecan human rights activist: Omar Esparza Zarate of
CACTUS

Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network
February 2007

OMAR ESPARZA ZARATE/CENTER FOR COMMUNAL SUPPORT (CACTUS), HUAJUAPAN DE LEON,
OAXACA, MEXICO

To the Mexican Federal Government and Oaxacan State Government,
To the Governments of the World,
To the general public,
To the press,

The Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network asks for your urgent intervention
against the harassment, and risk to the safety and physical integrity of
human rights activist OMAR ESPARZA ZARATE from the Center for Community
Support (CACTUS) based in Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca, Mexico. CACTUS is a
member organization of the Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network. (en espa?ol)

FACTS:

February 9, 2007 at around 11:00am two officials from the Agency of Federal
Investigation (AFI) arrived at the CACTUS office, located in Huajuapan de
Leon, Oaxaca. After identifying themselves they asked to speak with Omar
Esparza Zarate, member of CACTUS. The person who attended the officials told
them Omar Esparza couldn?t be found in the city for work reasons. The agents
indicated they had brought a warrant for the human rights activist, signaling
that he should appear soon in the Regional Office of the National Attorney
General in Huajuapan de Leon, to find out what he?s accused of in relation to
things that happened at the end of 2006.

Upon realizing that Omar Esparza wasn?t in the office, the agents
photographed the outside of the office and the organization?s truck, which
they found parked outside. They left without leaving a copy of the warrant.

BACKGROUND:

Omar Esparza Zarate is 30-years old. He is originally from Tehuacan, Puebla,
but he has lived in Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca for the last six years. He has
a background in social work.

Over the last several years, Omar Esparza Zarate has done diverse work on the
subject of the defense of human rights, community development and research in
the Mixteca region (which includes parts of the states of Oaxaca, Puebla and
Guerrero) as a member of the Center for Communal Support (CACTUS). Founded in
1990, CACTUS has for the last six years been a part of the Cuali Nemilistli
Human Rights Network.

At the end of 2006, the years of work that CACTUS and particularly Omar
Esparza Zarate have done in the Mixteca brought about solidarity from the
communities of the Mixteca and participation in the Popular Assembly of the
Peoples of Oaxaca.

We want to emphasize that this is not the first troublesome act Omar Esparza
or his organization have suffered from.

January 24, 2006 Omar Esparza Zarate was detained and jailed arbitrarily by
municipal police in Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca. Upon leaving the CACTUS
office, along with his partner, he was intercepted by patrol car number 021
and surrounded by 5 other police units demanding that he descend from his
truck. Omar Esparza demanded that the agents explain their motive for his
detention or that they show a warrant, which bothered the officers. Two
police officers got out of their patrol car and explained that this was a
routine operation since they had been information that there was a pick-up
truck transporting arms.

20 agents proceeded to violently open the truck. In spite of the fact that
one of the agents recognized Omar has a member of a human rights
organization, eight officers got him out of the truck and forced him to the
back of the patrol car, handcuffing him, insulting him, and forcing him to
remain on his knees until the commander of the municipal police arrived.

After an hour of detention, the municipal trustee of Huajuapan, Jos? Miguel
Camacho Morales, gave him a misdemeanor and fined him 200 pesos (about 20 US
dollars) in order to be released.

After this happened Omar Esparza presented a complaint to the State Human
Rights Commission for which he still hasn?t received any kind of a reply.

Months after, in the early morning of June 12, 2006 unknown subjects entered
the offices CACTUS shared with PANEE-the National Patronage of Literacy and
Educational Extension, where they opened the file cabinets and searched
through accounting and administrative files for both organizations with
information about groups and people they worked with, as well as personal
items. They also took two cameras and 5,000 pesos (roughly 500 US dollars).

At the end of 2006, Alberta Cari?o, Omar Esparza Zarate?s partner and member
of CACTUS, was the subject of various anonymous phone threats, in which they
said that if she continued to talk with the public, that they were going to
cut her tongue out.

FEAR FOR THE SAFETY:

It goes without saying that we are preoccupied with the tense political
climate and lack of stable government that the state of Oaxaca is currently
living with, as well as the systematic violation of human rights the State
Government of Oaxaca commits daily.

Omar Esparza Zarate, as a human rights activist has raised up his voice in
defense of the most vulnerable and unprotected groups, fighting to better
living conditions and exposing the authors of various human rights violations.

The work of human rights activists is fundamental and unfortunately extremely
dangerous in our country, and deserves special protection; therefore we
should take all actions possible to protect this work. Attacking the
individual and collective rights and guarantees of human rights activists, is
an attack against those that they protect and those with whom they work to
obtain a better standard of living in the region.

We are afraid for the security, physical integrity and freedom of Omar
Esparza Zarate in the face of these acts of harassment and threats that he
has been the subject of, along with his family.

We are also just as afraid that this harassment against Omar Esparza Zarate
represents only the beginning of a wave of harassment and repression against
the members of the Center for Communal Support (CACTUS), and against the
inhabitants of the Mixteca region and other regions of the State of Oaxaca
that have participated in the movement of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples
of Oaxaca.

Consequently we make the Mexican Federal Government and the State Government
of Oaxaca responsible for whatever acts of violence or intimidation that Omar
Esparza Zarate, his family, or members of CACTUS may be subjected to.

The Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network points out that the events referred
to above contradict the right to personal liberty, legal safeguards, equal
treatment before the law; liberty of thought, speech, and the right to free
assembly, protected by different articles of the Constitution of the United
States of Mexico and the State of Puebla, the Universal Human Rights
Declaration, the American Convention on Human Rights and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm

Therefore the Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network asks urgently:

1.- That the necessary measures are taken to stop the harassments and threats
against human rights activist Omar Esparza Zarate, his family and the rest of
his co-workers from the Center for Communal Support (CACTUS).

2.- That the liberty, safety and physical integrity of the members of CACTUS,
especially Omar Esparza Zarate and his family is guaranteed.

3.- That concrete and urgent measures are taken to implement the Declaration
of Defenders from the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of
Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally
Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

4.- That there is the application of what is stipulated by the Declaration on
Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United nations
on December 9, 1998, in particular that which refers to the protection of the
all people ?to conduct human rights work individually and in association with
others, and to seek the protection and realization of human rights at the
national and international levels,? therefore the State should ?take all
necessary measures to ensure the protection of everyone against any violence,
threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary
action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights
referred to in the Declaration,?
(http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/declaration.htm) and in the
resolution about the Defenders of Human Rights in the Americas AG/RES. 1671
(XXIX-O/99), adopted by the Organization of American States on June 7, 1999.

Sincerely,

The Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network
juridico@cualinemilistli.org

Please send your appeals to the following directions and carbon copy
juridico@cualinemilistli.org.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ALL THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
http://elenemigocomun.net/858#action

Louise Arbour, Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos
Humanos, (High Commissioner for United Nations Human Rights Commission)
tb-petitions@ohchr.org

Sr. Amerijo Inalcaterra, Representante en M?xico de la Oficina del Alto
Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos, (Mexican
Representative to the United Nations Office of the Human Rights High
Commission)
oacnudh@hchr.org.mx

Sr. Santiago Cant?n, Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisi?n Interamericana de
Derechos Humanos, (Executive Secretary of the Interamerican Human Rights
Commission)
cidhoea@oas.org

Lic. Felipe de Jes?s Calder?n Hinojosa, Presidente de la Rep?blica, (Mexican
President)
felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx

Lic. Francisco Javier Ram?rez Acu?a, Secretario de Gobernaci?n, (Secretary of
the Interior)
frjramirez@segob.gob.mx

Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Procurador General de la Rep?blica, (Attorney
General)
ofproc@pgr.gob.mx.

Lic. Jos? Luis Soberanes Fern?ndez, Presidente de la Comisi?n Nacional de
Derechos Humanos. (President of the National Human Rights Commission)

Actuaria Eugenia del Carmen Diez Hidalgo, Unidad para la promoci?n y defensa
de los Derechos Humanos de la secretaria de Gobernaci?n.

Lic. Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca,
gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx (Governor of Oaxaca)

Lic. Manuel Garc?a Corpus, Secretario General de Gobierno del Estado de
Oaxaca, (General Secretary of the Government of Oaxaca)
sriagral@oaxaca.gob.mx

Lic. Rosa Lizbeth Ca?a Cadeza, Procuradora General de Justicia del Estado de
Oaxaca, (Attorney General for Oaxaca)
buzonciudadano@pgjoaxaca.net

Lic. Jaime Mario P?rez Jim?nez, Presidente de la Comisi?n de Derechos Humanos
del Estado de Oaxaca, (President of the Oaxacan Human Rights Commission)
correo@cedhoax.org, quejas@cedhoax.org

M.A. Manuel Moreno Rivas, Director de la Polic?a Ministerial del Estado de
Oaxaca, (Director of the ministerial police)
director@polministerialoax.com

C. Comandante Regional de la Mixteca de la Polic?a Ministerial del Estado de
Oaxaca, (Mixtecan Regional Commander of the Ministerial Police)
reg_mixteca@polministerialoax.com

Lic. Roberto Eliud Garc?a Salinas, Visitador adjunto de la Oficina Regional
de la Mixteca de la Comisi?n Estatal de Derechos Humanos del Estado de
Oaxaca. (Micxteca Office of Oaxacan State Human Rights Commission)

?????

RED CUALI NEMILISTLI DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
ACCI?N URGENTE 02/2007

OMAR ESPARZA Z?RATE/CENTRO DE APOYO COMUNITARIO TRABAJANDO UNIDOS A.C.
(CACTUS),
HUAJUAPAN DE LE?N, OAX.
(Toma Acci?n)

Puebla, Puebla a 20 de Febrero de 2007.

A los Gobiernos Federal y del Estado de Oaxaca.
A los Gobiernos del Mundo.
A la opini?n p?blica.
A los medios de comunicaci?n.

La Red Cuali Nemilistli de Derechos Humanos solicita su intervenci?n urgente
ante el hostigamiento y el riesgo para la seguridad e integridad f?sica del
defensor de los Derechos Humanos OMAR ESPARZA Z?RATE , del Centro de Apoyo
Comunitario Trabajando Unidos (CACTUS, A.C.) de Huajuapan de Le?n, Oaxaca,
organizaci?n integrante de la Red Cuali Nemilistli de Derechos Humanos.

HECHOS:

El d?a viernes 9 de febrero de 2007, cerca de las 11:00 horas se presentaron
en las oficinas del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos (CACTUS
A.C.), ubicadas en Huajuapan de Le?n, Oaxaca, dos oficiales de la Agencia
Federal de Investigaci?n (AFI), quienes tras identificarse solicitaron hablar
con Omar Esparza Z?rate, miembro de CACTUS, el compa?ero que los atendi? les
dijo que Omar Esparza no se encontraba en la ciudad por motivos de trabajo,
los agentes se?alaron que llevaban una Orden de Presentaci?n para el defensor
de derechos humanos, se?alando que deb?a comparecer ?pronto? en la Oficina
Regional de la Procuradur?a General de la Rep?blica en Huajuapan de Le?n para
conocer de qu? se le acusa, en relaci?n con hechos sucedidos a finales de
2006.

Al conocer que Omar Esparza no se encontraba en las oficina de la
organizaci?n fotografiaron la fachada de esta y la camioneta que se
encontraba estacionada afuera y se retiraron sin dejar copia de la orden de
presentaci?n.

ANTECEDENTES:

Omar Esparza Z?rate tiene 30 a?os de edad, es originario de Tehuac?n, Puebla,
pero reside en Huajuapan de Le?n, Oaxaca desde hace 6 a?os, cuenta con
estudios en Trabajo Social.

Desde hace varios a?os, Omar Esparza Z?rate realiza diversos trabajos en
materia de defensa de derechos humanos, desarrollo comunitario e
investigaci?n en la Regi?n Mixteca (que abarca zonas de los Estados de
Oaxaca, Puebla y Guerrero) como integrante del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario
Trabajando Unidos (CACTUS A.C.), fundada en 1990 y que desde hace 6 a?os
forma parte de la Red Cuali Nemilistli de Derechos Humanos (RCN).

A finales de 2006, el trabajo que por a?os ha realizado CACTUS y en
particular Omar Esparza Z?rate en la regi?n mixteca, lo llev? a solidarizarse
con las comunidades de la mixteca y a participar en el movimiento de la
Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca.

Deseamos hacer ?nfasis en que este no es el primer acto de molestia que sufre
Omar Esparza y su organizaci?n.

El 24 de enero de 2006 Omar Esparza Z?rate fue detenido y encarcelado
arbitrariamente por polic?as municipales de Huajuapan de Le?n, Oaxaca. Al
salir de las oficinas de CACTUS, en compa??a de su esposa, fue interceptado
por la patrulla n?mero 021 y rodeado por otras cinco unidades polic?acas para
exigirle que descendiera de su camioneta. Omar Esparza exigi? a los agentes
que le explicaran el motivo de la detenci?n o que le mostraran una orden por
escrito donde se ordenara esta, lo que molest? a los agentes. Dos de los
polic?as bajaron de su patrulla y le explicaron que era una operaci?n de
rutina pues ten?an informaci?n de que en una camioneta llevaban armas.

20 agentes procedieron a abrir violentamente la camioneta, a pesar de que uno
de los agentes lo identific? como integrante de una organizaci?n de derechos
humanos y entre 8 agentes lo bajaron de su camioneta y lo introdujeron por la
fuerza a la batea de la patrulla, espos?ndolo, insult?ndolo y oblig?ndolo a
permanecer de rodillas hasta que se present? el comandante de la polic?a
municipal.

Una hora despu?s de la detenci?n, el s?ndico municipal de Huajuapan, Jos?
Miguel Camacho Morales, quien calific? la falta, y le fij? una multa de 200
pesos para obtener su libertad.

Tras estos hechos Omar Esparza present? una queja ante la Comisi?n de
Derechos Humanos del Estado, queja por la cual a?n no se obtiene ninguna
respuesta.

Meses despu?s, en la madrugada del 12 de junio de 2006 sujetos a?n
desconocidos se introdujeron en las oficinas que en aquel entonces compart?an
CACTUS con el Patronato Nacional de Alfabetizaci?n y Extensi?n Educativa
(PANAEE), donde abrieron a la fuerza archiveros y registraron expedientes
contables y administrativos de ambas organizaciones, as? como informaci?n de
grupos y personas con las que trabajaban y objetos personales, adem?s de
haberse llevado dos c?maras fotogr?ficas y 5 mil pesos .

A finales de 2006, Alberta Cari?o, esposa de Omar Esparza Z?rate e integrante
de CACTUS fue objeto de diversas amenazas telef?nicas an?nimas, en las cuales
se le dec?a que si segu?a hablando de m?s al pueblo, le iban a cortar la
lengua.

TEMOR POR LA SEGURIDAD:

Sobra expresar nuestra preocupaci?n por el tenso clima pol?tico y de
ingobernabilidad que se vive actualmente en el Estado de Oaxaca, as? como la
sistem?tica violaci?n a los derechos humanos que comete a diario el Gobierno
de dicho Estado.

Omar Esparza Z?rate, como defensor de derechos humanos, ha alzado la voz en
defensa de los grupos mas vulnerables y desprotegidos, luchando por mejorar
sus condiciones de vida y desenmascarando a los autores de diversas
violaciones a los derechos humanos.

El trabajo de los defensores de derechos humanos es fundamental y por
desgracia sumamente riesgoso en nuestro pa?s, y merece de una protecci?n
especial, por lo tanto, deben tomarse todas las acciones posibles para
protegerlo, pues al atentar contra sus garant?as individuales y colectivas,
se atenta directamente contra las de aquellos a los que protege y con quienes
trabaja para obtener un mejor nivel de vida en su regi?n.

Tememos por la seguridad, integridad f?sica y la libertad de Omar Esparza
Z?rate ante estos actos de hostigamiento y amenazas de que ha sido objeto
junto con su familia.

Tememos, de igual manera, que el hostigamiento contra Omar Z?rate Esparza
represente ?nicamente el comienzo de una ola de hostigamiento y represi?n en
contra de los miembros del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos y
contra los habitantes de la regi?n mixteca y otras regiones del Estado de
Oaxaca que han participado en el movimiento de la Asamblea Popular de los
Pueblos de Oaxaca.

Por lo anterior, hacemos responsables a los Gobiernos Federal y del Estado de
Oaxaca de cualquier acto intimidatorio o violento de que sea objeto Omar
Esparza Z?rate, su familia o los miembros del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario
Trabajando Unidos A.C.

La Red Cuali Nemilistli de Derechos Humanos se?ala que los hechos referidos
contradicen los derechos a la libertad personal, a la seguridad jur?dica,
igualdad ante la ley, libertad de pensamiento y expresi?n y el derecho a la
libre ocupaci?n, protegidos por diversos art?culos de la Constituci?n
Pol?tica de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos y del Estado de Puebla, la
Declaraci?n Universal de Derechos Humanos; la Convenci?n Americana de
Derechos Humanos y el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Pol?ticos.

Por lo anterior la Red Cuali Nemilistli de Derechos Humanos solicita
urgentemente:

1.- Que se tomen las medidas necesarias para que cese el hostigamiento y las
amenazas en contra del defensor de derechos humanos Omar Esparza Z?rate, su
familia y el resto de los miembros del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando
Unidos (CACTUS).

2.- Se garantice la libertad, la seguridad y la integridad f?sica de los
integrantes de CACTUS, en especial de Omar Esparza Z?rate y su familia.

3.- Se tomen medidas concretas y urgentes para implementar la Declaraci?n de
los Defensores emitida la Declaraci?n sobre el Derecho y el Deber de los
Individuos, los Grupos y las Instituciones de Promover y Proteger los
Derechos Humanos y las Libertades Fundamentales Universalmente Reconocidas.

4.- Asegurar la aplicaci?n de lo dispuesto en la Declaraci?n sobre defensores
de los de Derechos Humanos, adoptada por la por la Asamblea General de
Naciones Unidas el 9 de Diciembre de 1998, en particular en lo referente a la
protecci?n del derecho de toda persona??individual o colectivamente, a
promover la protecci?n y realizaci?n de los derechos humanos y las libertades
fundamentales, en los planos nacional e internacional y a esforzarse por
ellos? ( Art.1), as? como en lo relativo al deber del Estado de garantizar
?la protecci?n por las autoridades competentes de toda persona, individual o
colectivamente, frente a toda violencia, amenaza, represalia, discriminaci?n,
negativa de hecho o de derecho, presi?n o cualquier otra acci?n arbitraria
resultante del ejercicio legitimo de los derechos mencionados en la presente
Declaraci?n (8art. 12.2) y por la resoluci?n sobre Defensores de Derechos
Humanos en las Am?ricas AG/RES. 1671 (XXIX-O/99), adoptada por la
Organizaci?n de los Estados Americanos el 7 de junio de 1999.

Atentamente,

Red Cuali Nemilistli de Derechos Humanos.
juridico@cualinemilistli.org

Favor de enviar sus llamamientos a las siguientes direcciones con copia para
juridico@cualinemilistli.org.

CLICK AQUI PARA MANDAR UN EMAIL A TODOS
http://elenemigocomun.net/858#accion

Louise Arbour, Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos
Humanos,
tb-petitions@ohchr.org

Sr. Amerijo Inalcaterra, Representante en M?xico de la Oficina del Alto
Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos,
oacnudh@hchr.org.mx

Sr. Santiago Cant?n, Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisi?n Interamericana de
Derechos Humanos,
cidhoea@oas.org

Lic. Felipe de Jes?s Calder?n Hinojosa, Presidente de la Rep?blica,
felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx

Lic. Francisco Javier Ram?rez Acu?a, Secretario de Gobernaci?n,
frjramirez@segob.gob.mx

Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Procurador General de la Rep?blica,
ofproc@pgr.gob.mx.

Lic. Jos? Luis Soberanes Fern?ndez, Presidente de la Comisi?n Nacional de
Derechos Humanos.

Actuaria Eugenia del Carmen Diez Hidalgo, Unidad para la promoci?n y defensa
de los Derechos Humanos de la secretaria de Gobernaci?n.

Lic. Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca,
gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx

Lic. Manuel Garc?a Corpus, Secretario General de Gobierno del Estado de
Oaxaca,
sriagral@oaxaca.gob.mx

Lic. Rosa Lizbeth Ca?a Cadeza, Procuradora General de Justicia del Estado de
Oaxaca,
buzonciudadano@pgjoaxaca.net

Lic. Jaime Mario P?rez Jim?nez, Presidente de la Comisi?n de Derechos Humanos
del Estado de Oaxaca,
correo@cedhoax.org, quejas@cedhoax.org

M.A. Manuel Moreno Rivas, Director de la Polic?a Ministerial del Estado de
Oaxaca,
director@polministerialoax.com

C. Comandante Regional de la Mixteca de la Polic?a Ministerial del Estado de
Oaxaca,
reg_mixteca@polministerialoax.com

Lic. Roberto Eliud Garc?a Salinas, Visitador adjunto de la Oficina Regional
de la Mixteca

Oaxaca Political Prisoner Update

2007-01-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

FROM POLITICAL PRISONERS AT TLACOLULA
http://elenemigocomun.net/804

Carta de los presos pol?ticos en Tlacolula
http://elenemigocomun.net/804#espanol

Oaxaca: Amor De Mis Amores
http://elenemigocomun.net/803

* Amnesty International: arbitrary detentions
http://elenemigocomun.net/799
*** Take action!
http://elenemigocomun.net/799#action

Protests Resume in Oaxaca
http://elenemigocomun.net/810

--------------

FROM POLITICAL PRISONERS AT TLACOLULA
http://elenemigocomun.net/804

Tlacolula, Oaxaca, M?xico, January 5th, 2007

To the people of Oaxaca.

To the state government.

To the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

To the president of Mexico, Felipe Calder?n Hinojosa.

To the international community.

We, the undersigned, are writing to you with regards to the following situation:

As a result of the events in the city of Oaxaca on November 20 and 25 and December
1, we were arbitrarily apprehended with extreme violence by members of the Federal
Preventive Police (PFP), the state ministerial police, and individuals in street
clothes traveling in vehicles without plates. From the very first, there was
absolutely no respect shown for our individual guarantees delineated in the
Constitution of Mexico.

On November 25, before being transferred to this prison, some of us had our eyes
covered with masking tape and were tortured with electric shocks on different parts
of the body while we were being interrogated. All the while, we were threatened with
execution.

On November 27, we were transferred to the Federal Re-adaptation Center (CEFERESO)
N? 4 in Tepic, Nayarit, where we were held prisoner for 23 days. Throughout our trip
to this maximum security prison, the entrance procedure and our stay there, we were
treated like we were the most dangerous of all criminals. The entire time we were
there, we were held incommunicado, locked down in a 2?2 meter cell without ever
being able to go out into the sunshine.

On December 20, due to the measures taken by our families, as well as to local,
national, and international pressure, we were transferred back to this prison at
Tlacolula, Oaxaca, where 16 of us are now being held as political prisoners. We are
charged with several different crimes by the government of the state of Oaxaca,
including robbery and kidnapping, sedition, criminal conspiracy, and property
damage. These charges are based on reports of the federal and state police, who have
never been able to legally prove them; they are, therefore, inadmissible in a court
of law.

For these reasons, we reiterate our innocence and demand our immediate,
unconditional freedom, as well as respect for our individual guarantees and our
physical and emotional integrity.

For a State of Law with peace and social justice.

RESPECTFULLY YOURS,

Juan Carlos Luis Mendoza

Cornelio Lopez Sanchez

Abraham Reyes Herrera

Uriel Julio Mendez Hernandez

Rosein Garcia Guzman

Manuel Ventura Santiago

Alejandro Luna Lopez

Edgar Alejandro Molina Cuevas

Flaviano Juarez Hernandez

Pedro Garivo Perez

Alberto Alejandro Correa Orozco

Felipe Sanchez Rodriguez

Armando Garcia Salas

Arturo Reyes Garcia

Gilberto Toledo de los Santos

Marco Antonio Aquino Silva

A Great Success...

2006-12-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who helped make our December 12 film screening and discussion a success. Nearly 40 people attended the screening of "El Enemigo Comun," and although the event was not billed as a fundraiser, we still raised approximately $25 for Oaxaca support. F-O Support's next fundraising event will be held sometime in mid- to late-January. Stay tuned for more details.

Oaxaca Film & Fundraiser -- December 12, 2006

2006-12-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

On December 12, come check out OAXACA RESISTE!, a film screening and discussion on the Oaxacan Peoples' Movement, at Applesauce Teahouse in Flagstaff.

It starts at 7pm.

The event is free.

We will be showing El Enemigo Comun, a film made by Austin Indymedia documenting the resistance to captialist globalization in Oaxaca between 2002-2005.

Thanks,
Flagstaff-Oaxaca Support

P.S. Spread the word!

Wanna table the event? Contact us: new_moon@riseup.net

Flagstaff-Oaxaca Support up & running!

2006-12-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings -

The website for Flagstaff-Oaxaca Support has been created (as you, reader, can see) as of 2 December 2006. This website will provide updates on the ongoing social resistance in the south Mexican state of Oaxaca. also, Flagstaff-Oaxaca Support events will be announced as they come to my attention.

For those interested in getting involved, please contact Flagstaff-Oaxaca Support through this blog site, or at new_moon@riseup.net.

Thanks,

Flagstaff-Oaxaca Support