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struggle in Oaxaca 22 February 2007 by G.S. <george.salzman@umb.edu> this page is at http://site.www.umb.edu/faculty/salzman_g/Strate/2007-02-22.htm |
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Let there be no mistake about it. The people in Oaxaca State in southern Mexico are living in a state of siege, imposed since 25 November 2006 by the fascist state and federal governments. Yes, some tourists are beginning to visit here again. Those I've talked to in the past few days didn't have a clue either about what happened beginning mid-May of 2006 or what conditions exist here now.
Today Korinta Maldonado in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois wrote the Oaxaca Study Action Group asking how many deaths there have been. Mary Denevan, an American who lives here replied in part, “it’s not possible to count all the dead . . . we have the disappeared and no one knows. I heard from a teacher that a friend on the same helicopter saw a man thrown out. These tctics are the same as have been used in all the dirty wars.” Some folks cringe at the label ‘fascist’. It seems to them unwarranted. In fact, it is a much more sophisticated form of terrorizing and traumatizing a population than was employed in regimes we normally think of as fascist, but the goal is identical, to suppress all resistance to the government. |
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Here is an urgent appeal on behalf of a defender of human rights, one of many who have been threatened and jailed by the governments in order to prevent them from acting on behalf of political prisoners. They are requesting statements be sent from all countries to various Oaxaca State and Mexican Federal officials strongly urging them to obey the laws, the Mexican constitution, and international agreements on human rights to which Mexico is signatory. I include the entire document with all the headings that contain contact information, as I received it. My translation passages are in red, immediately following the original passages. I suggest that you first go down to HECHOS to learn the facts of the situation, or to FACTS Subject: FW:
Fwd: ACCIÓN URGENTE: Temor por la seguridad de defensor de To: comunicacioncee@prodigy.net.mx, pitayaroja@hotmail.com Subject: FW: Fwd: ACCIÓN URGENTE: Temor por la seguridad de defensor de Derechos Humanos de Subject: FW: FWD: Urgent Action: Fear for the security of the [legal] defender of Human Rights of the Mixteca [people]: Omar Esparanza Zárate de CACTUS AC [Civil Association] Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:11:20 +0000 To: o_esparza@hotmail.com Subject: Fwd: ACCIÓN URGENTE: Temor por la seguridad de defensor de Derechos Humanos de Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:12:13 -0600 RED CUALI NEMILISTLI DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network Urgent Action 002/2007 Omar Esparza Zárate/Center of Community Assistance Working Together A.C. (CACTUS), Huajuapan de León, Oax. Puebla, Puebla a 20 de Febrero de 2007. A los Gobiernos Federal y del Estado de Oaxaca. A los Gobiernos del Mundo. A la opinión pública. A los medios de comunicación. Red Cuali Nemilistli de Derechos Humanos Acción Urgente 002/2007 To the Federal Government and the State of To the governments of the world To public opinion To the communication media Urgent Action 002/2007 The Cuali Nemilistli Network of Human Rights asks for your urgent intervention in facing the harassment and the risk to the security and physical integrity of the [lawyer] defender of Human Rights OMAR ESPARZA ZÁRATE, of the Center Community Assistance Working Together (CACTUS A.C.) of HECHOS: El día 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 León, Oaxaca, dos oficiales de Al conocer que Omar Esparza no se encontraba en las oficina de la organización fotografiaron la fachada de esta y la camioneta que se encontraba estacionada afuera y se retiraron sin dejar copia de la orden de presentación. FACTS On Friday 9 February 2007, at about 11:00 two officials of the Federal Investation Agency (AFI) appeared at the offices of the Center Community Assistance Working Together (CACTUS A.C.), located in On learning that Omar Esparza was not in the office of the organization they photographed the [building] façade and the van they saw parked in front and they left without leaving a copy of the order to appear. ANTECEDENTES: Omar Esparza Zárate tiene 30 años de edad, es originario de Tehuacán, Puebla, pero reside en Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca desde hace 6 años, cuenta con estudios en Trabajo Social. Desde hace varios años, Omar Esparza Zárate realiza diversos trabajos en materia de defensa de derechos humanos, desarrollo comunitario e investigación en BACKGROUND: Omar Esparza Zárate is 30 years old, comes from Since some years Omar Esparza Zárate has carried out a variety of work in matters of the defense of human rights, community development and research in the Mixteca Region (which zones border the states of Oaxaca, Puebla and Guerrero) as a member of the Center Community Assistance Working Together (CACTUS A.C.), founded in 1990 and which since 6 years formed part of the Cuali Nemilistli Network of Human Rights (RCN). A finales de 2006, el trabajo que por años ha realizado CACTUS y en particular Omar Esparza Zárate en la región mixteca, lo llevó a solidarizarse con las comunidades de la mixteca y a participar en el movimiento de Deseamos hacer énfasis en que este no es el primer acto de molestia que sufre Omar Esparza y su organización. El 24 de enero de 2006 Omar Esparza Zárate fue detenido y encarcelado arbitrariamente por policías municipales de Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca. Al salir de las oficinas de CACTUS, en compañía de su esposa, fue interceptado por la patrulla número 021 y rodeado por otras cinco unidades policíacas para exigirle que descendiera de su camioneta. Omar Esparza exigió a los agentes que le explicaran el motivo de la detención o que le mostraran una orden por escrito donde se ordenara esta, lo que molestó a los agentes. Dos de los policías bajaron de su patrulla y le explicaron que era una operación de rutina pues tenían información de que en una camioneta llevaban armas. At the end of 2006 the work that CACTUS, and in particular Omar Esparza Zárate had carried out for years in the Mixteca region, brought it to solidarity with the Mixteca communities and to participate in the movement of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca [APPO]. We want to emphasize that this is not the first troubling action that Omar Esparza and his organization suffered. On 24 January 2006 Omar Esparza Zárate was arrested and arbitrarily jailed by municipal police of 20 agentes procedieron a abrir violentamente la camioneta, a pesar de que uno de los agentes lo identificó como integrante de una organización de derechos humanos y entre 8 agentes lo bajaron de su camioneta y lo introdujeron por la fuerza a la batea de la patrulla, esposándolo, insultándolo y obligándolo a permanecer de rodillas hasta que se presentó el comandante de la policía municipal. Una hora después de la detención, el síndico municipal de Huajuapan, José Miguel Camacho Morales, quien calificó la falta, y le fijó una multa de 200 pesos para obtener su libertad. Tras estos hechos Omar Esparza presentó una queja ante 20 agents proceeded to violently open the van, despite [the fact that] one of the agents identified him as a member of a human rights organization. 8 agents took him from his van and forced him into the back of the patrol wagon, handcuffed him, insulted him and forced him to remain on his knees until they brought him before the commander of the municipal police. An hour after his arrest, the Huajuapan municipal representative, José Miguel Camacho Morales, who verified the fault and set a fine of 200 pesos for [Omar Esparza] to obtain his liberty. After those actions Omar Esparza filed a complaint to the State Human Rights Commission, a complaint to which he has still not obtained a response. Meses después, en la madrugada del 12 de junio de 2006 sujetos aún desconocidos se introdujeron en las oficinas que en aquel entonces compartían CACTUS con el Patronato Nacional de Alfabetización y Extensión Educativa (PANAEE), donde abrieron a la fuerza archiveros y registraron expedientes contables y administrativos de ambas organizaciones, así como información de grupos y personas con las que trabajaban y objetos personales, además de haberse llevado dos cámaras fotográficas y 5 mil pesos . A finales de 2006, Alberta Cariño, esposa de Omar Esparza Zárate e integrante de CACTUS fue objeto de diversas amenazas telefónicas anónimas, en las cuales se le decía que si seguía hablando de más al pueblo, le iban a cortar la lengua. Months later, on the morning of 12 June 2006 persons still unknown entered the offices which CACTUS then shared with the National Board for Literacy and Extension Education (PANAEE), where they forcefully opened the archives and recorded accounting and administrative documents of both organizations, as well as information of groups and persons with whom they worked and personal objects, as well as having carried off two cameras and 5 thousand pesos. At the end of 2006 Alberta Cariño, wife of Omar Esparza and member of CACTUS was the object of various anonymous threatening telephone calls, in which they said that if she continued talking with more people, they would cut off her tongue. TEMOR POR Sobra expresar nuestra preocupación por el tenso clima político y de ingobernabilidad que se vive actualmente en el Estado de Oaxaca, así como la sistemática violación a los derechos humanos que comete a diario el Gobierno de dicho Estado. Omar Esparza Zárate, 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 país, y merece de una protección especial, por lo tanto, deben tomarse todas las acciones posibles para protegerlo, pues al atentar contra sus garantías 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 región. FEAR FOR SECURITY: Our worry doesn’t need to be said, because of the tense political climate and the ungovernability in which we currently live in the State of Omar Esparza, as [legal] defender of human rights, has raised his voice in defense of the most vulnerable and least protected groups, fighting to improve their living conditions and unmasking the perpetrators of various violations of human rights. The work of defenders of human rights is fundamental and unfortunately is extremely risky in our country. Therefore it deserves special protection. Every possible action must be taken to protect it because an attempt against their [the human rights defenders] individual and collective guarantees [of safety] is a direct attempt against those that protect and work in order to obtain a better level of life in their region. Tememos por la seguridad, integridad física y la libertad de Omar Esparza Zárate 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 Esparza Zárate represente únicamente el comienzo de una ola de hostigamiento y represión en contra de los miembros del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos y contra los habitantes de la región mixteca y otras regiones del Estado de Oaxaca que han participado en el movimiento de 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 Zárate, su familia o los miembros del Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos A.C. We are fearful for the security, physical integrity and liberty of Omar Esparza Zárate in the face of these threatening and harrassing actions of which he and his family have been the objects. We are equally fearful that the harrassment of Omar Esparza Zárate represents only the beginning of a wave of harrassment and repression against the members of the Center of Community Assistance Working Together and against the inhabitants of the Mixteca region and other regions of the State of Oaxaca that have taken part in the movement of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca. Because of what has happened we are holding the Federal and State of Por lo anterior The Cuali Nemilistli Human Rights Network emphasizes that the actions recounted contradict the rights to personal liberty, to legal security, equality before the law, freedom of thought and expression and the right to freely pursue ones occupation. These rights are protected by various articles in the Political Constitution of the United States of Mexico and of the State of Because of the preceeding the Cuali Nemilistli Network of Human rights urgently asks: 1.- Que se tomen las medidas necesarias para que cese el hostigamiento y las amenazas en contra del defensor de derechos humanos Omar Esparza Zárate, 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 física de los integrantes de CACTUS, en especial de Omar Esparza Zárate y su familia. 3.- Se tomen medidas concretas y urgentes para implementar 4.- Asegurar la aplicación de lo dispuesto en 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. 1.- That the necessary means be taken to stop the harrassment and threats against the defender of human rights Omar Esparza Zárate, his family and the rest of the members of the Center of Community Assistance Working Together (CACTUS). 2.- Guarantee the liberty, the security and the physical integrity of the members of CACTUS, especially of Omar Esparza Zárate and his family. 3.- Take concrete and urgent steps to implement the Declaration of the Defenders issued [as] the Declaration on the Law and the Duty of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect Human Rights and the Universally Recognized Fundamental Liberties. 4.- Guarantee application of readiness to help in [enforcing] the Declaration on defenders of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December Respectfully, Cuali Nemilistli Network of Human Rights juridico@cualinemilistli.org Please send your appeals to the following addresses with copies to juridico@cualinemilistli.org. Louise Arbour, Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos, tb-petitions@ohchr.org Sr. Amerijo Inalcaterra, Representante en México de oacnudh@hchr.org.mx Sr. Santiago Cantón, Secretario Ejecutivo de cidhoea@oas.org Lic. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa, Presidente de felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx Lic. Francisco Javier Ramírez Acuña, Secretario de Gobernación, frjramirez@segob.gob.mx Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Procurador General de ofproc@pgr.gob.mx. Lic. José Luis Soberanes Fernández, Presidente de Actuaria Eugenia del Carmen Diez Hidalgo, Unidad para la promoción y defensa de los Derechos Humanos de la secretaria de Gobernación. Lic. Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca, gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx Lic. Manuel García Corpus, Secretario General de Gobierno del Estado de Oaxaca, sriagral@oaxaca.gob.mx Lic. Rosa Lizbeth Caña Cadeza, Procuradora General de Justicia del Estado de Oaxaca, buzonciudadano@pgjoaxaca.net Lic. Jaime Mario Pérez Jiménez, Presidente de correo@cedhoax.org, quejas@cedhoax.org M.A. Manuel Moreno Rivas, Director de director@polministerialoax.com C. Comandante Regional de reg_mixteca@polministerialoax.com Lic. Roberto Eliud García Salinas, Visitador adjunto de -- ¡Democracia! ¡Libertad! ¡Justicia! Democracy! Liberty! Justice! If you want me to add or remove your name from my ‘large’
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