Urgent Action for Abducted Oaxaquenos

November 28, 2006

Following a violent confrontation between supporters of the
Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (Asamblea Popular
del Pueblo de Oaxaca, APPO) and the Federal Preventive
Police (Policia Federal Preventiva, PFP) in the centre of
Oaxaca on 25 November, at least 149 people have been
detained. Amnesty International believes that they may be at
risk of torture or ill-treatment while in custody.

The violence followed a demonstration organized by APPO
supporters, to protest against the presence of PFP in the
city and to call for the resignation of the Governor of
Oaxaca. During the clashes with the police, dozens of people
were reportedly injured by stones and intoxicated by
teargas. There were also several reports that some people
had been shot and wounded. Dozens of cars and buses and
several public buildings, including the State Superior Court
(Tribunal Superior de Justicia) and a theatre, were set on
fire. According to reports, groups of armed men wearing
balaclavas, believed to be state police, shot at protesters
and buildings and arrested scores of people, several of whom
reportedly had no involvement in the demonstrations.

By the end of the day, the authorities published the names
of 149 people being held in two state prisons of Tlacolula
and Miahuatlan, both outside the city of Oaxaca. All
detainees have reportedly been denied access to family and
independent legal counsel (suspects are generally forced to
rely on inadequate public defenders provided by the
authorities). There are also reports that on 27 November,
141 detainees were transferred to a prison in the remote
state of Nayarit. Families and human rights organizations
have not been informed of the charges faced by those in
detention.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION
An Amnesty International delegation recently visited the
city of Oaxaca and interviewed scores of victims of human
rights violations committed during the ongoing crisis in
Oaxaca. The organization documented the repeated violations
committed by unidentified armed groups, believed to be state
and municipal police officers working in plain clothes, who
make arrests without identifying themselves or explaining
the reasons for arrests. The organization documented in
several cases the use of incommunicado detention over
several days. The organization also received credible
reports that detainees had been tortured and ill-treated,
primarily by state and municipal police, but also by members
of the PFP.

In May 2006 teachers initiated a strike in Oaxaca state
calling for improved pay and conditions, and occupied the
main square and surrounding streets. An attempt by state
police to forcibly evict teachers on 14 June led to a
radicalization of the protest and the formation on of the
Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca, APPO (Popular
Assembly of the People of Oaxaca), an umbrella organization
of social and political groups in support of the teachers
and calling for the resignation of the state governor. As
the climate of violence in the city increased, armed police
in plain clothes started to arbitrarily detain protesters
and were reportedly responsible for several shootings.
Protesters established barricades in many neighborhoods in
late August and the security situation further declined as
unidentified armed men continued to target opposition
supporters in marches and on barricades. On 29 October, the
PFP entered the city to restore order. The operation
resulted in the death of two civilians and the detention and
injury of scores of others. Many of those who have been
detained during the crisis have been released reportedly as
a result of political negotiations, but with no clear idea
of whether they may face re-arrest at a future date.


RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly
as possible:
- calling on the authorities to ensure all those detained
during protests on 25 November are allowed immediate access
to families, adequate medical attention and legal counsel of
their choice;
- calling for them to be either charged with a recognizably
criminal offence or released immediately;
- calling on the authorities to ensure the physical and
mental integrity of those in custody and to carry out
immediate and impartial investigations into allegations of
torture or ill-treatment;
- reminding the authorities to their duty to maintain public
order while protecting the human rights of all people, and
ensuring that the use of force is proportionate and
necessary to confront the threat faced;
- calling for an immediate and impartial investigation into
the use of armed groups, believed to be state and municipal
police, operating illegally to attack and detain protesters
and passers-by, and for those responsible to be held to
account;
- urging the federal and state authorities to ensure that
all measures taken to address the crisis in Oaxaca fully
respect international human rights law, and calling for them
to avoid taking action which may worsen the human rights
situation.


APPEALS TO:
Minister of the Interior:
Lic. Carlos Abascal Carranza
Secretario de Gobernacion, Secretaria de Gobernacion
Bucareli 99, 1er. piso
Col. Juarez, Delegacion Cuauhtemoc
Mexico D.F., C.P.06600, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 5093 3414
Salutation: Dear Minister/ Estimado Secretario de
Gobernacion

Minister of Public Security:
Lic. Eduardo Medina Mora
Secretario de Seguridad Publica, Secretaria de Seguridad
Publica
Paseo de la Reforma No.364, piso 16
Colonia Juarez, Delegacion Cuahutemoc
Mexico DF. C.P. 06600, MEXICO
Fax: 01152 55 5241 8393
Salutation: Senor Secretario / Dear Minister

Governor of Oaxaca:
Ulises Ruiz Ortiz
Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca, Carretera Oaxaca - Puerto
Angel, Km. 9.5
Santa Maria Coyotopec
C. P. 71254, Oaxaca
Oaxaca, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 951 511 6879 (if someone answers, say ''me da
tono de fax, por favor'')
Salutation: Senor Gobernador/Dear Governor

Interior Minister of Oaxaca:
Lic. Jorge Franco Vargas
Secretario General de Gobierno del Estado de Oaxaca
Constitucion 519
Esq. Martires de Tacubaya, Oaxaca
Oaxaca, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 951 132 5378
Salutation: Senor Secretario/Dear Secretary

President of the National Human Rights Commission:
Dr. Jose Luis Soberanes Fernandez
Presidente de la Comision Nacional de Derechos Humanos
(CNDH)
Periferico Sur 3469, 5º piso
Col. San Jeronimo Lidice
Mexico D.F. 10200, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 5681 7199
Salutation: Dear President / Estimado Presidente


COPIES TO:
President of the Oaxaca State Human Rights Commission:
Dr. Jaime Perez Jimenez
Presidente de la Comision Estatal
Calle de los Derechos Humanos no. 210, Colonia America
C.P. 68050, Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Mexico
Fax: 011 52 951 503 0220
Salutation: Dear President / Estimado Presidente

Human rights organization in Oaxaca:
Red Oaxaquena de Derechos Humanos
Calle Crespo 524 Interior 4-E, Col. Centro, Oaxaca
Oaxaca, CP. 68000, MEXICO

Ambassador Carlos Alberto De Icaza Gonzalez
Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20006
Fax: 1 202 728 1698


Please send appeals immediately. Check with the AIUSA Urgent
Action office if sending appeals after 9 January 2006.


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