Free Political Prisoners in Chiapas


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

source:owner-gx-mexiconews-action@globalexchange.org  Mon Feb  2 21:22:48 1998

URGENT ACTION: 
THE TIME IS NOW FOR CHIAPAS POLITICAL PRISONERS' RELEASE

On Jan. 29, the government of Chiapas released one political prisoner,
Carmen Cruz Gomez, from Cerro Hueco Prison.  The government has
additionally promised to review the files of nine other political
prisoners, but has not yet released any of them. These prisoners,
sympathizers of the Zapatista movement, had been arrested on false charges;
many had suffered torture, interrogation without the presence of a lawyer,
forced confessions, and other human rights violations while in the custody
of the Mexican government.  The prisoners all are indigenous members of the
political prisoners' organization, The Voice of Cerro Hueco (La Voz de
Cerro Hueco).

Earlier this week, the Chiapas government released 300 petty criminals, who
had been jailed on common misdemeanor charges.  The release was presented
as a gesture toward peace. Political prisoner advocate groups continued to
pressure the government to liberate the actual political prisoners, members
of The Voice of Cerro Hueco. The release of all these political prisoners
will be an important step toward resuming the peace negotiations, as this
remains one of the Zapatista's five key demands for reinitiating dialogue.

Please write the government of Chiapas.  We think it is important to:

-- commend the release of Carmen Cruz Gomez, and the promise to review the
files of nine other political prisoners, as a very positive step on the
part of the government.

--  note, however, that justice requires ALL 46 members of  The Voice of
Cerro Hueco currently behind bars to be released. The members of The Voice
are political prisoners, who have suffered gross legal irregularities and,
in some cases, physical abuse throughout their cases.

-- explain that the international community is concerned and monitoring the
situation in the Chiapan prisons. 

-- urge the new governor of Chiapas, Lic. Roberto Albores Guillen, to take
further steps to ensure that the human rights of all its citizens are
respected.

Please fax or write letters to:

Arely Madrid Tovilla 
Secretaria de Gobierno
Palacio de Gobierno, 2 piso
Av. Central y Segunda Ote, Col. Centro
Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas 	29000
Fax: 011-52-961-32458

cc: Lic. Roberto Albores Guillen
Gobernador del Estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Gobierno
Av. Central y Primero Ote, Col. Centro
Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas       29009
Mexico
Phone/Fax: 011-52-961-20917

cc: Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio Nacional
Mexico, D.F. 06067
Fax: 011-52-5-271-1764
E-mail: webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx

cc: Lic. Francisco Labastida Ochoa
Secretario de Gobernacion
Bucareli 99, 1. piso
Col. Juarez
Mexico, D.F. 06699
Mexico
Fax: 011- 52-5 546 5350


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nytcamer-02.03.98-12:09:23-27177