Oaxaca, The Face of Mexican Facism - Post From Oaxaca Solidarity Network - Los Olvidados
Oaxaca, La cara del fascismo mexicano, miercoles el 28 de marzo de 2007
Oaxaca, The face of Mexican fascism, Wednesday 28 March 2007
Friends,
Do not be fooled by the total absence of news in the corporate media into believing that Oaxaca City is once again a tranquil, beautiful tourist destination. The dirty war of terror by the Oaxaca state government and the federal forces continues in their futile effort to crush the popular movement. The governments are terrified by the unarmed people, as is obvious by the constant display of heavily armed troops and police all around the supposedly public city center, the zócalo. The effort to account for every captive, and to free every political prisoner, is ongoing. I'm glad to assist the Oaxaca Solidarity Network by circulating their appeals.
Sincerely,
George
__________________________________________________
Oaxaca Solidarity Network
"You must make injustice visible ." Mahatma Gandhi
Oaxaca , Mexico
Website: www.oaxacasolidarity.org
E-mail: info@oaxacasolidarity.org
Telephone: (U.S.) 303-800-4453
March 28, 2007
"Los Olividados/The Forgotten Ones"—Ongoing Oaxaca Solidarity/EDUCACampaign for the release of political prisoners
Friends,
Edgar Molina—who describes himself as "a son, brother, husband, father, and a vendor at the Oaxaca City bus station"—was arbitrarily and violently detained on November 25 last year after participating in a non-violent protest march. His friend, Felipe Sánchez—profiled in our first "Olvidados" urgent action—was arrested along with his friend Edgar, but has since been released from jail. While meeting with Felipe this morning, he expressed his serious concern for his friend Edgar, and for all the other 44 Oaxacan political prisoners who remain in jail.
In his attached testimony, Edgar tells the painful story of his arrest, torture and ongoing detention. Edgar is a father to two girls—one born just months before his arrest.
YOUR ACTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE PEOPLE AND OF THOSE THAT LOVE THEM—TWO OF THE PRISONERS PROFILED IN OUR "OLVIDADOS" CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN RELEASED! (See "Good News" below). THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARING AND SOLIDARITY…
URGENT ACTION:
Please help us see Edgar, and ALL the political prisoners, freed. Send faxes and make phone calls to the government officials listed below, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Oaxacan political prisoners, most of whom have been imprisoned since November, badly beaten, and in some cases tortured. Please see details on recommended actions, and addresses below in the WHAT YOU CAN DO section…
Brief Background on our campaign: In response to the pleas for help of the Oaxacan political prisoners that remain imprisoned, and in solidarity with those Forgotten Ones—"Los Olvidados"—OSN is partnering with local grassroots organization EDUCA (Services for an Alternative Education), and a number of other Oaxacan human rights and other grassroots organizations in a campaign to press for the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners. We'll be sending out profiles of individual political prisoners each week, highlighting the cases of individuals—but always demanding the release of ALL prisoners of conscience.
GOOD NEWS! Juan Carlos Ruiz Mendoza, the political prisoner profiled in our urgent action was freed last week, along with two other prisoners from Tlacolula Prison!!! And as many of you know, Felipe Sánchez (subject of our first "Olvidados" urgent action) has also been released. A warm thanks to all of you who may have played a part in making their release a reality!
Background on Oaxacan Political Prisoners: As of today, 44 political prisoners remain illegally imprisoned in various prisons throughout the state of Oaxaca. Many of them were detained while participating in non-violent protests against the current repressive government of Oaxacan Gov.Ulises Ruiz. Others were not involved politically in any way, but were caught up in a wave of massive detentions carried out by state and federal police in an attempt to crush a popular movement that is using non-violent tactics to demand political change.
Local and national human rights organizations, as well as the Oaxaca Solidarity Network (OSN), have recorded many testimonies of people who were brutalized during their illegal arrests. Most of the detainees aren't directly connected with popular organizations; hence they lack the support that helped many other political prisoners to win their release. Many of them recently reported that they feel forgotten and are fighting despair.
WHAT TO DO:
· Contact your local representatives and Mexican consuls and inform them of your concern about Edgar Molina and the other "Olvidados" political prisoners. Ask them to contact local Mexican consuls and national Mexican authorities (listed below).
Please also send appeals to official addresses below (by fax is most effective) to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language, making the following points:
1. Members of the recent Oaxaca Solidarity Network/Rights Action Emergency Human Rights Delegation can point out that they recently heard repeated testimonies of torture, forced confessions, and arbitrary detentions, and that they demand the immediate release of all political prisoners.
2. Express your concern for the well-being of Edgar Molina, and all other Oaxacan political prisoners.
3. Call for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the illegal detentions of people engaged in peaceful protest, for findings to be published, and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
4. Remind the authorities that they have a duty to carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the alleged fabrication of charges against political prisoners, with the results to be made public.
SEND APPEALS TO MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS E-MAIL...
MORE ON WHAT YOU CAN DO:
· A fundamental element to work in favor of global justice, equality and the environment is to fund and support local organizations that are leading their own struggles in defense and promotion of development, the environment and human rights.
· Get involved in education and activism work in your home community concerning the negative impacts of North American investors and hydro-electric and mining policies on community-controlled development, the environment and the human rights of local populations in Oaxaca.
· Consider coming in on one of OSN's Human Rights/Educational-Activist Delegations and meet with victims of the repression, local human rights groups, leaders of the popular movement, local political and business leaders, and to visit local indigenous communities to learn about vital social, economic and political issues.
· Invite us to give educational presentations in your home community.
· Get on our e-mail list and visit our website for news updates, delegation announcements and more.
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS: You can make donations to Oaxaca Solidarity Network by making a check payable to "Rights Action". Please write "FOR OSN" in the memo space and mail to: UNITED STATES: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887;
CANADA:
509 St.Clair Ave W, box73527, Toronto ON, M6C-1C0.
CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS:
www.rightsaction.org. Please note that the donation is for Oaxaca Solidariy Network.
QUESTIONS:
info@oaxacasolidarity.org
URGENT ACTION ADDRESSES:
U.S. :
Ambassador Carlos Alberto De Icaza Gonzalez
Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20006
Fax: 1 202 728 1698
MÉXICO:
President:
Lic. Felipe Calderon Hinojosa
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de ''Los Pinos'', Casa Miguel Aleman
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec
Mexico D.F., C.P. 11850, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 52772376 felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx
Salutation: Senor Presidente/Dear President Calderon
Minister of the Interior:
Lic. Francisco Ramirez Acuña
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
No e-mail, please send fax.
Minister of Public Security:
Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza
Procurador General de la Republica
Paseo de la Reforma #211-213 Cuactemoc Mexico D.F. C.P. 06500
Colonia Juarez, Delegacion Cuauhtemoc,
Mexico DF. C.P. 06600, Mexico
Fax: 011 52 55 5241 8393
Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimado Secretario
To send e-mails online: http://pgr.gob.mx/index.asp
President of National Human Rights Comisión
Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández
Periférico Sur 3469, Col San Jerónimo Lídice, CP 10200, México, D.F.
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 E -mail: gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx
Fax: 011 52 951 511 6879 (if someone answers, say ''me da
tono de fax, por favor'')
Salutation: Senor Gobernador/Dear Governor
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
Please send appeals immediately. Thank you for your solidarity and support.
Oaxaca, The face of Mexican fascism, Wednesday 28 March 2007
Friends,
Do not be fooled by the total absence of news in the corporate media into believing that Oaxaca City is once again a tranquil, beautiful tourist destination. The dirty war of terror by the Oaxaca state government and the federal forces continues in their futile effort to crush the popular movement. The governments are terrified by the unarmed people, as is obvious by the constant display of heavily armed troops and police all around the supposedly public city center, the zócalo. The effort to account for every captive, and to free every political prisoner, is ongoing. I'm glad to assist the Oaxaca Solidarity Network by circulating their appeals.
Sincerely,
George
__________________________________________________
Oaxaca Solidarity Network
"You must make injustice visible ." Mahatma Gandhi
Oaxaca , Mexico
Website: www.oaxacasolidarity.org
E-mail: info@oaxacasolidarity.org
Telephone: (U.S.) 303-800-4453
March 28, 2007
"Los Olividados/The Forgotten Ones"—Ongoing Oaxaca Solidarity/EDUCACampaign for the release of political prisoners
Friends,
Edgar Molina—who describes himself as "a son, brother, husband, father, and a vendor at the Oaxaca City bus station"—was arbitrarily and violently detained on November 25 last year after participating in a non-violent protest march. His friend, Felipe Sánchez—profiled in our first "Olvidados" urgent action—was arrested along with his friend Edgar, but has since been released from jail. While meeting with Felipe this morning, he expressed his serious concern for his friend Edgar, and for all the other 44 Oaxacan political prisoners who remain in jail.
In his attached testimony, Edgar tells the painful story of his arrest, torture and ongoing detention. Edgar is a father to two girls—one born just months before his arrest.
YOUR ACTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE PEOPLE AND OF THOSE THAT LOVE THEM—TWO OF THE PRISONERS PROFILED IN OUR "OLVIDADOS" CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN RELEASED! (See "Good News" below). THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARING AND SOLIDARITY…
URGENT ACTION:
Please help us see Edgar, and ALL the political prisoners, freed. Send faxes and make phone calls to the government officials listed below, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Oaxacan political prisoners, most of whom have been imprisoned since November, badly beaten, and in some cases tortured. Please see details on recommended actions, and addresses below in the WHAT YOU CAN DO section…
Brief Background on our campaign: In response to the pleas for help of the Oaxacan political prisoners that remain imprisoned, and in solidarity with those Forgotten Ones—"Los Olvidados"—OSN is partnering with local grassroots organization EDUCA (Services for an Alternative Education), and a number of other Oaxacan human rights and other grassroots organizations in a campaign to press for the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners. We'll be sending out profiles of individual political prisoners each week, highlighting the cases of individuals—but always demanding the release of ALL prisoners of conscience.
GOOD NEWS! Juan Carlos Ruiz Mendoza, the political prisoner profiled in our urgent action was freed last week, along with two other prisoners from Tlacolula Prison!!! And as many of you know, Felipe Sánchez (subject of our first "Olvidados" urgent action) has also been released. A warm thanks to all of you who may have played a part in making their release a reality!
Background on Oaxacan Political Prisoners: As of today, 44 political prisoners remain illegally imprisoned in various prisons throughout the state of Oaxaca. Many of them were detained while participating in non-violent protests against the current repressive government of Oaxacan Gov.Ulises Ruiz. Others were not involved politically in any way, but were caught up in a wave of massive detentions carried out by state and federal police in an attempt to crush a popular movement that is using non-violent tactics to demand political change.
Local and national human rights organizations, as well as the Oaxaca Solidarity Network (OSN), have recorded many testimonies of people who were brutalized during their illegal arrests. Most of the detainees aren't directly connected with popular organizations; hence they lack the support that helped many other political prisoners to win their release. Many of them recently reported that they feel forgotten and are fighting despair.
WHAT TO DO:
· Contact your local representatives and Mexican consuls and inform them of your concern about Edgar Molina and the other "Olvidados" political prisoners. Ask them to contact local Mexican consuls and national Mexican authorities (listed below).
Please also send appeals to official addresses below (by fax is most effective) to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language, making the following points:
1. Members of the recent Oaxaca Solidarity Network/Rights Action Emergency Human Rights Delegation can point out that they recently heard repeated testimonies of torture, forced confessions, and arbitrary detentions, and that they demand the immediate release of all political prisoners.
2. Express your concern for the well-being of Edgar Molina, and all other Oaxacan political prisoners.
3. Call for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the illegal detentions of people engaged in peaceful protest, for findings to be published, and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
4. Remind the authorities that they have a duty to carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the alleged fabrication of charges against political prisoners, with the results to be made public.
SEND APPEALS TO MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS E-MAIL...
MORE ON WHAT YOU CAN DO:
· A fundamental element to work in favor of global justice, equality and the environment is to fund and support local organizations that are leading their own struggles in defense and promotion of development, the environment and human rights.
· Get involved in education and activism work in your home community concerning the negative impacts of North American investors and hydro-electric and mining policies on community-controlled development, the environment and the human rights of local populations in Oaxaca.
· Consider coming in on one of OSN's Human Rights/Educational-Activist Delegations and meet with victims of the repression, local human rights groups, leaders of the popular movement, local political and business leaders, and to visit local indigenous communities to learn about vital social, economic and political issues.
· Invite us to give educational presentations in your home community.
· Get on our e-mail list and visit our website for news updates, delegation announcements and more.
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS: You can make donations to Oaxaca Solidarity Network by making a check payable to "Rights Action". Please write "FOR OSN" in the memo space and mail to: UNITED STATES: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887;
CANADA:
509 St.Clair Ave W, box73527, Toronto ON, M6C-1C0.
CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS:
www.rightsaction.org. Please note that the donation is for Oaxaca Solidariy Network.
QUESTIONS:
info@oaxacasolidarity.org
URGENT ACTION ADDRESSES:
U.S. :
Ambassador Carlos Alberto De Icaza Gonzalez
Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20006
Fax: 1 202 728 1698
MÉXICO:
President:
Lic. Felipe Calderon Hinojosa
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de ''Los Pinos'', Casa Miguel Aleman
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec
Mexico D.F., C.P. 11850, MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 52772376 felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx
Salutation: Senor Presidente/Dear President Calderon
Minister of the Interior:
Lic. Francisco Ramirez Acuña
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
No e-mail, please send fax.
Minister of Public Security:
Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza
Procurador General de la Republica
Paseo de la Reforma #211-213 Cuactemoc Mexico D.F. C.P. 06500
Colonia Juarez, Delegacion Cuauhtemoc,
Mexico DF. C.P. 06600, Mexico
Fax: 011 52 55 5241 8393
Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimado Secretario
To send e-mails online: http://pgr.gob.mx/index.asp
President of National Human Rights Comisión
Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández
Periférico Sur 3469, Col San Jerónimo Lídice, CP 10200, México, D.F.
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 E -mail: gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx
Fax: 011 52 951 511 6879 (if someone answers, say ''me da
tono de fax, por favor'')
Salutation: Senor Gobernador/Dear Governor
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
Please send appeals immediately. Thank you for your solidarity and support.
posted by Lorna Dee Cervantes at 10:25 AM
1 Comments:
I just attended a talk at the Unitarian Church here in Berkeley on this very topic. Yes, I'd hoped the lack of coverage in Big Media meant things were going OK in Oaxaca. I was horrified by what I learned. Thanks for highlighting it.
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