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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>apologies
cross-posting</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=2></FONT></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2>18TH JUNE
2006<BR></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">
<DIV><FONT size=2>Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group denounces the escalation
of oppression that the Mexican government is inflicting on its own
citizens.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>On the 4th May 2006 3000+ state and federal police
violently attacked the town of San Salvador Atenco in the State of
Mexico. During the raid the police violently and arbitrarily arrested more
than 270 civilians including women, elderly people and
children. Most of the detainees suffered serious injuries as a
result of severe beatings prior to arrest and once in police custody. Most of
the female detainees were sexually abused and at least seven were raped
by police officers. An unarmed fourteen year old boy, Javier Cortes,
was shot dead at point blank range and a twenty year old student, Alexis
Benhumea has since died as a result of injuries inflicted by a tear
gas canister fired at his head. Three foreign nationals, one Chilean and two
Spanish women, were arrested, beaten and sexually abused before being expelled
from the country. Once in prison, detainees were denied access to doctors
despite some having suffered serious internal injuries as a result of police
beatings. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Twenty eight people remain in prison awaiting trial on
serious charges that we fear are politically motivated as many belong to grass
roots political organisations that are in opposition to the
government.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>At least 50 police officers have testified that they
received orders from Mexico State Police Chief Rogelio Cortez Cruz and his
assistant police chief Remedos Estrada Colin to brutalise the local population
and conduct unwarranted searches.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Also on the 4th May the treasurer of the Autonomous Council
of San Blas Atempa in the state of Oaxaca, Faustino Acevedo Bailon, was
assassinated by unidentified persons. He had been involved in a popular
struggle against the local government and was on his way to the 4th National
Indigenous Congress when he was murdered.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Now, more human rights abuses are taking place in
Oaxaca City. A huge occupation of the city centre by striking teachers and
other local people was violently attacked by police on Wednesday 14th
June. Police fired large amounts of tear gas indiscriminately into
the crowd, including from police helicopters. Reports state that 92
people were injured by the police assault. A pregnant woman
suffered a miscarriage as a result of the police violence. Although the local
citizens have re-occupied the city's central square there have
been unconfirmed reports of one or more people being killed by the
police, with many others injured, arrested or 'disappeared'. We are extremely
concerned for the safety of those still involved in the protests and those who
have been detained or are missing. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>All this is taking place ahead of the forthcoming Mexican
elections in July and all three main political parties - President Fox's PAN,
the PRI and Lopez Obrador's PRD have been involved in carrying out the abuses.
</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face=Arial><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=2></FONT></FONT> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group calls on the Mexican
Government to;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>- Release the remaining 28 Atenco prisoners.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>- Drop all remaining charges against those arrested in
Atenco.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>- Ensure the resignation or removal and prosecution of all
government or police officials and police officers involved in the Atenco
abuses.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>- Immediately withdraw all state and federal police from the
City of Oaxaca.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>- Release without charge all those arrested in
Oaxaca.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>- Put an end to all acts of repression against the people of
Mexico. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>We call on the British press to not ignore what is going on
in Mexico but to investigate these terrible human rights abuses and report
them so that people in this country can see the reality of what is happening.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>We call on human rights organisations to investigate the
abuses and act to stop the Mexican Government perpetrating violence against
its people. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>We call on the British Government to persue whatever avenues
of diplomacy it has at its disposal to protect the victims of this oppression
. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>And finally we call on all UK citizens, political parties
and organisations, trade unions, NGOs, charities and autonomous groups to
protest the repression and echo the above demands by spreading information,
making public statements, writing letters to the Mexican Government and
Ambassador to Britain and taking part in any demonstrations that are
organised here in the UK. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>For further information contact </FONT><A
href="mailto:edinchiapas@yahoo.co.uk"></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>edinchiapas@yahoo.co.uk</A><FONT size=2> or go to </FONT><A
href="http://www.edinchiapas.org.uk/"></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>www.edinchiapas.org.uk</A><FONT size=2>. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><PRE style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102); FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif"><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Please write to the following denouncing the ongoing repression in Mexico:</FONT></PRE><PRE style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102); FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif"><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2><BR><BR>Mexican Ambassador to UK:<BR>Juan José Bremer de Martino<BR>16 St. George St, Mayfair<BR>London<BR>W1S 1LX<BR>E-mail: </FONT><A href="mailto:mexuk@easynet.co.uk" target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>mexuk@easynet.co.uk</A></PRE><PRE style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102); FONT-FAMILY: Arial,sans-serif"><BR><BR><FONT color=#000000 size=2>President Vicente Fox Quesada. E-mail:<BR></FONT><A href="http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=vicente.fox.quesada@presidencia.gob.mx&YY=21372&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b" target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>vicente.fox.quesada@presidencia.gob.mx</A><BR><A href="http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=radio@presidencia.gob.mx&YY=21372&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b" target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>radio@presidencia.gob.mx</A><BR><A href="http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=webadmon@appresidencia.gob.mx&YY=21372&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b" target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>webadmon@appresidencia.gob.mx</A><BR><BR><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Oaxaca State Governor: Ulises Ruiz Ortiz<BR></FONT><A href="http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/ym/Compose?To=gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx&YY=21372&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b" target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx</A></PRE><FONT
style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102)" face=Arial>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Lic. Enrique Peña Nieto, Constitutional
Governor of the State of Mexico. E-mail:<BR></FONT><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=gob@gem.gob.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>gob@gem.gob.mx</A><BR><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=gob@gubernatura.gem.gob.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>gob@gubernatura.gem.gob.mx</A><BR><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mreyescomunicacionsocial@hotmail.com"
target=_blank></FONT><font color="red"><b>MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be</b></font> <FONT color=#000000
size=2>mreyescomunicacionsocial@hotmail.com</A><BR>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT></DIV>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United
Nations in Geneva. E-mail: </FONT><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mission.mexico@ties.itu.int"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>mission.mexico@ties.itu.int</A><FONT color=#000000 size=2>
</FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Attorney General of the Republic, E-mail:
</FONT><A href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ofproc@pgr.gob.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>ofproc@pgr.gob.mx</A><FONT
color=#000000 size=2> </FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández, President of
the CNDH. E-mail: </FONT><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=correo@fmdh.cndh.org.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><font color="red"><b>MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be</b></font> <FONT color=#000000
size=2>correo@fmdh.cndh.org.mx</A><FONT color=#000000 size=2> </FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Lic. Carlos Maria Abascal Carranza, Secretary
of Government. E-mail: </FONT><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ghuerta@segob.gob.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>ghuerta@segob.gob.mx</A><FONT
color=#000000 size=2> </FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Lic. Abel Villicaña Estrada, Attorney General
of the State of Mexico. E-mail: </FONT><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=gemcpgj@mail.edomex.gob.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>gemcpgj@mail.edomex.gob.mx</A><FONT color=#000000 size=2>
</FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Viceadmiral Wilfrido Robledo Madrid,
Commissioner of the State Security Agency. E-mail: </FONT><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=robledo.m.w@mail.edomex.gob.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>robledo.m.w@mail.edomex.gob.mx</A><FONT color=#000000 size=2>
</FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<LI><FONT color=#000000 size=2>General Judiciary Council of the State of
Mexico. E-mail: </FONT><A
href="http://uk.f257.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=acs@mail.pjedomex.gob.mx"
target=_blank></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>acs@mail.pjedomex.gob.mx</A><FONT color=#000000 size=2>
</FONT></FONT><BR style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102)">
<H2 style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102)"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>Prisoner Solidarity</FONT></H2><FONT style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102)"
face=Arial></FONT>
<DIV style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102)"><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>Paypal account to help support prisoner solidarity efforts (set up by
the Centro de Medios Libres): </FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,102)"><FONT face=Arial><A
href="http://www.vientos.info/presosdonaciones/" target=_blank></FONT><FONT
color=#000000 size=2>http://www.vientos.info/presosdonaciones/</A><FONT
color=#000000 size=2> </FONT></FONT></DIV></LI></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>