Chiapas: Maximiliano Gordillo Martinez Reappears after 52 Days Missing

In a joint statement published on September 2, the Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Center for Human Rights (CDHFBC), Meso-American Voices and La 72 Shelter for Migrants, reported that the youth Maximiliano Gordillo Martinez, who was missing since May 7 when he was stopped at a checkpoint of the National Migration Institute (INM) in Tabasco, reappeared alive.

Located on August 29, Maximilian is now with his family. They denounced that “since his arrest by INM federal agents on May 7 last at the immigration checkpoint at Chablé, Tabasco, until the day of his location on August 29, Maximiliano -a youth of 18 from the municipality of Socoltenango- was the victim of crimes and serious violations of his human rights, through the blame of the Mexican state. “

They claimed that “the documenting and analysis of the case continues in order to define the terms of the follow-up”, while asking for “sensitivity and respect to the processes of healing and strengthening as concrete ways of expressing solidarity”.

They stated that “what Maximiliano lived through reveals the magnitude of the structural, institutional and social violence suffered by Mexicans and people from other countries during their movements to migratory destinations within our country. But it also reminds us that the demand for and realization of truth, justice and full reparation imply a conscious and mobilized civil society.”

For more information in Spanish:

Tras 52 días de desaparecido, joven indígena aparece con vida en Chiapas (Revista Proceso, 3 de septiembre de 2016)

Reaparece joven mexicano detenido por el INM desde mayo (La Jornada, 3 de septiembre de 2016)

A casi cuatro meses de que el INM lo desapareciera, indígena chiapaneco es hallado con vida (Sin Embargo, 3 de septiembre de 2016)

Boletín “Maximiliano ya está con nosotros, con nosotras” (CDHFBC, Voces Mesoamericanas, La 72, 3 de septiembre de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas/Nacional: Siguen las exigencias de la presentación con vida de Maximiliano Gordillo Martinez, desaparecido forzadamente en mayo (24 de agosto de 2016)

Chiapas/Nacional: Conferencia de prensa sobre la desaparición Forzada de Maximiliano Gordillo Martínez (16 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas/Nacional : Denuncian desaparición forzada de Maximiliano Gordillo Martínez por agentes del INM (24 de mayo de 2016)

 

National: Report Launch “Defending Human Rights in Mexico: Normalization of Political Repression”

On August 24 last, the Mexico Cerezo Committee, the organization Urgent Action for Human Rights Defenders and the National Campaign Against Forced Disappearance presented the report Defending Human Rights in Mexico: Normalization of Political Repression, which covers the period from June 2015 to May 2016. The report indicates that 87 violations of the human rights of defenders which occurred in 2011, increased to 118 in 2012, 160 in 2013, 225 in 2014 and 302 in 2015. Another 35 were documented so far this year.

For the first time, the number of physical assaults surpassed that of threats and harassment of activists and human rights defenders, and also that Guerrero, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan and Veracruz account for half of these abuses (293 attacks on activists of a total of 482). The fifth report included 41 death threats, three forced disappearances, 186 physical assaults, 55 evictions, nine cases where shots were fired and an equal number of damage to or theft of property.

The document notes that most of the violations are related to the promotion of various mega-projects, where activists and advocates accompany social movements fighting for their territory, water, forests and natural resources.

Commenting on the report, Jesus Peña Palacios, from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico, underlined the obligation of the government and its authorities to ensure the work of human rights defenders. Father Miguel Concha stated that “there is always a political intention to commit these violations.” Fernando Rios, Rights for All Network, denounced for his part the existence of a state policy characterized by insults, harassment and attacks against domestic and foreign defenders, as in the case of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) in the Ayotzinapa case.

 For more information in Spanish:

CONSULTA 5° Informe VDH: Defender los derechos humanos en México:- La normalización de la represión política (Junio de 2015 a mayo de 2016). (Comité Cerezo, agosto de 2016)

Concentran cinco entidades casos de agresión contra activistas: ONG (Revista Proceso, 24 de agosto de 2016)

Superan ya las agresiones físicas a las amenazas contra activistas (La Jornada Maya, 25 de agosto de 2016)

Aumentan ataques a defensores de DH debido a protestas contra reformas estructurales y caso Ayotzinapa: Comité Cerezo (Revolución 3.0, 25 de agosto de 2016)

Normalización de la represión política (La Jornada, 27 de agosto de 2016)

 For more information from SIPAZ :

Nacional/Guerrero: Informes poco favorables sobre corrupción y derechos humanos en México (3 de febrero de 2016)

National/International: First Official Visit of the UNO Working Group on Companies and Human Rights

From August 29 to September 7, the United Nations Working Group on companies and human rights will make its first official visit to Mexico with the purpose of observing that the Mexican government and companies fulfill their obligations on the question of human rights. The group will meet with government officials, companies, human rights defenders, as well as representatives of indigenous peoples and communities in Mexico City and the states of Mexico, Oaxaca, Jalisco and Sonora.

On the occasion of this visit, more than 100 organizations, movements and civil society networks published a report that outlines the major violations of human rights by businesses. The report covers the involvement of 99 companies: 41 domestic, 50 foreign, and eight public. It highlights that in more than half of the cases there was some kind of intimidation or attacks against human rights defenders and notes that the most frequent violations were of the right to land and territory; the right of access to information; to a healthy environment; negative effects on health and lack of compliance with indigenous rights. The collective of organizations reported that progress of the UN Guiding Principles is impeded due to state complicity with business interests over the protection of the public interest; structural reforms that weaken the protection of human rights, such as energy reform; lack of prior consultation and of prior, free, informed, culturally appropriate agreements made in good faith, among others.

It is worth recalling that the UN established this Working Group in 2011, after unanimously approving the “Guidelines on Companies and Human Rights”, which oblige states to protect their citizens “from abuses of human rights in their territories, including from companies.” These state that governments should “take the necessary steps to prevent, investigate, punish and redress” abuses by companies and legislate for them to respect human rights in their operations. This guide also urges companies – “irrespective of their size, sector, operational context, owners or structure” – not to “contribute to negative impacts on human rights through their activities” and identify in advance the effects on the human rights that they could generate.

At the end of their mission, experts will hold a press conference to share the preliminary observations of their visit, which will later serve as the basis for a published report.

For more information in Spanish:

Grupo de Trabajo de la ONU sobre empresas y derechos humanos visitará México (Boletín oficial de la ONU, 24 de agosto de 2016)

ONU verificará respeto a derechos humanos en empresas y gobiernos de México (Revista Proceso, 24 de agosto de 2016)

Verificarán expertos de la ONU que empresas eólicas o mineras no violen DH en Oaxaca (Página3.mx, 24 de agosto de 2016)

BOLETÍN E INFORME: Pide sociedad civil a la ONU documentar violaciones a derechos humanos por parte de empresas (ProDesc, 28 de agosto de 2016)

Empresas ¿versus? Derechos Humanos (Revista Proceso, 29 de agosto de 2016)

National/Guerrero: “43 Days for the 43” Campaign Begins

In August, almost two years after the forced disappearance of 43 students from the Raul Isidro Burgos Normal School, Ayotzinapa, parents, students and civil organizations began the “43 Days for the 43” campaign for the second consecutive year. This is a social networking campaign, which was started to continue the demand for appearance of the students with life, for truth, justice and reparation.

It should be recalled that on 19 August, parents of the 43 student teachers broke negotiations with the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) after its refusal to deliver results of the investigation to the director of the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA), Tomas Zeron Lucio. The lawyer for the parents, Vidulfo Rosales Sierra said that fathers and mothers would not return to the negotiating table until there is “force of will and a firm position on what will happen with Tomas Zeron” who is being investigated for conducting proceedings that are not included in the file on the disappearance of the student teachers, as evidenced by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) in its latest report.

On another note, on August 29, the Attorney General of the Republic, Arely Gomez Gonzalez reported that investigations into the case are not closed, and presented PRI senators with a report to this regard. He said that, “we will continue working to bring all those responsible to justice.” He recalled that, “we have recorded 168 people involved in the case. Of these, 54 are municipal police of Iguala and 19 from Cocula. The rest are members, accomplices or associates of the criminal group Guerreros Unidos” and that “We have obtained 223 formal imprisonment orders and 209 arrest warrants for various crimes such as kidnapping, organized crime, forced disappearance, homicide and possession of firearms, among others.” He reported that the PGR has received 941 requests from the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), of which 91 percent had been addressed and the rest are in the process of being seen to. He stated that 608 preliminary investigations into probable corruption offenses committed by public servants have started and criminal action was brought against 280 involved.

For more information in Spanish:

Sitio Web de la Campaña 

Rompen el diálogo padres de los 43 con la PGR; no les informó de la investigación a Zerón, denuncian (El Sur, 19 de agosto de 2016)

Caso Iguala sigue abierto, reitera Arely Gómez (La Jornada, 29 de agosto de 2016)

PGR presenta informe a casi dos años de la desaparición de los normalistas de Ayotzinapa (Animal Político, 29 de agosto de 2016)

 For more information from SIPAZ :

Guerrero/Nacional: Familia de Julio César Mondragón Fontes exige investigación integral (18 de julio de 2016)

Guerrero/Nacional : Jueces dan por muertos a los 43 desaparecidos de Ayotzinapa (18 de mayo de 2016)

Guerrero/México: GIEI concluye su trabajo México entregando un segundo informe. (28 de abril de 2016)

 

Chiapas: Visits Denied to Unjustly Imprisoned Roberto Paciencia Cruz, in CERESO No. 5

Complaint from Roberto Paciencia Cruz (Photo: @ Revolución TRESPUNTOCERO)

On August 28, Roberto Paciencia Cruz, an unjustly imprisoned Tzotzil indigenous in CERESO No. 5 San Cristobal de Las Casas and adherent to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle of the EZLN, issued a complaint to report “the unjust humiliation and psychological torture” that all those who are in the different prisons of the state and country suffer, and to personally highlight the treatment and humiliation that he is suffering. In his complaint, he reports what happened on August 27 in the CERESO No. 5: “the warden Abelardo Mendez Gonzalez and guard Isidro Manuel Vazquez Hernádez […] with director Victor Manuel Vazquez Hernandez” completely refused the entrance of his visits. He states that, “As poor indigenous people they humiliate us like this.” Consequently, Roberto Cruz Patience demands that the governor Manuel Velazco Coello take action on the outlined issue regarding “officials who mismanage their positions.” At the same time he demands his freedom from the state government as soon as possible, as well as the release of his comrade Alejandro Diaz Santiz. Roberto concludes his complaint calling for “Justice and freedom.”

It is noteworthy that three years after his arrest, Roberto Paciencia Cruz is still awaiting sentencing.

For more information in Spanish:

Denuncia de Roberto Paciencia Cruz, injustamente preso Adherente a la Sexta Declaración de la Selva Lacandona (Koman Ilel, 29 de agosto de 2016)

Velasco Coello el acérrimo enemigo de indígenas, a quienes se les fabrica delitos y se les encierra en la cárcel ( Revolución TRESPUNTOCERO, 11 de agosto de 2016)

For more information from Sipaz:

Chiapas: Roberto Paciencia Cruz, tres años preso en el Centro Estatal de Reinserción Social de Sentenciados (CERSS) número 5 (19 de agosto de 2016)

Chiapas: Roberto Paciencia escribe a Alejandro Díaz (24 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas: Roberto Paciencia se asume como Adherente a La Sexta (25 de mayo de 2016)

Chiapas: Denuncia Roberto Paciencia desatención en su salud visual (24 de febrero de 2016)

Chiapas/National: Demands That Maximiliano Gordillo Martinez, Forcibly Disappeared in May, Be Presented Alive Continue

Press conference to demand that Maximiliano Gordillo Martínez be presented alive (Photo @AFPTV)

Maximiliano Martinez Gordillo, 18, who left his home in the municipality of Socoltenango for Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo in search of work, was forcibly disappeared “at the hands of immigration agents” last May. Since then, the Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Centre for Human Rights (CDHFBC), along with Mesoamerican Voices (Voices), Home 72 – Refuge for Migrants (La 72), and the disappeared boy’s parents have been seeking his whereabouts. On August 21, Maximilian turned 19 and is still missing. As part of the efforts being made to demand Maximilian be presented alive, parents, CDHFBC, Voices and the 72 have joined forces to hold several press conferences in Chiapas, Tabasco and recently in Mexico City, where they claimed that on May 7 last, the National Migration Institute (INM) “in conjunction with Tabasco State Police took Maximilian from the bus he was migrating on to another state of the republic in search of work, he was arrested, intimidated and disappeared.”

The arrests of migrants from Central America, Mexico and people on their way to the United States of America, is nothing new. The CDHFBC, Voices and 72 reported in a press conference in Mexico City that, “according to official figures, from October 2014 to April 2015, the US stopped 70,440 people, while 92,889 migrants were deported in the same period by the Mexican State. Meanwhile, in 2015, Mexico deported approximately 150,000 migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras primarily, representing an increase of 44% over the previous year, making it the biggest “deporter” of people at global level.” They also say that this hardening “is added to the crime of organized groups that steal from, extort, commit sexual crimes against and kidnap migrants. There have also been documented cases of trafficking for sex work and cases of young people who are forced to work for organized crime itself. These criminal groups operate in the territories under constant and staunch presence of the immigration authorities and public security bodies; from this the participation and responsibility of the authorities of the Mexican state is inferred, although they deny it, there is an abundance of testimonies from residents and victims, who constantly point out both direct participation of public officials across all hierarchical levels in these crimes, as well as complicity, tolerance and ineffectiveness in prosecuting those responsible.”

Given this panorama, human rights organizations, together with the family, made an urgent call for national and international solidarity to demand the immediate presentation with life of Maximilian, and “a comprehensive investigation into those responsible.” Among other actions, they invited people to sign and share the urgent action on the Avaaz website, and to widely share the story of Maximilian. Both links can be found below.

For more information in Spanish:

Firma la petición en Avaaz

La desaparición forzada práctica cotidiana en México Violaciones a derechos humanos cometidas por agentes de Migración (CDHFBC, Voces Mesoamericanas, La 72 Hogar y Refugio para personas migrantes, 22 de agosto de 2016)

Desaparición Forzada por agentes migratorios. Historia de Maximiliano Gordillo Martínez (Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, 22 de agosto de 2016)

México: Agentes de Migración participan en desapariciones (ONG) (22 de agosto de 2016)

Le diría a Peña Nieto que me devuelva mi hijo, porque su gente lo detuvo: padre de migrante desaparecido (Revolución res punto cero, 23 de agosto de 2016)

Perspectivas – La desaparición forzada del joven Maximiliano Gordillo (RompeViento TV, 23 agosto 2016)

A tres meses de la desaparición forzada de Maximiliano Gordillo Martínez, entre la impunidad y corrupción (Voces Mesoamericanas, 8 de agosto de 2016)

Instituto Nacional de Migración desaparece a Joven Migrante Chiapaneco (Radio Zapote, 18 de agosto de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas/Nacional: Conferencia de prensa sobre la desaparición Forzada de Maximiliano Gordillo Martínez (16 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas/Nacional : Denuncian desaparición forzada de Maximiliano Gordillo Martínez por agentes del INM (24 de mayo de 2016)

Chiapas: Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Human Rights Center Asks for Precautionary Measures for Woman Prisoner Who Was Tortured

Patricia del Carmen Paniagua Gomez (@PGJE)

In a bulletin on August 16, 2016, the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center (CDHFBC) reported that it had requested precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (CIDH) for Patricia del Carmen Paniagua Gomez, a woman prisoner since April 2014, whose life is in danger after the torture she was subjected to when arrested.

Within three months of entering prison she was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, a chronic degenerative disease. The CDHFBC said that given the inadequate and insufficient medical care by the prison authorities, “there is no metabolic control and a persistence of psychiatric symptoms that adversely affect” her general state of health which represents an imminent threat to Patricia’s life and physical and psychological integrity, “because she can fall into a diabetic coma and / or die at any time.”

In the background to the case, the CDHFBC mentioned that, in April 2014, Margarito Benjamin Zolano Gonzalez was arrested in the municipal capital of Teopisca along with Patricia del Carmen Paniagua Gomez and Maria del Rosario Zolano Gonzalez without an arrest warrant. The three people were tortured and accused of the death of Manuel Velazquez Hernandez, leader of the National Organization of People’s Power (ONPP), whose body was found in Teopisca municipal dump in February 2014.

For more information in Spanish:

Riesgo a la vida por grave estado de salud en condiciones carcelarias de víctima de tortura (Boletín del Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, 16 de agosto de 2016)

Piden a la CIDH medidas cautelares para presa que fue torturada (Proceso, 16 de agosto de 2016)

Patricia Paniagua en injusto encarcelamiento exige su libertad por cuestiones de salud (Chiapas Paralelo, 6 de agosto de 2016)

 

 

 

 

In a bulletin on August16, 2016, the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center (CDHFBC) reported that it had requested precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (CIDH) for Patricia del Carmen Paniagua Gomez, a woman prisoner since April 2014, whose life is in danger after the torture he was subjected to when arrested.

 

Within three months of entering prison she was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, a chronic degenerative disease. The CDHFBC said that given the inadequate and insufficient medical care by the prison authorities, “there is no metabolic control and a persistence of psychiatric symptoms that adversely affect [her]” her general state of health puts represents an imminent threat to Patricia’s life and physical and psychological integrity, “because she can fall into a diabetic coma and / or loss of life at any time.”

 

In the background to the case, the CDHFBC mentioned that, in April 2014, Margarito Benjamin Zolano Gonzalez was arrested in the municipal capital of Teopisca along with Patricia del Carmen Paniagua Gomez and Maria del Rosario Zolano Gonzalez without an arrest warrant. The three people were tortured and accused of the death of Manuel Velazquez Hernandez, leader of the National Organization of People’s Power (ONPP), whose body was found in Teopisca municipal dump in February 2014.

 

For more information in Spanish:

Riesgo a la vida por grave estado de salud en condiciones carcelarias de víctima de tortura (Boletín del Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, 16 de agosto de 2016)

Piden a la CIDH medidas cautelares para presa que fue torturada (Proceso, 16 de agosto de 2016)

Patricia Paniagua en injusto encarcelamiento exige su libertad por cuestiones de salud (Chiapas Paralelo, 6 de agosto de 2016)