From: Andrew Lang <lang@igc.apc.org>
Subject: AI FI336/92 MEXICO Death threats
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 03:14:12 GMT

/* Written  6:30 pm  Dec 19, 1992 by hrcoord@igc.apc.org in igc:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "AI FI336/92 MEXICO Death threats" ---------- */
/* Written  7:39 pm  Dec 18, 1992 by gn:rmitchellai in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI FI336/92 MEXICO Death threats" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 41/09/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC       
 
                                    18 December 1992
 
Further information on UA 336/92 (AMR 41/08/92, 29 October 1992) 
- Death Threats
 
MEXICO:     Maria Teresa JARDI, human rights lawyer
 
 Amnesty International is deeply concerned at reports of continuing
death threats against Maria Teresa Jardi, Director of the
Departamento de Solidaridad y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos de
la Arquidiocesis de Mexico, Department of Solidarity and Defence of
Human Rights of the Archdiocese of Mexico.  In the last death threat,
received on 5 December 1992, Maria Teresa Jardi was told "...now you
will have to say goodbye to lots of people.  I advise you to do it
before Christmas night, because you will be leaving soon, and not just
from Mexico..." ("...ahora vas a tener que despedirte de mucha gente. 
Te recomiendo lo hagas antes de la noche de navidad, porque ya te
vas y no precisamente de Mexico...").  Previous death threats had
warned her to stop her human rights work.  It is believed that her
investigations into human rights violations which have suggested the
involvement of law enforcement agents may be behind the threats.
 
On 3 November 1992, following the first death threats, the Camara de
Diputados de Mexico, Chamber of Deputies, requested that an
investigation be opened into the threats.  The Procuraduria General de
la Republica, Republic's Attorney General's Office, commissioned a
special investigation and provided a security escort for Maria Teresa
Jardi and her family.  President Salinas met with Maria Teresa Jardi
to discuss the situation.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
Several other human rights activists have received death threats in
recent years.  In May 1990, Norma Corona Sapien, a human rights
lawyer and president of a human rights commission in the State of
Sinaloa, was gunned down by unidentified gunmen.  At the time of her
assassination she was investigating the murders of four people, who
had reportedly been abducted and tortured by the federal judicial
police.  In March 1990, she had announced that she was receiving
death threats because of these investigations.  It was suggested that
government agents were behind her death.
 
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes, express and airmail letters in Spanish, English
or in your own language: 
 
- expressing deep concern that despite the government's efforts to
protect Maria Teresa Jardi and her family, she continues to receive
death threats; 
 
- urging that further measures are taken to clarify the identity of the
perpetrators and to bring those responsible to justice.
 
APPEALS TO:
 
President of the Republic of Mexico:
 
Lic. Carlos Salinas de Gortari
[Salutation: Sr. Presidente/Dear President]
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio Nacional
06067 Mexico D.F., MEXICO
Telegrams: Presidente Salinas, Mexico D.F., Mexico
Telexes: 170937 SPPNME; 1774468 SPPNME
Faxes: +5 27 11 764
 
Attorney General of the Republic:
 
Lic. Ignacio Morales Lechuga
[Salutation: Lic. Ignacio Morales Lechuga/Dear Sir]
Procurador General de la Republica
Procuraduria General de la Republica
Avenida Paseo de la Reforma s/n
esquina con Violeta
Colonia Guerrero
66300 Mexico DF, MEXICO
Telegrams: Procurador Morales Lechuga, Mexico DF, Mexico
Faxes: + 52 5 626 44 75; + 52 5 626 44 76
 
Attorney General of the Federal District:
 
Lic. Diego Valadez
[Salutation: Lic. Diego Valadez/Dear Sir]
Procurador General de Justicia del Distrito Federal
Ninos Heroes 61, 3er piso
esquina con Dr. Lavista
Colonia Doctores
Mexico DF, MEXICO
Telegrams: Procurador Diego Valadez, Mexico DF, Mexico
Faxes: + 52 5 761 84 74
 
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
 
Mexican Commission for the Defence and Promotion of Human
Rights:
 
Sres.
Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos
Humanos
Tabasco 262-201
Colonia Roma
07600 Mexico DF, MEXICO
 
weekly magazine:
 
Sr. Editor
Filo Rojo
Cuauhtemoc 16-mz
Col. Doctores
06720 Mexico DF, MEXICO
 
weekly magazine:
 
Sr. Editor
Proceso
Fresas 13
Col. del Valle
Mexico DF
MEXICO
 
and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details. 
 
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 29 January 1992.
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive