Mexico: Arbitrary Detention of Human Rights Defender

                                            MEX 006 / 9807 / OBS 053
                                                       21 July 1998 

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint 
programme of the FIDH and OMCT, requests your URGENT intervention 
in the following situation in Mexico.

Brief description of the facts:
The Observatory has been informed by the LIMEDDH (Mexican League 
for the Defence of Human Rights), member of the FIDH and the OMCT, 
of the arbitrary detention of Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández, 
President of the LIMEDDH branch in Minatitlan, State of Veracruz, who 
has been arrested on 18th July 1998.

Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández stated that he had been arrested, 
while walking in street Carranza y Amelia Riverol, around 1:00 p.m., by 
policemen of the 2nd patrol, at the instigation of the Municipal Trade 
Inspector, Mr. Miguel Angel Gómez Santiago.

Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández asserts that in the police car, Mr. 
Miguel Angel Gómez Santiago and Mr. Gilbio Cruz Ereickson, police 
inspector, tried to force him to sign a blank sheet of paper with the 
heading of the Trade Inspection. Ill treatment and death threats followed 
his refusal. Afterwards, he was brought before the State of Veracruz's 
Public Ministry's representative in Minatitlan. The Lic. Pedro Carrión 
opened an investigation (la Averiguacion Previa 580/98). According to 
this investigation Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández is accused of 
insulting the authority and provoking injury to the policeman Robert 
Presa Herrera. 

Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández also asserted that, after his 
appearance in front of the Public Minister, a policeman threatened him to 
death during his transfer to the police-station.

The LIMEDDH notes that Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández has 
injuries which, according to the medical expert should be resorbed in 15 
days. The organisation also specifies that the aggression perpetrated 
against Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández is due to his activity for the 
defence of the municipal market's merchants and the hawkers.
  
The LIMMEDH reminds also that in 1995, Mr. Venancio Hernández 
Hernández was victim of persecutions and that, thank to the urgent 
actions conducted at the national and international level, he could 
obtain guarantees for the proceeding of his activities.

Actions requested:
Please write to the Mexican authorities urging them to:

i.- adopt immediately the measures necessary in order to 
    guaranty the safety and the physical and psychological 
    integrity of Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández;

  ii.-put an end to any kind of persecution or harassment against 
    Mr. Venancio Hernández Hernández, including those of 
    judicial matter, which lack valid charges or, in the opposite 
    case, to assure that his case is examined by a competent and 
    impartial court and that his procedural rights are guaranteed.

  iii.-carry out a thorough and impartial investigation of the facts 
    mentioned above in order to identify those responsible and 
    impose upon them the sanctions provided by the laws in 
    force against persons guilty of such acts.

  iv.-adopt urgent and appropriate measures in order to ensure that 
    non-governmental human rights organisations, in particular 
    the LIMEDDH, and their members enjoy the conditions 
    necessary for the free performance of their activities in 
    promoting and defending fundamental rights and liberties.

  v.- guarantee in all circumstances the respect of human rights 
    and fundamental liberties in accordance with the Universal 
    Declaration of Human Rights and the international Pacts and 
    Covenants ratified by Mexico.

  Addresses:

  Lic. Patricio Chirinos Calero, Gobernador del Estado de Veracruz, 
Palacio de Gobierno Zaragoza esquina con Leandro Valle SN.Col. 
Centro. Jalapa, Veracruz. México. Fax : (+ 52 - 28) 18 21 67
Lic.Rodolfo Duarte Rivas, Procurador General de Justicia del Estado de 
Veracruz, México. Fax : (+ 52 - 28) 17 20 58   //  18 21 67
Lic. Mireille Roccatti Velazquez, Presidenta de la Comision Nacional de 
Derechos Humanos CNDH Periferico Sur 3469, Col. San Jeronimo 
Lidice, 10200, México, D.F. Fax : (+ 52 5) 6 81 71 99    E-mail : 
cndh@laneta.apc.org-Lic. Margarita
Herrera Ortiz, Presidente de la Comision de Derechos Humanos, del 
Estado de Veracruz, Calle Justino Sarmiento 3, Col. Aguacatal, 91130, 
Jalapa, Veracruz, México. Fax : (+ 52 - 28) 14 54 86
Lic. Amado Guzman Garcia, Presidente municipal de Minatitlan, 
Veracruz, Presidencia Municipal, Minatitlan, Veracruz, México. Fax : 52  
(+ 52 - 9 22) 4 00 33

Geneva - Paris, 21 July 1998
Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the 
code number of this appeal in your reply.

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