People rally near the cathedral in Morelia, Mexico as part of a campaign against violence called 'Peace Caravan. / Reuters
Key Juárez Human Rights Organization Broken Into by Federal Police as Peace Caravan Makes its Way North
Last Sunday night, just after eight o’clock, Mexican Federal Police violently broke into and searched the offices of the Centro de Derechos Humanos, Paso del Norte. This Center, led by Father Oscar Enriquez, has played a pivotal role in building Mexico’s national peace movement and is a Global Exchange partner.
The Center is also a principal organizer host of the Peace Caravan, led by poet Javier Sicilia, that will arrive in Ciudad Juárez this Thursday night to discuss and sign the “National Pact for Peace with Justice and Dignity” which was described in a previous post.
Please join Global Exchange and dozens of other organizations in letting U.S. authorities know that we are deeply disturbed by this criminal action by Federal Police — clearly aimed at intimidating the courageous Mexicans who have been speaking out for peace.
TAKE ACTION
Write to:
- Arturo Valenzuela, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affair, valenzuelaaa@state.gov
And copy on the e-mail:
- Roberta Jacobson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, jacobsonrs@state.gov
- Vanessa Acker, Human Rights Desk Officer in US Embassy in Mexico, ackervg@state.gov
- Ted Lewis, Global Exchange Human Rights Director, ted@globalexchange.org
Ask (in your own words) for the following things:
- That the the Mexican Attorney General’s office (Procurador General):
a) give a detailed explanation of the operation,
b) make a complete investigation of what occurred and by whose orders, and
c) punish those officials and police officers responsible for this incident.
d) That the State Department make a public statement in support of the peace initiatives undertaken on the Caravan and condemn this attack on human rights defenders.
Thank you for your support.