Following are key portions of the CNDH report (sept. 26th) on Federal and State investigations into Brad Will’s murder, mostly from sections entitled “Observations”, and a little bit from “Sintesis”
- translated by Jill F.

The National Human Rights Commission has analyzed the facts and evidence included in Case 2006/4886/5/Q and determines that the public authorities of the Oaxacan State Attorney General’s office, as well as those in the Federal Attorney General’s office who were responsible for overseeing the proceedings 11/FEADP/07 found in the office of the Special Prosecutor for Crimes Against Journalists, violated the fundamental rights of legality and judicial security. (more…)

On September 30th, 2008, in Mexico City,The National Council of Citizen Communicators (known for its Spanish initials CONACC) presented an award in the name of Brad Will. Nick Cooper of Friends of Brad Will attended the ceremony to accept the award in Brad’s name.

CONACC was founded on September 17, 2006 at the Journalists Club of Mexico, a day after the formal establishment of the Democratic National Convention. Initially the founding states were the Federal District and Durango with the later they were joined Sonora, Baja California, Yucatan, the State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Nuevo León, Guerrero, the United States, Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Panama.

CONACC celebrated its second anniversary with the Ricardo Flores Magon award to reporters and “citizen communicators” for achievements in journalism, ethics, and commitment to the community. Other recipients included families, friends and suporters of those killed in the the 2006 police attack in Atenco, and families of those killed in the March cross-border raid by Colombian troops of a FARC encampment in Ecuador.

more coverage and audio in Spanish

Nick’s presentation in Spanish (English below):

Es un gran privilegio el recibir este honor aquí, además es un privilegio mio que tengo suficientes recursos economicos-, y el apoyo de mucha gente para poder venir. Mil gracias a Robert, Lee, Hardy, Christine, Selina, Massoud, Dorinda, Julita, Patricia, Richard, Luis, Magdalena, y Alexander por la ayuda que me han dado. El privilegio desempeña un gran papel en la vida de gente como Brad Will y yo mismo, quienes tenemos suficiente para viajar, tener equipo, de llegar a un lugar, participar, aprender, hacer periodismo, y al final regresar a casa. Sin embargo, en octubre de 2006, Brad no fue capaz de salir de Oaxaca vivo y regresar a casa. (more…)

The state and federal officials responsible for investigating the murder of Brad Will were strongly denounced by the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) which declared that the federal and state attorneys general have violated ‘human rights, legality, judicial security and access to justice.’

Soberanes of the CNDH has also given the AGs a very short time frame to find and punish those who botched the investigation immediately after the murder and thereafter.

Very strong stuff. Guess we’ll find out who prevails.

You can see the document of CNDH here: http://www.cndh.org.mx/recomen/recomen.asp

The document details many of the glaring omissions and irregularities by the Mexican government and the (Prosecutor General of the Republic (PGR) in the case of Brad Will’s murder. The CNDH finds the theory peddled by Lizbet Cana (Oaxacan State Prosecutor) and by the federal prosecutor that Brad was killed by APPO people standing near him absurd.

An altar to Brad Will, created by artist Tanyth Berkeley, whose work has been featured at the Museum of Modern Art will be on display at the world renowned BELLWETHER gallery.

July 10th - August 8th, 2008 Opening Reception: Thursday, July 10th, 6-8PM

Vanessa Albury, Tanyth Berkeley & Todd Chandler, Tammy Rae Carland,
Patricia Cronin, Amrita Das, Leela Devi, Rob Hauschild, Paa Joe,
Joss paper effigies, Roy Kortick, Lisa Ross, Victorian hair
wreaths, Marc Swanson & Joe Mama-Nitzberg

Curated by Becky Smith

If Love Could Have Saved You, You Would Have Lived Forever is an
exhibition of art and objects that reference the aesthetics, material
culture, and traditional gestures surrounding death and remembrance.
(more…)

Another way of saying ‘political pressure’ is ‘lack of political will’, a reality which an arms package (i.e. the Merida Initiative) would only make worse. The case of Brad Will mentioned below. RJ

http://www.cpj.org/news/2008/americas/mexico09jun08na.html

Calderón endorses federalization of crimes against freedom of expression

Mexico City, June 9, 2008—President Felipe Calderón today pledged his commitment to federalize crimes against freedom of expression in a meeting with the Committee to Protect Journalists in Mexico City.

Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora announced draft legislation that would amend Article 73 of Mexico’s political constitution and would make a federal offense any crime causing “social alarm,” including threats to freedom of expression.

“The government agrees with the idea of federalizing crimes against freedom of expression,” Calderón said. He said the proposed legislation would be brought before Congress at its next session in September.

Calderón met with a CPJ delegation led by board Chairman Paul Steiger and Executive Director Joel Simon at his official residence, Los Pinos. CPJ expressed concern at ongoing violence against journalists who cover organized crime and official corruption, and highlighted the climate of fear in which the Mexican media work.

“The most important threat to independent journalists in Mexico is the same threat faced by society as a whole—organized crime,” Calderón said. (more…)

AFL-CIO opposes the Merida Initiative

Clicking on the link above will allow you to download the AFL-CIO pdf of letters to Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Berman (D-California) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight Congressman Delahunt (D-Massachusetts).

We’ve been letting them know what they should do:

i) publicly oppose Bush’s Merida Initiative;
ii) hold hearings w/opponents to the Merida Initiative; and
iii) officially table consideration of Merida Initiative for funding until the next President, who would have to live w/destabilizing effects of Bush’s newest ill-thought out “security” initiative, is elected.

They should not be only listening to boosters of Bush’s newest ’security’ aid package, allowing it to be tucked away in the Iraq Emergency Supplemental instead of standing on its own merits (or lack thereof).

UN press freedom prize goes to crusading Mexican journalist This is especially relevant for two reasons: 1) they’re killing radio announcers this week, 2) Puebla is very similar to Oaxaca in having a corrupt PRI governor protected by Calderon, and for the same reason: needing PRI votes in congress. ND

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 07:51:00 04/10/2008
PARIS – Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho Ribeiro will be given the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize for her work exposing political corruption and organized crime, the UN cultural body said Wednesday.

“Through investigative journalism, she uncovered the involvement of businessmen, politicians and drug traffickers in prostitution and child pornography” in Mexico, said UNESCO in a statement announcing the award. (more…)

On March 7, 2008, FoBW attended a strategy meeting in D.C. with some of our allies.

[See more pics here.]

The purpose of the “Strategy Meeting on NAFTA and the SPP” was to “establish a coordinated plan of action to Strengthen and broaden the trinational network of organizations working for fair and democratic trade policies and against NAFTA (and like-minded policies) and its expansion through mechanisms like the SPP.”

Here is a description of the SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership) and here its connection to Plan Mexico.
(more…)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2008/02/rights-group-to.html

Rights group to Calderon: “Heal thyself”
Mexican President Felipe Calderon is in the United States this week stumping
for fair treatment of immigrants living north of the border, regardless of
their legal status.

While supporting that effort, the human rights group Amnesty International
says that Calderon should get his own house in order. (more…)

La foto del papá de Marisol apareció en el periódico, y alguien lo
denunció al departamento de control de aduana e inmigración (ICE). En
medio de toda la alegría sobre el nuevo bebé, los agentes de
inmigración llegaron a la casa y se lo llevaron. Actualmente se
encuentra detenido y en proceso de ser deportado. (more…)