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.
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…)
Here’s a powerpoint presentation which Witness for Peace and EDUCA (Servicios para una Educación Alternativa, A.C.) have been using. Their event/tour just came to nyc and is now in upstate ny, moving to pennsylvania, maryland, delaware, d.c. and beyond.
Paul DeRienzo and Joan Moossy discuss the situation in Oaxaza, Mexico with filmmakers Damian Lopez and Sergio Julian of Mal de Ojo of Oaxaca. Translation by Amalia Cordova, director of the film and Video Center at the National Museum of the American Indian.
The current conflict began on June 14th when Oaxaca’s governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz sent in state police to break a teachers’ strike that was camped out in the center of Oaxaca City. Gov. Ruiz had already alarmed international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, for atrocities committed before the June 14 police violence. The actions on June 14th further ignited people’s anger throughout the State who responded, by forming the People’s Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO) who reinforced the teachers’ encampment in Oaxaca City. The single demand of the APPO has been the resignation of Gov. Ruiz. Up to the end of October, 12 people had been killed by police and paramilitary forces connected to Gov. Ruiz.
On October 27th, independent journalist, Bradley Will, was murdered at the hands of plainclothes police officers and local government officials in Santa Lucia del Camino, Oaxaca. According to local residents and the Mexican newspaper El Universal, the attackers have been positively identified as municipal police officers and government officials of Santa Lucia del Camino. Two men were arrested for the murder, Abel Santiago Zárate, who works for Public Security in Santa Lucía del Camino and a member of the Municipal Police, Orlando Manuel Aguilar Coello. On December 1st they were acquitted of all charges and released.
On October 29th, the Mexican Federal government dispatched several thousand Federal Preventative Police (PFP) troops to remove civilian protesters supporting the APPO from their encampments throughout the city. There were the recorded deaths of at least three civilians as a direct result of the excessive force that the PFP used to dislodge the protesters, despite official comments from the State and Federal governments to the contrary. In a move reminiscent of Mexico’s “dirty war” of the 1970’s and 80’s, civilians were detained without charges and brought by helicopter to nearby military bases. (more…)
Oaxaca is a major international tourist destination, with its vibrant folklore, architecture, and scenery. It is also the second poorest state in Mexico – 75% of its 3.4 million residents live in extreme poverty.
