Urgent Action 2-26-11

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA

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For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
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25 February 2011

More Information on UA 01/10 (January 5, 2010) and follow-ups (February 8, 2011 and February 18, 2011) – Fear for safety

MEXICO

Malena Reyes (f)
Elías Reyes (m)
Luisa Ornelas (f)
Maria Luisa Andrade (f)

The bodies of Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes and Luisa Ornelas have been found in Guadalupe Distrito Bravos, northern Mexico, close to where they were kidnapped on 7 February. Amnesty International is gravely concerned for the safety of their family.

On 25 February, the bodies of Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes and Luisa Ornelas were found at a petrol station in Guadalupe Distrito Bravos municipality in the Valle de Juárez, east of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua state. Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes and his wife Luisa Ornelas were abducted on 7 February. The three were travelling in a truck together with Sara Salazar, the mother of Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes. Also travelling in the car was the daughter of murdered human rights defender Josefina Reyes. Armed men stopped the truck and forced Sara Salazar and the young child to get out of the vehicle. They then drove off with Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes and Luisa Ornelas, leaving Sara Salazar and the young child on the side of the road.

Elías Reyes and Malena Reyes are the brother and sister of Josefina Reyes who was shot and killed on 3 January 2010 by unidentified gunmen. Since 2008, Josefina Reyes had been active in protests against the violence in the area by organized crime, and human rights violations committed by the military. Rubén Reyes, another brother of Josefina Reyes, was shot dead on 18 August 2010 on his way to buy food by his home in Guadalupe Distrito Bravos municipality. The investigation into both killings has not progressed.

On 15 February, the family home in the town of Guadalupe, outside Ciudad Juarez in the Valle de Juárez, was burnt down by an armed gang using homemade petrol bombs.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since 2007, violence linked to organized crime has spiraled in Mexico. The media has reported more than 30,000 drug cartel related killings. The majority of these murders have occurred in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua state. President Calderón’s administration has attempted to combat the drug cartels by deploying thousands of federal police and over 50,000 military personnel in the worst affected areas, particularly Ciudad Juárez. However this has not resulted in a reduction in violence. According to the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), reports of abuses by the military, including unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detentions and illegal house searches increased significantly since 2006. These cases are routinely investigated and tried by the military justice system, which does not guarantee an impartial and independent investigation, resulting in impunity for the vast majority of perpetrators. As a result victims and their relatives are denied an effective recourse to justice, and military officials are aware that they are extremely unlikely to be held to account.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
--Calling for immediate measures to be taken to protect members of the Reyes family, to be implemented in accordance with the wishes of those at risk;
--Calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the killing of Josefina Reyes, Rubén Reyes, Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes and Luisa Ornelas with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice.

APPEALS TO:

Minister of the Interior
Lic. José Francisco Blake Mora
Secretario, Sec. de Gobernación
Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez,
Delegación Cuauhtémoc,
México D.F., C.P. 06600
MÉXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 30032900 ext. 32356
Email: secretario@segob.gob.mx
Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimado Señor Secretario

Attorney General of the Republic
Arturo Chávez Chávez
Procurador General de la República
Procuraduría General de la República
Av. Paseo de la Reforma nº 211-213,
Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. Cuauhtémoc
México D.F., C.P. 06500
MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 5346 0908
Email: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Señor Procurador General

State Attorney General
Lic. César Duarte
Gobernador del Estado de Chihuahua,
Palacio de Gobierno, 1er piso, C.
Aldama #901, Col. Centro,
Chihuahua, Estado de Chihuahua, C.P31000
MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 614 429 3300 (then dial extension 11066 when prompted)
Salutation: Señor Gobernador/Dear Governor

COPIES TO:

Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana
Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20006
Fax: 1 202 728 1698
Email: mexembusa@sre.gob.mx

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 8 April 2011.

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This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
Thank you for your help with this appeal.

Urgent Action Network
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http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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