Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

FU UA: 01/10 Index: AMR 41/005/2011

Three relatives of murdered human rights defender Josefina Reyes have been abducted. Their lives and those of their relatives are at risk.

On 7 February, Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes and his wife Luisa Ornelas were abducted in Guadalupe Distrito Bravos municipality in the Valle de Juárez, east of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua state. The three were travelling in a truck together with Sara Salazar, the mother of Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes and Josefina Reyes, and Josefina Reyes’ daughter. 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. In August 2009, she participated in a Forum on Militarization and Repression (Foro Contra la Militarización y la Represión) in Ciudad Juárez, to protest at increasing human rights violations committed by members of 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.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:

• Calling on the authorities to take immediate steps to establish the whereabouts of to Malena Reyes, Elías Reyes, and his wife Luisa Ornelas and if they are in detention, charge them with a recognised offence or release them immediately,
• Urging them to immediately provide protection for the families of the three, in accordance with their wishes.
• Calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the killing of Josefina and Rubén Reyes, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 21 MARCH 2011 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: (+52) 55 5093 3414
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: +52 55 5346 0908
Email: ofproc pgr.gob.mx
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Señor Procurador General


Governor of Chihuahua State
Lic. José Reyes Baeza Terrazas
Gobernador del Estado de Chihuahua,
Palacio de Gobierno, 1er piso, C. Aldama #901, Col. Centro,
Chihuahua, Estado de Chihuahua, C.P 31000, Mexico
Fax: +52 614 429 3300 (then dial extension 11066 when prompted)
Salutation: Señor Gobernador/
Dear Governor

Also send copies to: gustavo.delarosa gmail.com and to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 01/10. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/i...


Additional Information

Since 2007, violence linked to organized crime has spiralled 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.

FU UA: 01/10 Index: AMR 41/005/2011 Issue Date: 08 February 2011