Edgar Coache Verano, the son of Mexican trade unionist and political activist Marcelino Coache, has received a threatening SMS message. Marcelino Coache and his family are in danger.
On 31 January, Marcelino Coache’s son Edgar Coache Verano received an SMS message, saying “he’s going to die for being a faggot” (“se va morir por puto”). It is believed that the threat refers to Marcelino Coache.
This latest threat follows a series of acts of intimidation and harassment to Oaxacan political activist Marcelino Coache and his family. On 4 March 2009, Marcelino Coache, a leading member of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca, APPO), was abducted by three men, in Oaxaca City. The men punched and hit him repeatedly with the butt of a gun and burned him with cigarettes around his nipples and genitals for several hours. He was released the following morning. Also in March 2009, Edgar Coache Verano was followed by several unidentified men in a van while he was walking home from school. From the van one of the men shouted at Edgar Coache “we warned your father, we know where you are. We’re talking to you son of a bitch“(“se lo advertimos a tu padre, ya sabemos donde estas. A ti te estamos hablando, perro maldito”). In April and August 2009, Marcelino Coache’s wife Reyna Rivera received several threatening messages on her mobile as did other Oaxacan human rights defenders who have been supporting Marcelino Coache. Marcelino Coache and his supporter have been campaigning for those responsible for human rights violations during Oaxaca’s 2006 political crisis to be brought to justice.
On 8 May 2009, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asked the Mexican government to provide protection for Marcelino Coache. To date, however, the Mexican government has failed to provide him with effective protection and those responsible for the threats and acts of intimidation remain at large. The new state government of Oaxaca recently committed to work with human rights defenders to end intimidation and improve security.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:
urging the authorities to ensure that Marcelino Coache and his family are given appropriate protection in accordance with their wishes
calling on the authorities to order a prompt and impartial investigation into the attacks and threats suffered Marcelino Coache and his family, and to bring those responsible to justice.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 16 MARCH 2011 TO:
Minister of 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
Governor of Oaxaca
Lic. Gabino Cué Monteagudo
Gobernador, Ciudad Administrativa Benemérito de las Américas, Edificio 7, Nivel 3, Carretera Oaxaca-Istmo Km. 11.5, Tlalixtac de Cabrera, C.P. 68270, Oaxaca, MÉXICO
Fax: (+52) 951 502 0530 to 0538
Email: j.castillo.oax@gmail.com
Salutation: Dear Governor/Estimado Señor Gobernador
Oaxaca State Attorney General
Lic. Manuel de Jesús López López
Procurador General de Justicia, Centro Administrativo Gral. Porfirio Díaz, Edificio Jesús “Chu” Rasgado A, ala 2, 2do nivel, Reyes Mantecón, San Bartolo Coyotepec, C.P. 71257, Oax., México
Fax: (+52) 951 501 6900 ext. 20635
Email: procuradoroaxaca@hotmail.com
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Señor Procurador
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country and to Alba Cruz (codigo.dh@gmail.com). Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the fourth update of UA 68/09. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR41/014/2009/en, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR41/016/2009/en, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR41/025/2009/en, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR41/044/2009/en
URGENT ACTION
SON OF LEADING ACTIVIST THREATENED IN MEXICO
ADditional Information
In June 2006, widespread protests erupted in the state of Oaxaca, led by the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca, APPO), in an unsuccessful campaign to force the state governor to resign. At least 18 civilians were reportedly killed during the conflict; at least 370 were injured and 349 were arrested. There were widespread reports of excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, torture and fabrication of criminal charges against protesters. In July 2007 there were further violent clashes between police and protestors that resulted in more than 40 people detained and scores injured. Federal, state and municipal authorities responsible for abuses have not been held to account. While the political violence has declined, tensions remain high. Human rights organizations continue to campaign for justice in relation to human rights violations.
Date: 02 February 2011
FU on UA: 68/09 Index: AMR 41/004/2011Mexico Date: 02 February 2011