(this report extracted from an e-mail sent by SIPAZ )

SIPAZ requests that you take action in protest of the threats and attacks that have been suffered in recent months by the members of Mexico City's Miguel Agusti'n Pro Jua'rez Human Rights Center (PRODH Center). Particularly, action should be taken in protest of the kidnapping and violence suffered on two occasions by attorney Digna Ochoa, legal coordinator of PRODH, whose life has been put in grave danger.

In addition to letters to Mexican government authorities, we believe it is necessary to undertake others kinds of actions to pressure the Mexican government in a way that calls into question its international image and obliges it to take serious and effective measures to stop the escalation of violence against members of PRODH.

Background

In August 1999,, attorney Digna Ochoa was kidnapped and held in a car, with her head covered, for several hours during which she was subjected to threats and interrogation. Recently, on the night of October 28-29,1999, she was the victim of an attempted homicide as well as verbal aggression, interrogation and intimidation by unknown individuals who
entered her house.

At approximately 20:30 hours on October 28, Digna Ochoa returned to her house. At approximately 22:00 she went outside to switch on the boiler and felt someone grab her from behind and cover her mouth with something. She fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness she found that she was seated on a chair in one of the bedrooms with her eyes blindfolded. She was subjected to a harsh and prolonged interrogation session about PRODH's work and the activities and personal information of each individual member of
the center. The questions were punctuated by verbal aggression and threats.

They repeated again and again their questions about supposed "contacts" of PRODH in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla and Hidalgo. They also asked her about alleged contacts and safe-houses connected to the EZLN (Eje'e'rcito Zapatista de Liberacio'n Nacional /Zapatista National Liberation Army) and to the EPR (Eje'rcito Popular Revolucionario/Popular Revolutionary Army, active in Guerrero and Oaxaca). They also asked about Antonio and Aurora, accused commanders of the ERPI (Eje'e'rcito Revolucionario del Pueblo Insurgente/Revolutionary Army of the Insurgent People, a split off of the EPR), who are currently in prison.

Later they took off her blindfold so that she could identify people from photographs that they had brought. She realized that one of the individuals was typing everything she said into a laptop computer. The other individual who was interrogating her was seated on a bench very close to her. When her blindfold was removed, they shone an intense light into her eyes, so the only thing she was able to see was that both men were barefoot. They pressured her to sign blank pieces of paper, which she refused to sign.

Later they blindfolded her again and continued the interrogation. They also took photographs of her and went through her things. This went on all night and into the morning (approximately nine hours). Digna remained seated on the edge of the bed and one of the men pushed her until she was lying down. It was then that they tied her feet and hands behind her back with bandages and an elastic waistband of Digna's. They placed an open gas tank next to her. Minutes later she managed to untie herself. When she attempted to use the telephone she realized that her line had been cut. She later found her briefcase that had been stolen when she was abducted on the 9th August 1999, along with two notebooks, one of which had the words "ha, ha" written on it.

That same morning, October 29, 1999, the door to the main entrance to the PRODH office was found open, and the Legal Defense Department offices, located on the second floor of the building, had been broken into. The window was left open and the desks were in disarray, with papers thrown around. On one desk a folder was placed in an obvious position with the words "PODER SUICIDA" (SUICIDE POWER) printed on it in red. In addition, the surveillance video camera/recorder on the first floor had been turned
off.

Requested actions:
We feel that these developments are quite serious and that they place in danger the lives of Digna Ochoa and of her colleagues at the PRODH Center. Hence they call for an energetic response. We know that the Mexican government is extremely sensitive to anything that affects its international image. So it is necessary to act, but it is also necessary to give the greatest possible visibility to those actions.

A) Send letters to the Mexican government, or better still, go directly to the Mexican embassy or consulate in person and present a written protest requesting:

1. That there is an immediate cessation of physical and psychological aggression against the members of PRODH.
2. That the Mexican government should honor its obligation to respect, protect, and defend the professional work of lawyers.
3. That the appropriate authorities take the necessary steps to guarantee the personal security and work of the members of PRODH, as well as all defenders of human rights in Mexico (as established in the corresponding December 1998 United Nations Declaration and the June 1999 Organization of American States Resolution - both signed by Mexico.
4. That the security of the equipment, buildings, and documents of PRODH be guaranteed.
5. That the investigation initiated in response to these aggressions produce convincing results as quickly as possible.
6. That the government accept the presence of observers and international escorts as a measure of protection for threatened people (as has been the practice in other countries).
   

B) Send copies of all actions to the Mexican press as well as your local press.

C) Broadcast these facts in print, radio, and television media, as well as in all other communications media available. You may write letters to the editor, and send a copy to the Mexican embassy or consulate in your city.

D) Within your country, solicit government representatives or individuals or organizations of influence and prestige to undertake personal contacts with the Mexican government or its diplomatic representatives, expressing their concern about these alarming developments.

Addresses:
Lic. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leo'n
Presidencia de la Repu'blica
Palacio Nacional
Me'xico, D.F. 06067 MEXICO
Fax (int-52) 55 15 57 29, 52 77 23 76

Lic. Dio'doro Carrasco
Secretari'a de Gobernacio'n
Bucareli 99, 1er piso
Col. Jua'rez
Me'xico D.F. 06699 MEXICO
Fax (int-52) 55 46 53 50

Lic. Jorge. Madrazo Cue'llar
Procuraduri'a General de la Repu'blica
Paseo de la Reforma 65, esq. Violeta
Colonia Guerrero
Me'xico D.F. 06300. MEXICO Fax: (int-52) 56 26 44 19

Dra. Mireille Roccatti
Comisio'n Nacional de Derechos Humanos
Perife'rico sur 3469, 5º piso
Col. San Jero'nimo Li'dice
Me'xico D.F. 10200 MEXICO
Fax (int-52) 56 81 71 99

Dr. Samuel del Villar
Procuraduri'a General de Justicia del Distrito Federal
Ni~os He'roes 61, tercer piso
Col. Doctores CP. 06720
Me'xico, D.F. MEXICO
Fax (int-52) 56 25 70 81

Please send a copy of your letter to:
Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agusti'n Pro Jua'rez A.C.
Fax: (int-52) 5535 68 92
EMAIL: prodh@sjsocial.org

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

footnote: -- the Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Center was one of the 14 human rights organizations that originally invited the Emergency Human Rights Delegation to visit Chiapas and they also served as host for the delegation's press conference in Mexico City. We feel a special debt to them and are deeply worried by this attack on their program and their staff)