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Help free jailed activists in Mexico

As governments and their police forces continue to crack down on resource rights activists, Grassroots International’s allies are more frequently finding themselves in serious danger, often criminalized for organizing for justice. That is the case once again for Sara Lopez and Joaquín Aguilar from Campeche, Mexico. On July 10th, Sara and Joaquín were arrested, along with three other members of the Mexican Alliance for People’s Self-Determination (AMAP). In addition, twenty-eight other members of their community face possible arrest.

The arrest and imprisonment of Sara and Joaquín resulted from unfounded and politically motivated criminal charges. Use this webform to tell Mexican authorities to respect human rights and stop the unjust prosecution of peaceful activists.

May 24, 2013

Subject:

Como individuo dedicado a la defensa de los derechos humanos, vengo a través de esta carta ofrecer solidariedad a la Resistencia Civil del No Pago a la Luz Eléctrica, la Alianza Mexicana para la Autodeterminación de los Pueblos (AMAP) y las comunidades de Campeche afectadas por la alza de precios de energía eléctrica.

Me preocupan mucho la persecución política de activistas de la Resistencia Civil/AMAP y la prisión de Sara López González, Joaquín Aguilar Méndez, Elmer Castellanos Contreras, Guadalupe Borja y Guadalupe Lizcano. El pasado 10 de julio, la policía, con uso de un lujo de violencia, prendió a Sara, Joaquín y los demás integrantes de la Resistencia Civil por su participación en actividad política de defensa de los derechos de sus comunidades. La interpretación del gobierno de Campeche y de México fue de acusarles como “probables responsables” de dos cargos: privación ilegal de la libertad de un funcionario público e impedimento para la realización de un servicio público.

Estos actos son un asalto a los derechos humanos y civiles de organizaciones e individuos comprometidos con la justicia social en México y por lo tanto, esperamos que sean tomadas las medidas necesarias para la reposición integral de sus derechos.  Las responsabilidades del gobierno estatal y federal por  la integridad física y emocional de los CINCO DE CAMPECHE como también de todos los miembros de la Resistencia Civil y AMAP son de extrema importancia.  Espero su inmediata atención a los derechos humanos de estos.

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English translation of the letter:

As an individual dedicated to the defense of human rights, I submit this letter to offer solidarity to the Civil Resistance in Non- Payment to the Federal Electric Company, the Mexican Alliance for People’s Self-Determination (AMAP) and the communities of Campeche affected by rising prices of electricity.

I am very concerned about the political persecution of activists of the Civil Resistance / AMAP and the imprisonment of Sara López González, Joaquin Aguilar Mendez, Elmer Castellanos Contreras, Guadalupe Borja, and Guadalupe Lizcano. On July 10, the police, using a wealth of violence, arrested Sara, Joaquin and other members of civil resistance for their involvement in political advocacy in their communities. The interpretation of the governments of Campeche and Mexico was to accuse these activists as "likely responsible" for two charges: illegal deprivation of liberty of a public official and impediment to the realization of a public service.

These acts are an assault on the human rights of civilians and organizations and jeopardize social justice in Mexico and therefore, I hope that the necessary measures are taken to reinstate their rights. The responsibilities of the state and federal government for the physical and emotional integrity of Sara Lopez and Joaquin Aguilar, as well as other members of the Civil Resistance in Non-Payment to the Federal Electric Company of Candelaria, Campeche are of the utmost concern and I expect your immediate attention to their human rights.