URGENT ACTION

TWO ACTIVISTS KILLED AMONG ESCALATING VIOLENCE

On 17 January, unidentified armed men attacked demonstrators in Amatán, Chiapas state, southern Mexico. Noé Jiménez Pablo and José Santiago Gómez Álvarez, two economic, social and cultural rights activists and members of the Independent Regional Campesino Movement (MOCRI - Movimiento Campesino Regional Independiente), were taken and deprived of their liberty by the armed men. The following day, their wounded death bodies appeared in a local dumpster. In reaction to this attack, the government took measures like sending few law enforcement officials, but members of the community fear further attacks and that these measures are insufficient to protect them.

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

Minister of Interior Olga Sánchez Cordero
Calle Abraham González No. 48
Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc
Ciudad de México, C.P. 06600, MÉXICO
@SEGOB_mx and @M_OlgaSCordero 

Dear Minister,

I am reaching out to you about the urgent situation, and recent attacks, faced by members of the organisation Movimiento Campesino Regional Independiente (MOCRI), which campaigns for economic, social and cultural rights in the highlands of Chiapas, municipality of Amatán. MOCRI members denounce corruption and various problems linked to the municipal government, as well as demand improvement in living conditions and basic public services for the community.
 
On 17 January, a group of unidentified armed men attacked demonstrators belonging to MOCRI. During the attack, several people were taken and illegally deprived of their liberty by the unidentified armed men. Witnesses reported that at least one person was wounded by a gunshot. Many MOCRI members and local villagers fled the community fearing they could become victims of the attacks.

On 18 January, the wounded death bodies of Noé Jiménez Pablo and José Santiago Gómez Álvarez, who went missing the day of the attack, were found. Witnesses reported that the bodies showed signs of having been brutally beaten. The municipal government of Amatán and the state government of Chiapas initially denied the disappearance of individuals.

I urge you to immediately launch a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into these events, and to bring those responsible to justice in fair trials; to take all necessary measures, according to international human rights law, to prevent further attacks in the community and to guarantee that members of MOCRI can carry out their human rights work without fear of retaliation.

Yours sincerely,
Additional information

The Independent Regional Campesino Movement (MOCRI - Movimiento Campesino Regional Independiente) is an organisation part of the non-governmental organization National Coordinator Plan of the National Ayala Movement (CNPA MN - Coordinadora Nacional Plan de Ayala Movimiento Nacional). MOCRI works in several states in Mexico campaigning for human rights, especially for economic, social and cultural rights. 

MOCRI has a long history of activism on Amatán, Chiapas, where they have denounced corruption and demanded improvements in living conditions and basic public services available to the community. At the end of 2018, MOCRI members began a series of protests, including set up a camp in the centre of the village, urging authorities to guarantee the basic needs of the community and denouncing an apparent lack of willingness on the part of the municipality to address these issues.

During 2018, Amnesty International documented a series of harassment and attacks against MOCRI members in Amatán and other localities. During the year, the attacks increased in violence and included the use of firearms against the population and MOCRI members and supporters. Amnesty International warned the Mexican government of the escalation of violence. Local and federal authorities did not react to those calls.

The authorities have not provided adequate security in the area and the presence of a few troops and scarce local police personnel seem insufficient given the level of violence. The authorities have not publicly informed of the measures they will take to investigate these events and prevent the occurrence of similar events in the future.

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: Spanish or English
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 5 March 2019
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Noé Jiménez Pablo (he/him), and José Santiago Gómez Álvarez (he/him).

Additional TARGETS

And copies to: 

Governor of Chiapas  
Rutilio Escandón Cadenas  
Palacio de Gobierno, 1er. Piso, 
Centro, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, 
Chiapas, C.P. 29000  
México  
Twitter: @gubernaturachis 
Salutation: Dear Governor / Estimado Señor Gobernador 

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. HIS EXCELLENCY MR JULIÁN VENTURA, Head of Mission Embassy of Mexico, 16 St. George Street, London, W1S 1FD Phone: 020 7499 8586 E-Mail: mexuk@sre.gob.mx  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Embamex-Reino-Unido/197866996938638 twitter: @Embamexru Salutation: Your Excellency
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.