AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 3 June 1997, Gerardo Gonzalez Figueroa, a surgeon and chairman of the Coordination of Non-Governmental Organizations for Peace (Coordinacion de Organismos No Gubernamentales por la Paz (CONPAZ)), received the latest in a series of anonymous death threats. The caller threatened, "I'm going to cut one of your daughters into pieces, then let's see what your human rights activists have to say." Dr. Gonzalez also received several threats on 7 May 1997. The threats were received following a statement made by CONPAZ against the withdrawal of visas and expulsion of international human rights monitors in Mexico in recent weeks. One threat warned Dr. Gonzalez, "Let's see if the bloody foreigners will defend your daughters when something happens to them." Another warned, "What's more important, your children's safety or your bloody principles?" Dr. Gonzalez received similar threats in November 1996.

For fourteen years, Dr. Gonzalez has worked with indigenous and peasant communities in the state of Chiapas, where CONPAZ is based, promoting health and development. He and other organizations founded CONPAZ in 1994 to provide humanitarian assistance and help communities find peaceful solutions to problems in Chiapas.

The threats against Dr. Gonzalez constitute serious violations of international human rights standards, including those enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the American Convention on Human Rights (American Convention), both to which Mexico is a State Party. These rights include:

• liberty and security of the person (Article 3 of the UDHR, Article 9 of the ICCPR, and Article 7 of the American Convention);
• freedom of expression (Article 19 of the UDHR, Article 19 of the ICCPR, and Article 13 of the American Convention); and
• freedom of association (Article 20 of the UDHR, Article 22 of the ICCPR, and Article 16 of the American Convention).

(Source of information on this case includes Amnesty International Urgent Action Alert (UA 255/96), 8 May 1997 and sources in the state of Chiapas.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telexes, faxes, and letters:

• expressing serious concern for the security of Dr. Gonzalez and his family;
• demanding immediate guarantees for the safety of Dr. Gonzalez, his family, and other members of CONPAZ;
• calling on the Mexican government to conduct a full investigation into the threats against Dr. Gonzalez; and
• urging that those responsible be brought to justice.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Lic. Julio Cesar Ruiz Ferro
Governor of the state of Chiapas
Gobernador del estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Gobierno
Av. Central y Primera Oriente
Colonia Centro, 29009 Tuxtla Gutierrez
Estado de Chiapas, MEXICO
telegram: Gobernador Ruiz Ferro, Chiapas, Mexico
fax: 011-52-961-20917
Salutation: Dear Governor

Lic. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar
Attorney General of the Republic
Procurador General de la Republica
Procuradoria General de la Republica
Paseo de la Reforma y Violeta
Col. Guerrero
06300 Mexico D.F., MEXICO
telegram: Sr. Procurador de la Republica, Mexico D.F.
fax: 011-52-5-626-4419
Salutation: Dear Attorney General

COPIES SENT TO:

Sres. CONPAZ
Apartado Postal 41
San Cristobal de las Casas
29200 Chiapas
MEXICO
fax: 011-52-967-83868


Sr. Director
Reforma
Avenida Mexico Coyoacan 40
Colonia Santa Cruz Atoyac
Benitor Juarez
03310 Mexico D.F., MEXICO
fax: 011-52-5-628-7189


Ambassador Jesus Silva Herzog
Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20006

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