Sources: Press, Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de Derechos Humanos Brigadier General Jose Gallardo Rodriguez, whose imprisonment in Mexico in November 1993 is widely thought to be connected to his criticism of the military, was denied visits by a leading Mexican human right group — the Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los […]
Sources: Press, Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de
Derechos Humanos
Brigadier General Jose Gallardo Rodriguez, whose imprisonment in
Mexico in November 1993 is widely thought to be connected to his
criticism of the military, was denied visits by a leading Mexican
human right group — the Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion
de los Derechos Humanos — in March 1995 and has reportedly been
subjected to a series of court cases and persecution by the
military authorities since his imprisonment. Gallardo was jailed
after writing a letter complaining about discriminatory action
against him by military authorities and after the publication in
“Forum” magazine of his thesis entitled “The need for a military
ombudsman in Mexico”. He was charged with defamation. Although
this charge has since been dropped, a series of other charges
have been taken out against him and an old case for mishandling
funds which was closed against him before his imprisonment was
reactivated. The Comision Mexicana believe the constant
investigations and cases taken out against Gallardo amount to a
campaign of persecution against him.
Eduardo Ibarra, editor of “Forum”, is also under investigation
for supposed violations of the Press Law.
The Secretariat for National Defence (SEDENA) replied to a
request by the Comision to visit Gallardo asking them who they
were, demanding copies of their statutes, names of members, etc
[although the Comision is very well-known in Mexico.] They told
them they could not visit Gallardo and said that only the
government-backed Comission on Human Rights is allowed to
investigate violations of human rights. They also said that the
Secretariat may be asking for compensation from Ibarra and
Gallardo for defaming them.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Mexican authorities:
access to General Gallardo and for his release, pending an
independent review of the cases against him in the belief that
his continued detention constitutes arbitrary detention and is in
violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, to which Mexico is a party
Appeals To
President Ernesto Zedillo
Presidente de la Republica
Mexico, D.F.
Fax: + 525 271 1764
Gral. Enrique Cervantes Aguirre
Secretario de la Defensa Nacional
Campo Mil. No. 1-J
Predio Reforma
Mexico D.F.
Copies to:
Mariclaire Acosta Urquidi
Presidenta
Comision de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos
Apartado Postal 5-170
C.P. 06500 Mexico, D.F.
Fax: + 525 6694076
*NOTA: Version en espanol a seguir.
