(PEN/IFEX) – According to PEN American Center, Homero Aridjis, President of International PEN, President of the Group of 100 and internationally renowned author and poet, has been the target of continuing death threats. On Monday 17 August 1998, Aridjis received a death threat on his answering machine, with intimidating and insulting language directed against him […]
(PEN/IFEX) – According to PEN American Center, Homero Aridjis, President of
International PEN, President of the Group of 100 and internationally
renowned author and poet, has been the target of continuing death threats.
On Monday 17 August 1998, Aridjis received a death threat on his answering
machine, with intimidating and insulting language directed against him and
his family. As Aridjisâ daughters were particularly singled out, PEN
American Center is concerned that they too face danger. The message said,
“Youâll be sorry, son of a bitch. Your daughters are whores….And you? Youâ
re going to die very soon. See you soon.”
It appears that this threat may be in response to public remarks made by
Aridjis at a recent international symposium on “The Artist and Human Rights”
organized by the National Arts Centre of Canada (Ottawa, 24-26 July). In his
speech, Aridjis recounted his own experience with death threats in Mexico
and addressed PENâs work on behalf of imprisoned, censored and persecuted
writers worldwide. PEN American Center suspects that whoever is behind these
calls is trying to inhibit Aridjisâ activities as a writer, International
PEN President, and an editorial page columnist.
This latest death threat forms part of a disturbing pattern; previous
threatening phone calls also occurred within weeks of a public appearance by
or press interview with Aridjis regarding human rights in Mexico and
contemporary dangers faced by writers. The first threatening phone call
followed Aridjisâ speech at a meeting of the Committee to Protect
Journalists, and two International PEN statements by Aridjis condemning
attacks on Mexican journalists. The second followed an interview published
in “El Pais”, the Spanish newspaper daily, in which Aridjis spoke about his
role as International PEN President, the massacre of Mexican Indians in
Acteal, Chiapas, and the initial death threat against him.
Given this hostile climate, PEN American Center believes that Aridjis may be
in real danger.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to President Ernesto Zedillo:
family, and to bring to justice those responsible for this harassment
ensure safety for Aridjis and his family
Appeals To
His Excellency President Ernesto Zedillo
Presidente de la Republica de Mexico
Fax: + 5 25 271 1764
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
