(PFC/IFEX) – On 4 April 2003, Humberto Lopez Lena was arrested by the Ministerial Police, following orders for his arrest by the Oaxaca state first and third criminal judges. Lopez Lena, director of “Expresion” newspaper and of the radio news agency Corporacion de Medios Informativos (CMI), is accused of “defamation” and “libel” by local representative […]
(PFC/IFEX) – On 4 April 2003, Humberto Lopez Lena was arrested by the Ministerial Police, following orders for his arrest by the Oaxaca state first and third criminal judges. Lopez Lena, director of “Expresion” newspaper and of the radio news agency Corporacion de Medios Informativos (CMI), is accused of “defamation” and “libel” by local representative Juan Díaz Pimentel and Anauar Karim Said Murat, the state governor’s brother. CMI manager María de los Ángeles Abad and journalist Reynaldo Bracamontes are also facing the same charges.
“Expresion” and the other media outlets Lopez Lena oversees have persistently criticised Pimentel and Governor José Murat Casab and accused them of abusing their authority and committing numerous irregularities.
Pimentel filed a complaint against Lopez Lena for publishing statements by residents of Union Hidalgo and Santiago Amoltepec who accused the local politician of being an “assassin.” The statements were made during a series of violent protests calling on Governor Murat Casab to intervene and address irregularities witin the municipality.
The complaint by the governor’s brother was filed following the publication of an article reporting that Said Murat was suspected of fraud and had been summoned to testify before the Federal District’s Public Prosecutor’s Office. “La Jornada” news agency had also reported on the summons.
According to local journalists and organisations who have condemned the legal action, Governor Murat Casab is behind it and is pushing for Lopez Lena’s arrest. Despite the fact that the alleged insults are not considered serious, Lopez Lena was denied release on bail. The State Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is overseen by the governor, declared the newspaper director to be “a danger to society.”
According to PFC, it is possible that the legal action may be influenced by the political rivalry leading up to elections in July for the Federal House of Representatives. Lopez Lena, Abad and Bracamontes are being targeted by members of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) party, whereas Abad will represent the Partido de Accion Nacional (PAN) party in the elections.
In a letter to Raúl Bolaños Cacho, head of the Oaxaca State Tribunal, PFC protested Lopez Lena’s arrest and the case launched against him, Abad and Bracamontes.
PFC remarked on the incompatibility of the action and the Oaxaca state legal system with Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights. According to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, PFC noted, “The protection of a person’s reputation should only be guaranteed through civil sanctions in those cases in which the person offended is a public official, a public person or a private person who has voluntarily become involved in matters of public interest.”
On 10 April, Lopez Lena’s case will be brought before the court. PFC called for the dropping of all charges against the three accused.
For PFC’s letter and further information on the case, see:
http://portal-pfc.org/perseguidos/2003/040.html
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the head of the Oaxaca State Tribunal:
– asking for Lopez Lena’s immediate release
– calling for the dropping of charges for defamation against Lopez Lena, Abad and Bracamontes
– urging him to investigate the first and third criminal judges to determine if they acted in accordance with the law by admitting the complaint against Lopez Lena and issuing an order for his arrest
Appeals To
Lic. Raúl Bolaños Cacho
Head of the Oaxaca State Tribunal
Fax: +52 951 514 9299
E-mail: tribunal@tribunaloax.gob.mx
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
