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Ernesto
Rábago was shot and killed on 2 March 2010, at approximately 10.30 pm,
in the office he shares with his wife and lawyer, Estela
Mondragón. A
25 calibre bullet casing was found in the office which is located on
Allende and 23rd streets, in the colony of Obrera. The two
lawyers had been representing a group of Raramuri Indigenous People from
the village of Bakéachi, in Carichí municipality, Chihuahua state. Part
of the land the group live on is occupied illegally by ranchers. On 5
February, an Agrarian Tribunal, a court which rules on land disputes,
ordered that the ranchers should leave the land and return it to the
Indigenous community. Both Ernesto Rábago and Estela Mondragón werte
members of “Bowerasa”(Haciendo Camino) , a non profit
organization set up to deliver health, education and legal services to
the Indigenous community of Bakéachi.
On 18 February, the daughter of Ernesto Rábago and Estela Mondragón
was shot in the arm while she was sitting in her car parked in the garage
of her home. According to Estela Mondragón, the authorities did not
investigate the possibility that the attack may be linked to the work of
the girl’s parents. Before then, Estela Mondragón had reported to the
authorities that she had been threatened on several occasions in relation
to her work and that on 28 March 2009, two homemade explosive devices
were thrown at Ernesto Rábago and Estela Mondragón's office, setting it
on fire. However, no protection measures had been put in place.
Ernesto Rábago
Martínez and Estela Ángeles Mondragón had reported death threats and acts
of intimidation directed at them since 2009. They had been working on
agrarian cases with members of the indigenous Baqueachi community in the
municipality of Carichí and had won various judgements in their favour
against the forced occupation of their land by non-Baqueachi groups.
Following these
judgements the contested land was returned to the Baqueachi community. On
28 March 2009 Estela Ángeles Mondragón's office was set on fire. No
investigation was carried out into the attack.
The assassination of Ernesto Rábago
Martínez was directly related to his work in defence of human rights, and
in particular his work defending indigenous communities in the Tarahumara
sierra.
The physical and psychological integrity of
Estela Ángeles Mondragón , as well as that of her family, are now at
risk.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW !
Write to the Mexican authorities to :
·
Urge for a full, prompt
and impartial investigation into the killing of Ernesto Rábago in
Chihuahua on 2 March including all possible links to his professional
activity;
·
Call for Estela Mondragón
and her daughter to receive effective protection, in consultation with
them and in accordance with their wishes;
·
Remind the authorities of
their commitment to uphold the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
which recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights
defenders and their right to carry out their activities without obstacles
or fear of reprisals.
ADRESSES :
Minister
of the Interior
Lic.
Fernando Francisco Gómez-Mont
Secretario
de Gobernación
Bucareli
99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez,
Delegación
Cuauhtémoc, México D.F.,
06600,
MÉXICO
Fax: +52 55 5093 3414
Email: secretario@segob.gob.mx
Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear
Minister
Governor
of Chihuahua State
Lic.
José Reyes Baeza Terrazas
Gobernador
del Estado de Chihuahua, Palacio de Gobierno, 1er piso, C. Aldama #901,
Col. Centro,
Chihuahua,
Estado de Chihuahua, C.P. 31000, MEXICO
Fax: +52 614 429 3300 (then dial
extension 11066 when prompted)
Email: gobernador@chihuahua.gob.mx
Salutation: Dear Governor/Seńor
Gobernador
Attorney
General of Chihuahua state
Patricia
González Rodríguez
Procuradora
del Estado de Chihuahua
Procuraduría
General de Justicia del Estado
Vicente
Guerrero 616, Col. Centro
Chihuahua
31000, MEXICO
Email: pagonzalez@buzon.chihuahua.gob.mx
Salutation:
Dear Attorney General/
Seńora
Procuradora General
COPIES
TO: Centro de Derechos
Humanos de las Mujeres, Av. Juárez 4107/B,
Chihuahua, México, Email: accion@cedehm.org.mx
Also send copies to diplomatic
representatives accredited to your country.
Send LETTER TO ADRESSES MENTIONNES BELOW
[Your name here]
Your Excellency
My colleague, human rights defender and lawyer Mr Ernesto Rábago
Martínez was shot dead in his office in the state of Chihuahua on 2 March
2010.
Ernesto Rábago Martínez was a member of Bowerasa (Haciendo
Camino) , a not-for-profit civil association working to support the
indigenous communities of the Tarahumara sierra, in the municipal of
Carichí, Chihuahua, in the defence of their land, culture and health
rights.
On 2 March 2010, at approximately 10.30 pm, unidentified
individuals entered the office that Ernesto Rábago Martínez shared with
his wife, lawyer and member of Bowerasa, Estela Ángeles Mondragón, and
shot him dead. A 25 calibre bullet casing was found in the office which
is located on Allende and 23rd streets, in the colony of Obrera.
On 18 February 2010, Estela Ángeles Mondragón's daughter was shot
in the arm as she sat in her car outside her home. In this incident a 25
calibre bullet casing was also found. A complaint was filed at the time
before the relevant authority, but no investigation was initiated.
Ernesto Rábago Martínez and Estela Ángeles Mondragón had reported
death threats and acts of intimidation directed at them since 2009. They
had been working on agrarian cases with members of the indigenous
Baqueachi community in the municipality of Carichí and had won various
judgements in their favour against the forced occupation of their land by
non-Baqueachi groups.
Following these judgements the contested land was returned to the
Baqueachi community. On 28 March 2009 Estela Ángeles Mondragón's office
was set on fire. No investigation was carried out into the attack.
I believe that the assassination of Ernesto Rábago Martínez was
directly related to his work in defence of human rights, and in
particular his work defending indigenous communities in the Tarahumara
sierra. I am seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity
of Estela Ángeles Mondragón , as well as that of her family.
I urge the authorities in Mexico to:
1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation
into the killing of Ernesto Rábago Martínez , with a view to publishing
the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with
international standards;
2.Ensure that investigations are also carried out into the attack
on Estela Ángeles Mondragón's daughter, and other acts of intimidation as
reported by members of Bowerasa;
3.Guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity
of Estela Ángeles Mondragón and her family;
4.Ensure that all human rights defenders in Mexico , carrying out
their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate
free of restrictions and reprisals.
Yours sincerely
[Signature]
MEMBERS ONLY
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY
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