A hand-grenade was left outside a restaurant run by the family of lawyer Erica Serrano Farías on 23 February, in an apparent attempt to intimidate her because of her work representing a network of environmentalist groups campaigning  against the construction of a tourist development in the municipality of  Zihuatanejo, Guerrero State. The police appear reluctant to investigate  properly, and Amnesty International believes that Erica Serrano Farías and her family are in danger.
Erica Serrano Farías represents the Red de Organizaciones Ambientalistas de Zihuatanejo, Network of Environmentalist Organizations from Zihuatanejo, which is campaigning to prevent the construction of a tourist development called Marina Puerto Mío in the Bay of Zihuatanejo, in the southern State of Guerrero. ROGAZ claims that the combined cruise-ship marina and residential complex will damage the environment of the bay severely, and will cause pollution that will destroy the livelihood of local fishermen.
The hand-grenade was reportedly found by the young son of one of the restaurant staff in the early afternoon, about one meter away from the restaurant's front door. Erica Serrano's mother called the municipal police, who took the grenade away reluctantly.
The Director of the Municipal Police (Director de Seguridad Pública) went to see Erica Serrano later that day. He reportedly told her and her family that the grenade was "for the exclusive use of the army" (uso exclusivo del ejército) but was harmless as the detonator had been removed. The restaurant is near the shore, but well above the high tide mark. Despite this, the Director suggested that the grenade might have been carried by a wave. Alternatively, he suggested it might have been left there to frighten Erica Serrano. An investigation was not formally opened until Erica Serrano filed a complaint with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (ministerio público federal).
Erica Serrano Farías has argued against the construction of the Marina Puerto Mío before the Latin American Water Tribunal – a non-compulsory ethical tribunal composed of environmental experts who study key cases and give expert advice and scientific recommendations to state authorities – which is holding its first public hearing in Mexico City at the end of March. She had been in Mexico City presenting the case when the grenade was found.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION :

Social activists and human rights defenders have frequently been the target of threats, harassment and smear campaigns, particularly from the state and municipal authorities. Those responsible are rarely identified or brought to justice, principally because official investigations are ineffective. The authorities also often fail to demonstrate that they are committed to the legitimate role of human rights defenders in the country.

RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language :

1.- Que se otorguen medidas de seguridad para garantizar la integridad física de los integrantes de la ROGAZ, de Érica Rubí Serrano Farías y de su familia, ante posibles ataques que pongan en riesgo su integridad física.

2.- Que la autoridad correspondiente investigue la procedencia de la granada encontrada próxima al domicilio y negocio de la familia Serrano Farías, así como la responsabilidad de las personas implicadas en estos actos.

3.- Que cumplan con la obligación de respetar el derecho a defender los derechos humanos, creando un clima favorable para ello y evitando el ambiente de violencia que se ha generado en el municipio de Zihuatanejo.

4.- Que exista un marco jurídico adecuado que retome los principios de la Declaración de Defensores para proteger la labor de los defensores de manera más integral.

Favor de dirigir sus llamamientos a:

Lic. Silvano Blanco Deaquino

Presidente Municipal de José Azueta

Tel: 01 (755) 554-2001

01 (755) 554-2040

Sr. Eduardo Enriquez Dominguez

Director de Seguridad Pública del municipio de José Azueta

Tel: 01(755) 55 45-355

Zeferino Torreblanca Galindo

Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Guerrero

Telefonos: (01 747) 47 1 98 04 y 47 198 03

Director of Human Rights - Interior Ministry, Dr. Ricardo Sepulveda

Secretaria de Gobernacion

Reforma 99, PISO 21, PH, Colonia Tabacalera, C.P. 06030, Mexico D.F. Mexico

Fax : + 52 55 51 28 02 34 (if someone answers say "tono de fax, por favor")

Salutation : Dear Sir/Estimado Doctor

Lic. Juan Alarcón Hernández, Presidente de la Comisión de Defensa de los

Derechos Humanos de Guerrero

Telefonos 01 (747) 471 03 78, 471 02 51, 472 86 46

 COPIES TO :

State Human Rights Commissioner, Lic. Oscar Francisco Yanez Franco

Presidente de la Comision Estatal de Derechos Humanos de Chihuahua

Calle Decima y Mina No.1000, Col. Centro, 31000, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Fax :+ 52 614 410 9849

Centro de Derechos Humanos “Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez”, A.C.

Serapio Rendón No. 57-B

Col. San Rafel

C.P. 06470

México, D.F.

And write directly to support Erica Serrano Farias, Zihuatanejo

Erica's e-mail is: erserrano@hotmail.com

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.