17 APRIL 2012.

URGENT ACTION
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN OAXACA AT RISK
FATHER UVI RECEIVES THREATS

The Regional Human Rights Centre "Bartolomé Carrasco Briseño" AC, the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace and the Citizens' Initiative Oaxaca denounce threats to the Father UVI, human rights defender in Oaxaca.

BACKGROUND:

Father R. Francisco Wilfrido Mayrén Pelaez, better known as "Father Uvi", Human Rights Defender, founder of the Regional Human Rights Centre "Bartolomé Carrasco Briseño" AC., Founder of Citizens' Initiative Oaxaca and current coordinator of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace; with wide-ranging and well-recognized work in the field of human rights since 1992, he has been involved in countless cases in which his aim has always been the peaceful settlement of conflicts. He currently accompanies cases like the 10 victims of enforced disappearance from Zapotengo, Pochutla; the case of a murdered child, Gamaliel, from San Mateo Piñas, Pochutla, to name a few. Further, together with other organizations he applied for Precautionary Measures for Trade Unionist Marcelino Coache Verano in the summer of 2009.

For his work in defense of Human Rights Father Uvi has sistematically received harassments and threats and on Saturday April 14, 2012, at approximately 5 p.m. he received a threatening message on his cellphone, which is reported to the Attorney General of the State of Oaxaca.

This incident coincides with other human rights defenders reports, as the threat comes in the same terms and and from the same number as those denounced by Ms. Alba Cruz Ramos.

It is alarming that one year after reporting posts of threats, theft and attacks on workers in their workplace and now these threats, that investigating authorities have not produced results.

We therefore request:

• That the safety and effective protection Father Mayrén Pelaez be guaranteed.
• That an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the threats to the Father Mayrén be realised; promptly identifying those responsible for the acts of intimidation, threats and harassment mentioned;
• That the the work of human rights defenders be guaranteed.

Please send letters to:

Lic. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa
Presidente Constitucional de la República Mexicana
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos, Casa Miguel Alemán, Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF. Tel: +52 55 27891100; Fax: +52  55 527 72 376. E-mail: felipe.calderon(at)presidencia.gob.mx

Dr. Alejandro A. Poiré Romero
Secretario de Gobernación
Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06600, México, FAX +52 (55) 5093 34 14. E-mail: secretario(at)segob.gob.mx

Lic. Omeheira López Reyna
Unidad para la Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos SEGOB.
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 99 Piso 19 Col. Tabacalera
Cuauhtémoc, Distrito Federal, CP 06030
Tel: 5551280000 Ext: 11875 o 5557287400
romeheira(at)segob.gob.mx

Dr. Raúl Plascencia Villanueva
Presidente de la Comisión Nacional de Derechos HumanosEdificio “Héctor Fix Zamudio”, Blvd. Adolfo López Mateos 1922, 6° piso,Col. Tlacopac San Angel, Del. Álvaro Obregón, C.P. 01040, México, D.F.Tels. y fax (55) 56 81 81 25 y 54 90 74 00correo(at)cndh.org.mx

Lic. Gabino Cue Monteagudo
Gobernador del  Estado de OaxacaPalacio de Gobierno (Planta Alta), Plaza de la Constitución, Centro Histórico Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, C.P. 68000 gabinocue@oaxaca.gob.mx
gobernador.gabino.cue(at)gmail.com

Sr. Santiago Cantón.
Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
1889 F Street, N.W. Washington, D.C., 20006 U.S.A.
Tel: 202-458-6002 Fax: 202-458-3992
cidhoea(at)oas.org

In copy:

Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos “Bartolomé Carrasco Briseño” A. C.
Galeana 620, Centro, Oaxaca México.
Tel/Fax (01951) 51 4 16 34, E-Mail: barcadh09@gmail.com o barcadh(at)prodigy.net.mx