Mexico: Human rights defender Bety Cariño killed by paramilitaries

You can view Bety's powerful testimony to the 5th Front Line Dublin which took place in February 2010 and in which she speaks with passionate conviction of the struggle for human rights of all the people of Mexico.

The testimony of Bety Carino to the 2010 Front Line Dublin Platform

The translation of Bety's testimony is attached as a pdf.

Front Line has received information from our contacts in Oaxaca about a violent attack on a peaceful solidarity caravan of human rights defenders yesterday, 27 April 2010, as it tried to enter the autonomous indigenous municipality of San Juan Copala. It has been confirmed that at least two human rights defenders have been killed and others remain unaccounted for.

On 27 April 2010, at approximately 14:40, a humanitarian group made up of 30 human rights defenders as well as international observers were on their way to attempt to enter San Juan Copala in order to deliver provisions to indigenous communities who have been under siege by armed groups.

As they entered the community of La Sabana, a town reportedly controlled by paramilitary organisation Unión de Bienestar Social de la Región Triqui UBISORT (Social Welfare Union of the Triqui Region), their vehicles came under fire. Beatríz Alberta (Bety) Cariño Trujillo, of the Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos CACTUS (Centre for Community Support Working Together), and Tyri Antero Jaakkola, international observer from Finland, were both killed in the attack.

Noe Bautista Jimenez, David Venegas Reyes and Daniel Arellano Chavez,all members of Voces Oaxaqueñas Construyendo Autonomía y Libertad VOCAL (Voices from Oaxaca for Autonomy and Liberty) remain missing. The three human rights defenders escaped when the attack broke out and it remains unknown whether they were captured by paramilitaries or whether they are in hiding.

One member of the group, Mónica Citlali Santiago Ortiz, was injured in the attack but was able to get to a hospital for medical attention. Those who did not escape and who remained in the vehicles were interrogated by the paramilitaries. Some have reported receiving death threats prior to being released.

UBISORT paramilitaries have reportedly sealed off the area and are refusing entry or exit to anyone, including medical teams and ambulances. There are further reports that the State Police of Oaxaca have refused to enter the area to assist locating those members of the peaceful movement who have not yet been accounted for.

The human rights organisations were attempting to enter San Juan Copala to provide support to the local community who have been without electricity, water, medical access and basic provisions as a result of the ongoing paramilitary blockade. Schools have also been shut down since January 2010.

The caravan of observers included individuals from Finland, Italy, Belgium and Germany, members of the CACTUS, VOCAL, Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca APPO (Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca, the Red de Radios y omunicadores Indígenas del Sureste Mexicano (Network of Indigenous Radio Stations and Broadcasters of the Southeast of Mexico), as well as a group of teachers from the municipality who have been unable to give classes.

Front Line is gravely concerned by reports of this violent attack on peaceful human rights defenders and the killing of Beatriz Alberta Cariño Trujillo and Tyri Antero Jaakkola. Front Line remains extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of all of the Mexican human rights defenders who make up the group, in particular those whose whereabouts remain unknown, as well as international observers accompanying the solidarity campaign.

The violent attack is directly linked to the peaceful activities of those national and international individuals as they attempted to defend the rights of the local communities affected in areas controlled by paramilitary groups.

UN independent experts in Geneva condemned the recent
killing of Ms. Beatriz Alberta (Bety) Cariño Trujillo and the international
observer Mr. Tyri Antero Jaakkola in Oaxaca.

Vea abajo la versión en español*
*Spanish version, see below*

*Media Statement*

12 May 2010


*Human rights defenders continue to pay with their lives in Mexico, warn UN
experts*


GENEVA - A group of UN independent experts* warned about the deteriorating
situation for human rights defenders in Mexico, strongly condemning the
recent killing of human rights defender Ms. Beatriz Alberta (Bety) Cariño
Trujillo and the international observer Mr. Tyri Antero Jaakkola in Oaxaca,
south east Mexico.

"Defenders continue to face significant threats to their lives in Mexico as
a result of their work," said Margaret Sekaggya, UN Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights defenders. "We are deeply concerned about the
deteriorating situation for human rights defenders in the country, including
women and human rights defenders working on issues related to indigenous
communities."

On 27 April 2010, Bety Cariño and Tyri Antero Jaakkola were part of a
mission to monitor human rights in Oaxaca when they were ambushed by
paramilitaries and killed. Several other human rights defenders and
journalists suffered injuries. Four other members of the mission, including
two journalists of the magazine Contralínea, spent two days in a forest
following the attack, before being rescued by the police on 30 April.

"The situation in Mexico is extremely complex and no-one could doubt the
gravity of the challenges confronting the Government in its fight against
the drug cartels" added Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial,
summary or arbitrary executions. "But there is no justification for failing
to take strong steps when human rights defenders, journalists and others are
killed. Human rights must not be permitted to be a casualty in the fight
against drugs and crime."

"The increase of armed clashes and violence in the community of San Juan
Copala over the past few months is affecting not only the armed groups
involved but also the population of the district, most of them women and
children belonging to the Triqui indigenous community," stated with concern
the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of
indigenous people, James Anaya.

On his part, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion,
Frank La Rue, urged the Mexican authorities to protect the right to life and
guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as stated in
articles 6 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.  "The role of journalists is crucial in reinforcing human rights as
well as the enjoyment of all rights and freedoms of all persons."

The group of UN experts called on the Mexican Government "to take all
necessary steps to protect the right to life and security of human rights
defenders in the country against any violence and any other arbitrary action
which may be a consequence of the legitimate exercise of their activities."

"We urge the authorities to initiate a prompt and impartial inquiry into the
mentioned events so that perpetrators are identified, brought to justice and
appropriate penalties are imposed", they said. "The international community
will closely follow the response of the Mexican Government regarding such
events."

Ms. Sekaggya had met with Bety Cariño in February 2010, at the Fifth Dublin
Platform, a meeting of over 100 human rights defenders from around the
world. The UN independent expert praised the defender for her tireless work
campaigning on indigenous, environmental and women's rights. Bety Cariño was
Director of the Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos CACTUS (Centre
for Community Support Working Together).

*(*):* Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights defenders; Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on summary,
extrajudicial or arbitrary executions; James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on
the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people; and Frank la
Rue, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the rights to
freedom of opinion and expression.

ENDS

*Check the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm*

*Visit the Special Rapporteurs' websites:*
*Situation of human rights defenders: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/index.htm*
*Summary, extrajudicial or arbitrary executions: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/executions/index.htm*
*Situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/*
*Promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of opinion and
expression: **http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/opinion/index.htm*

*OHCHR Country Page - Mexico: **
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/MXIndex.aspx*

*For more information and media requests**, please contact Dolores Infante
(Tel.:+ 41 22 917 9730 / e-mail: **dinfante@ohchr.org**)*

*
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
*

*Declaración a la Prensa*

12 de mayo de 2010


*Defensores de los derechos humanos continúan pagando con sus vidas en
México, advierten expertos de la ONU*


GINEBRA - Un grupo de expertos en Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas*
advirtió sobre el deterioro de la situación para los defensores de los
derechos humanos en México y condenó firmemente los recientes asesinatos de
la defensora de los derechos humanos Beatriz Alberta (Bety) Cariño Trujillo
y del observador internacional Tyri Antero Jaakkola, en Oaxaca, sureste de
México.
"Los defensores continúan haciendo frente a graves amenazas contra sus vidas
en México como consecuencia de su trabajo", dijo Margaret Sekaggya, Relatora
Especial sobre la situación de los defensores de los derechos humanos.
 "Estamos profundamente preocupados por el deterioro de la situación de los
defensores de los derechos humanos en México, incluidas las mujeres y los
defensores que trabajan en temas relacionados con las comunidades
indígenas".

El 27 de abril de 2010, Bety Cariño y Tyri Antero Jaakkola formaban parte de
una misión de observación de los derechos humanos en Oaxaca cuando sufrieron
una emboscada por parte de los paramilitares y fueron asesinados.  Otros
defensores de los derechos humanos y de periodistas sufrieron heridas.
 Cuatro miembros de la misión, incluidos dos periodistas de la revista
"Contralínea", pasaron dos días en la selva tras el ataque antes de ser
rescatados por la policía el 30 de abril.

"La situación en México es extremadamente compleja y nadie puede poner en
duda la gravedad de los desafíos a los que se enfrenta el Gobierno en su
lucha contra los cárteles de las drogas", añadió Philip Alston, Relator
Especial sobre las ejecuciones sumarias, extrajudiciales o arbitrarias.
 "Pero no hay justificación para no tomar las medidas necesarias cuando
defensores de los derechos humanos, periodistas u otros son asesinados.  No
se debe permitir que los derechos humanos sean víctimas de la lucha contra
las drogas y el crimen."

"El incremento de los enfrentamientos armados y la violencia en la comunidad
de San Juan Copala durante los últimos meses está afectando no sólo a los
grupos armados involucrados, sino también a la población civil del
municipio, en su mayoría pertenecientes a la comunidad indígena triqui",
señaló con preocupación el Relator Especial sobre libertades y derechos
fundamentales de los pueblos indígenas, James Anaya.

Por su parte, el Relator Especial de la ONU sobre la promoción y la
protección del derecho a la libertad de opinión y de expresión, Frank La
Rue, exhortó a las autoridades mexicanas a proteger el derecho a la vida y a
garantizar libertad de opinión y de expresión, tal y como se contempla en
los artículos 6 y 19 del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y
Políticos.  "El papel de los periodistas es crucial tanto en el
fortalecimiento de los derechos humanos como en el disfrute de todos los
derechos por parte de todas las personas".

El grupo de Expertos de la ONU hizo un llamamiento al Gobierno mexicano "a
tomar las medidas que sean necesarias para proteger el derecho a la vida y
la seguridad de los defensores de los derechos humanos en el país contra
todo tipo de violencia y acción arbitraria que se produzca como consecuencia
del ejercicio legítimo de sus actividades."

"Exhortamos a las autoridades a iniciar una investigación pronta e imparcial
sobre los hechos mencionados con el fin de que los culpables sean
identificados, puestos a disposición judicial y se impongan penas adecuadas.
 La comunidad internacional seguirá de cerca la respuesta del Gobierno
mexicano en relación a estos hechos."

Margaret Sekaggya había conocido a Bety Cariño en Febrero de 2010 durante la
Quinta Plataforma de Dublín, una reunión de más de 100 defensores de los
derechos humanos de todo el mundo.  La Sra. Sekaggya elogió a la defensora
por su trabajo incansable en favor de los derechos de los indígenas, las
mujeres y el medio ambiente.  Bety Cariño era Directora del Centro de Apoyo
Comunitario Trabajando Unidos (CACTUS).

*(*):* Margaret Sekaggya, Relatora Especial sobre la situación de los
defensores de los derechos humanos; Philip Alston, Relator Especial sobre
las ejecuciones sumarias, extrajudiciales o arbitrarias; James Anaya,
Relator Especial sobre libertades y derechos fundamentales de los pueblos
indígenas; y Frank la Rue, Relator Especial sobre la promoción y la
protección del derecho a la libertad de opinión y de expresión.

ENDS

*Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/spanish/law/ccpr.htm*

*Visite las páginas web de los Relatores Especiales:*
*Situación de los defensores de los derechos humanos: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/index.htm*
*Ejecuciones extrajudiciales, sumarias o arbitrarias: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/executions/index.htm*
*Libertades y derechos fundamentales de los pueblos indígenas: **
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/*
*Promoción y protección del derecho a la libertad de opinión y de
expresión: **http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/opinion/index.htm*

*ACNUDH, página por país - México: **
http://www.ohchr.org/SP/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/MXIndex.aspx*

*Para más información y solicitudes de prensa**, favor contactar a Dolores
Infante (Tel.:+ 41 22 917 9730 / e-mail: **dinfante@ohchr.org**)*