URGENT ACTION

mexican environmental campaigner shot

Male environmentalist Jesús Sánchez de la Barquera has been shot and wounded outside his home in Mexico State, near the Mexican capital, Mexico City. He had been threatened and told to stop his campaigning for the defence of woodlands and for the right of local people to be informed and consulted about the use of their lands.

Early on 29 September, Jesús Sánchez set out to accompany his daughter to a nearby bus stop when he was shot by a man who had been waiting in a car outside his home in Jilotzingo municipality. The bullet went through Jesús Sánchez’s shoulder. He has since recovered and has now been discharged from hospital. However, the lives of Jesús Sánchez and his family are at risk as they have received death threats on several occasions.

Jesús Sánchez is a well-known environmental activist who has led his community to defend local woodlands from illegal and excessive building of residential homes and commercial buildings. He has often campaigned publicly and pursued complaints in the courts against the actions taken by community representatives, highlighting their inadequate consultation with inhabitants and illegal use of land. On several occasions the courts have ruled in his favour, and as a result he and his family have been threatened. On 12 October, men supporting the local representatives shouted at Jesus Sanchez’s daughter: “Are you still here? Don’t you get it? Go to hell!” (Siguen aqui? Que no entienden? Vayanse a la chingada).

In March 2008 another local environmentalist was shot and killed after receiving threats. Lawyer Fernando Mayén Sánchez had been representing a group of Jilotzingo inhabitants, including Jesus Sánchez and his family, opposing the opening of a landfill site on their communal lands, adjacent to water springs and a dam. No one has been brought to justice for his killing.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:

• calling on the authorities to investigate the threats against and shooting of Jesús Sánchez de la Barquera and bring those responsible to justice;

• urging them to provide effective protection for Jesús Sánchez and his family, in accordance with their wishes;

• calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the killing of Fernando Mayén Sánchez and bring those responsible to justice;

• reminding the authorities that the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders and their right to carry out their activities without obstacles or fear of reprisals.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 24 NOVEMBER 2009 TO: