PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 41/066/2008

17 December 2008

UA 344/08 Torture / Fear for safety

MEXICO Jorge Martínez Guzmán (m), Pacho Viejo prison, Veracruz State

Jorge Martínez Guzmán,
a detainee in the Pacho Viejo prison (Centro de Readaptacíon Social de Pacho Viejo), Veracruz State, was tortured by a group of unidentified men during the night of 25 November.

Jorge Martínez Guzmán was blindfolded, tied up and handcuffed by what he estimates to be a group of ten men. He was hit repeatedly by several people, dragged along the floor using the handcuffs around his wrists and subjected to simulated asphyxiation by means of a plastic bag and a wet towel placed over his head. Despite the fact that this was a prolonged attack, at no point did prison officials intervene to stop it and prevent further harm to Jorge Martínez.

On 27 November, Jorge Martínez Guzmán’s mother, Raquel Guzmán Garay arrived at Pacho Viejo prison to visit her son. Upon her arrival she was told that she could not see her son but was not provided with an explanation why. After repeatedly being denied information on why she was not allowed to see her son by prison authorities, one of the guards on duty told her that Jorge Martínez had been hospitalised but refused to provide her with further information. Raquel Guzmán Garay eventually found him in the “Doctor Luis F. Nachón” hospital in Xalapa, Veracruz State later that day.

Jorge Martínez Guzmán is currently in intensive care. His body is covered in injuries from the beatings and his hands and arms are particularly badly injured. The medical report on Jorge Martínez Guzmán reveals that he is suffering from kidney failure as a result of the beatings. On 28 November, Jorge Martínez Guzmán had surgery on both of his hands.

Raquel Guzmán Garay filed a complaint with the Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office on 4 December. However as of yet, no police or prosecutors has visited Jorge Martínez Guzmán to begin the investigation.

This is not the first time Jorge Martínez Guzmán has been attacked in Pacho Viejo prison. On a previous visit to the prison in October, Raquel Guzmán Garay noted that her son had severe injuries on his arms and legs. Jorge Martínez told his mother that he has been beaten by other inmates but made her promise not to file a complaint as he feared reprisals if she did.

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

- expressing concern for the safety of Jorge Martínez Guzmán;

- calling on the authorities to ensure that Jorge Martínez Guzmán is protected from torture or other ill-treatment or any other reprisals;

- urging the authorities to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the attack on Jorge Martínez Guzmán and for those responsible to be brought to justice, including any prison officials involved;

- calling on the authorities to put in place adequate protection measures for all detainees in Pacho Viejo prison to ensure their physical safety and that further attacks do not occur.

APPEALS TO:

Minister of Interior

Lic. Fernando Gómez Mont

Secretaría de Gobernación

Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez

Delegación Cuauhtémoc

México D.F., C.P.06600 - MEXICO

Fax: +52 55 5093 3414

Salutation: Señor Secretario/Dear Minister

Governor of Veracruz

Lic. Fidel Herrera Beltrán

Av. Enriquez sin Número

Colonia Centro

Xalapa

Veracruz, C.P. 91000

MEXICO

Fax: +52 228 841 8818

Email: fidelherrera@veracruz.gob.mx

Salutation: Dear Governor/Señor Gobernador

Attorney General of Veracruz State

Lic. Salvador Mikel Rivera

Boulevard Culturas Veracruzanas s/n

Col. Reserva Territorial

Veracruz, C.P. 91000

MEXICO

Tel: +52 228 841 6170

Fax: +52228 841 61 84. (Someone will pick up, you then need to say “me da tono de fax, por favor”.

Salutation: Dear Attorney/ Señor Procurador

COPIES TO:

Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos A.C.

1era Cda Calle Tehuiztita, 44

Col. Los Reyes

Del. Coyoacan

CP 04330 México Distrito Federal, MEXICO

Fax: +52 55 5846 1045

Email: enlace.limeddh@gmail.com

And diplomatic representatives of Mexico accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 28 January 2009.