PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 41/033/2007

05 July 2007

Further Information on UA 245/06 (AMR 41/043/2006, 11 September 2006) Fear for safety/death threats

MEXICO Francisco Cerezo Contreras (m)

Emiliana Cerezo Contreras (f), his sister

Members of the Cerezo Contreras family

Members of the human rights organisation Comité Cerezo

New name: Alejandro Cerezo Contreras (m)

Members of the human rights organisation Comité Cerezohave received an email threatening the lives of the Cerezo Contreras family. Alejandro Cerezo Contreras, himself a member of Comité Cerezo, set up to campaign for the freedom of his brothers, has been photographed and received a threatening message on a phone whose number is supposed to be confidential. The family, and the Comité Cerezo, may be in danger.

The email was sent on 26 June to the Comité Cerezo address. It contained threats to the lives of the Cerezo Contreras family: …los tenemos bien cercas, a ustedes tres, a los de la palma y a tu querida familia […] los vamos a poner a ustedes desnuditos y bien cojiditos ("we are on to you three, the ones in La Palma and your beloved family […] we are going to make you vulnerable and fuck you up."), in a reference to the brothers working for Comite Cerezoand to the two detained in the La Palma penitentiary. The email also referred to allegations that the Cerezo Contreras family may be involved with guerrilla groups, putting them at risk of further harassment.

On 12 June, as Alejandro Cerezo was waiting in the lobby of a doctor’s office before an appointment, a man sat in front of him and pointed the camera of his cell phone at him as if to take pictures. On 20 June, Alejandro received a voice message on a cell phone which had been provided by the Interior Ministry with a confidential number, after the Interamerican Commission for Human Rights asked for protection measures for his family in October 2006. The message was a recording of a conversation between Alejandro Cerezo and his sister Emiliana. They did not know how the conversation had been recorded, but the meaning was clear: they were being watched and could do nothing about it.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Francisco and Emiliana Cerezo Contreras founded Comité Cerezowhen their three brothers, Alejandro, Hector and Antonio Cerezo Contreras were arrested, with two other men, on 13 August 2001 in connection with explosions in a bank. They were reportedly tortured, and were convicted of organized crime offences. On 28 February 2005, Alejandro Cerezo won his appeal and was released for lack of evidence. On 13 August 2006, one of the two others arrested and convicted with the Cerezo brothers, Pablo Alvarado Flores, was released after completing his sentence. Antonio and Hector Cerezo Contreras remain in prison. Comité Cerezocampaigns for their release, and the release of other prisoners in Mexico.

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

- expressing concern for the safety of the Cerezo Contreras family and in particular for Alejandro Cerezo;

- urging the authorities to carry out a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the email threat received by the family on 26 June and the telephone voice message sent on 12 June, with the results of the investigation made public and those responsible to be brought to justice;

- urging the authorities to guarantee the safety of all members of the Cerezo Contreras family and the Comité Cerezo;

- reminding the authorities that human rights defenders have a right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

APPEALS TO:

Attorney General of the Federal District

Mtro. Rodolfo Félix Cárdenas

Procurador General del Distrito Federal

Gabriel Hernández 56, Col. Doctores, C.P. 06720, México D.F., MÉXICO.

Fax: +52 55 53 45 55 29

Salutation: Dear Attorney General/ Señor Procurador

President of Mexico City Human Rights Commission

Mtro. Emilio Álvarez Icaza Longoria

Presidente de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal

Av. Chapultepec No. 49, Col. Centro C.P. 06040 Delegación Cuauhtémoc México DF., MEXICO.

Fax: +52 55 578 2578

Salutation: Dear President/Señor Presidente

Attorney General of the Republic

Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Procurador General de la Republica,

Procuraduría General de la República, Paseo de la Reforma nº 211-213, Piso 16,

Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06500, MEXICO

Fax: +52 55 53 46 09 08

E-mail: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx

Salutation: Dear Attorney General/ Señor Procurador General

Minister of the Interior

Lic. Francisco Javier Ramírez Acuña

Secretario de Gobernación, Secretaría de Gobernación

Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez, Del. Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P.06600, MEXICO

Fax: +52 55 5093 3414

Salutation: Dear Minister/ Señor Secretario

COPIES TO:

Comité Cerezo

Volcán Kirishima 6, Col. Mirador III, CP 14449. Tlalpan. México DF

Email: comitecerezo@nodo50.org

and to 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 16 August 2007.

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