PUBLICAI Index: AMR 41/28/99

UA 278/99Fear for Safety22 October 1999

MEXICORicardo Martínez Martínez (24)

One of the students involved in organising a strike at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), National Autonomous University of Mexico, was apparently abducted on 20 October 1999. His whereabouts are now unknown, and Amnesty International fears for his safety.

UNAM student Ricardo Martínez Martínez, a member of the Consejo General de Huelga (CGH), General Strike Council, was reportedly abducted by three unidentified men as he alighted from a bus on the corner of Avenida Vallejo and Avenida Montevideo, in the Azcapotzalco district of Mexico City. According to an eye-witness, the three men violently forced him into a car and drove off.

His abduction is believed to have been formally reported to the Public Ministry.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

UNAM students have been on strike since 22 April 1999 in protest at proposed reforms to the University system, most notably a planned increase in tuition fees. Amnesty International has documented several attacks on students involved in the strike.

According to information received by Amnesty International, during the UNAM strike - now in its sixth month - students have been abducted, tortured, beaten and in some cases even subjected to simulated executions. (See News Service 109/99, AMR 41/09/99, 4 June 1999). The identities of those responsible are unknown.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters in Spanish or your own language:

- calling on the authorities to take all necessary measures to discover the whereabouts of Ricardo Martínez Martínez, a student at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), who was allegedly abducted in Mexico City on 20 October 1999;

- urging that a prompt an independent investigation be opened into the abduction, that the findings be made public and that those responsible be brought to justice.

APPEALS TO:

Mayor of Mexico City

Licda. Rosario Robles

Jefatura de Gobierno del Distrito Federal

Plaza de la Constitución esq.

Piso 1, 06068(5) México D.F. MEXICO

Faxes:+52 5 542 1429

Salutation: Sr. Ing / Dear Mayor

Attorney General of Mexico City

Lic. Samuel del Villar Krechmar

Procurador General de Justicia del Distrito Federal

Carmona y Valle 54, Col. Doctores

06820 México D.F. MEXICO

Faxes: +52 5 625 9000

Salutation: Sr. Procurador / Dear Attorney General

COPIES TO:

Mexico City Commission for Human Rights

Dr. Luis de la Barreda Solórzano,

Av. Chapultepec N° 49, 1er Piso,

Centro,

Cuauhtémoc,

06040 México, DF

MEXICO

Fax: + 52 5 578 2578

Human Rights non-governmental organization

Centro de Derechos Humanos

"Miguel Augustín Pro Juárez" A.C.

Serapio Rendon 57-B

Col. San Rafael

06470 México D.F. MEXICO

Newspaper

La Jornada

Balderas 68, 06050 México D.F., MEXICO

Faxes: + 52 5 5212763/5101901

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 3 December 1999.