"We thank all who fought for us. We spent 2 years, 6 months, and 8 days, imprisoned unjustly. We had to endure suffering and hunger in jail. Thanks to all who struggled for us, here and abroad... But we won't be satisfied until all the other companeros in prison are released."
Political prisoner Juan Méndez Ramírez, released Feb. 9, 1998

February 25, 1998

While 11 political prisoners have recently been released from the jails of Chiapas, 37 sympathizers of the Zapatista movement remain imprisoned in Chiapas. Arrested on false charges, many of the political prisoners had suffered torture, interrogation without the presence of a lawyer, forced confessions, and other human rights violations while in the custody of the Mexican government.

The prisoners all are indigenous members of the political prisoners' organization, La Voz de Cerro Hueco (The Voice of Cerro Hueco). In December of last year, La Voz called for international support to pressure the Mexican government to liberate political prisoners. In collaboration with La Voz and its lawyer, Miguel Angel de los Santos Cruz, Global Exchange, an international human rights organization which maintains a permanent presence in Chiapas, has launched an international campaign for the release of all Zapatista political prisoners in the state.

On Jan. 24, 1998, the Chiapas government released 300 petty criminals who had been jailed on common misdemeanor charges. Although the release was presented as a gesture toward peace, none of the released prisoners belonged to Zapatista support bases, or to La Voz. Political prisoner advocate groups continued to pressure the government to liberate the actual political prisoners, members of La Voz. In January and February, 1998, the government of Chiapas, Mexico, released 11 political prisoners in response to this pressure. The government has promised to review the files of other political prisoners. Despite this progress, police arrested another Zapatista sympathizer, Gilberto Roblero, in February, leaving the total of political prisoners currently behind bars at 37.

The release of all 37 remaining political prisoners will be an important step toward resuming the peace negotiations, as this remains one of the Zapatista's five key demands for reinitiating dialogue.

Please write the government of Chiapas. We think it is important to:

• Commend the release of the eleven political prisoners, as a first step on the part of the government.

• Note, however, that justice requires ALL 37 members of La Voz de Cerro Hueco currently behind bars to be released. The members of The Voice are political prisoners, who have suffered gross legal irregularities and, in some cases, physical abuse throughout their cases.

• Explain that the international community is concerned and monitoring the situation in the Chiapan prisons.

• Urge the new governor of Chiapas, Lic. Roberto Albores Guillen, to take further steps to ensure that the human rights of all its citizens are respected.

Please fax or write letters to:

Arely Madrid Tovilla
Secretaria de Gobierno
Palacio de Gobierno, 2 piso
Av. Central y Segunda Ote, Col. Centro
Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas 29000
Fax: 011-52-961-32458

cc: Lic. Roberto Albores Guillen
Gobernador del Estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Gobierno
Av. Central y Primero Ote, Col. Centro
Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas 29009
Mexico
Phone/Fax: 011-52-961-20917

cc: Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio Nacional
Mexico, D.F. 06067
Fax: 011-52-5-271-1764
webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx

cc: Lic. Francisco Labastida Ochoa
Secretario de Gobernacion
Bucareli 99, 1. piso
Col. Juarez
Mexico, D.F. 06699
Mexico
Fax: 011-52-5-546-5350