WOLA: Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas
26 Feb 2009 | News

WOLA and Others Condemn Extrajudicial Execution of Mexican Indigenous Leaders

The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), along with the Latin America Working Group (LAWG), the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF), and Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent a letter to the Attorney General of the Mexican State of Guerrero yesterday expressing deep concern over the kidnapping and execution of Raúl Lucas Lucía and Manuel Ponce Rosas, president and secretary of the Organization for the Future of the Mixteco People, a group that defends indigenous rights in the state of Guerrero. 

Raúl Lucas Lucía and Manuel Ponce Rosas were kidnapped by individuals who identified themselves as ministerial police on February 13th while attending a public event.   Their bodies were found and identified earlier this week.   This tragic event is one of many instances of the criminalization of social protest and harassment of human rights workers that WOLA, LAWG and other organizations have been following over the last several years in the state of Guerrero.

WOLA, LAWG, DPLF and HRW hope that a swift and impartial investigation is conducted to bring to justice the perpetrators of these killings, particularly in light of the credible allegations against the local police.  The Mexican government has an obligation under international law to protect these communities and we hope to see significant and prompt improvements to meet these standards.

To read our letter to Attorney General Eduardo Murueta Urrutia click here .

Contact:

WOLA
202-797-2171
Maureen Meyer, Associate for Mexico and Central America, mmeyer@wola.org