https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:51:15 +0000 fr-FR hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cropped-OB-eye-orange-32x32.png https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/ 32 32 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/mexico-opinion-del-grupo-de-trabajo-sobre-la-detencion-arbitraria-num-21-2025-relativa-a-manuel-santiz-cruz-agustin-perez-dominguez-juan-velasco-aguilar-martin-perez-dominguez-y-agustin-perez-v/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:51:15 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23783 Destinatarios: Mtra. Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, Secretaría de Gobernación Mtro. Félix Arturo Medina Padilla, Subsecretario de Derechos Humanos, Población y Migración, Secretaría de Gobernación. Dr. Froylán Vladimir Enciso Higuera, Titular de la Unidad de Derechos Humanos y Coordinación Ejecutiva Nacional del Mecanismo Federal de Protección a Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas, Secretaría de Gobernación. Mtra. Tobyanne Ledesma Rivera, Directora General del Mecanismo Federal de Protección a Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas, Secretaría de Gobernación. Maria del Rosario Piedra Ibarra, Presidenta de la Comisiòn Nacional de Derechos Humanos Dr. Cesar Estrada Pérez, Director General de Asuntos Internacionales de la Comisiòn Nacional de Derechos Humanos Dr. Jesús Roberto Robles Maloof, Director General del Programa de Agravio a Periodistas y Defensores Civiles de Derechos Humanos de la Comisiòn Nacional de Derechos Humanos Lic. Victoria Cecilia Flores Pérez, Secretaría General del Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas Lic. Floralma Gómez Santiz, Dirección de Derechos Humanos del Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas Mtro. Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca, Fiscal General, Fiscalía General del Estado de Chiapas. Jesús Ernesto Molina Ramos, Fiscal de Derechos Humanos, Fiscalía de Derechos Humanos del Estado de Chiapas. Dr. Lorenzo López Méndez, Fiscal de la Fiscalía Especializada de Justicia Indígena del Estado de Chiapas Lic. Horacio Culebro Borrayas, Presidente de la Comisión Estatal de los Derechos Humanos. Lic. Rosa Pérez Pérez, Visitadora General Especializada en Atención de Asuntos Indígenas de la Comisión Estatal de los Derechos Humanos. En copia: Jesús Peña Palacios, Representante de ONU-DH en México, Oficina en México del Alto Comisionado de Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos (ONU-DH). Francisco André, Jefe de Delegación, Delegación de la Unión Europea en México. Embajador Gunnar Aldén, Embajada de Suecia en México. Embajadora Ragnhild Imerslund, Embajada de Noruega en México Embajadora Delphine Borione Embajada de Francia en México Embajadora Johan Verkammen, Embajada de Bélgica en México Embajador Wilfred Mohr, Embajada de Países Bajos en México Embajador Pietro Piffaretti, Embajada de Suiza en México. Embajadora Susannah Goshko, Embajada Británica en México. Embajador Cameron MacKay, Embajada de Canadá en México. Embajador Ronald D. Johnson, Embajada de Estados Unidos en México. Grupo de Trabajo de Naciones Unidas sobre la Detención Arbitraria Mary Lawlor, Relatora Especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre la situación de los defensores de los derechos humanos. Dr Albert K. Barume , Relator Especial sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas Margaret Satterthwaite, Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre la independencia de los magistrados y abogados Roberta Clarke, Presidenta de la Comisión Interamericana de los derechos humanos. Andrea Pochak, Relatora de la Comisión Interamericana de los derechos humanos. Asunto: Opinión del Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Detención Arbitraria núm. 21/2025, relativa a Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco Estimadas Señoras y Señores, Nos dirigimos a ustedes con el fin de expresar nuestra preocupación por la situación de los cinco defensorestzeltales criminalizados Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín, Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco, arbitrariamente detenidos en 2022 y desde entonces presos en el Centro Estatal de Reinserción Social para Sentenciado (CERSS) n° 5, a la luz de la reciente publicación de la opinión emitida el 4 de abril de 2025 por el Grupo de Trabajo sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias acerca de su caso. El Grupo de Trabajo sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias de la ONU realizó una visita a México y al Estado de Chiapas en septiembre de 2023, y tras recibir información sobre el caso de diferentes fuentes, transmitió sus alegatos al Gobierno de México el 22 de julio de 2024. La respuesta del Gobierno fue recibida el 18 de octubre de 2024. El 4 de abril de 2025 el Grupo de Trabajo emitió una opinión en la que se destacan una serie de deliberaciones referentes a las violaciones de derechos humanos cometidas contra los cinco detenidos en el marco tanto de su arresto como de su proceso judicial:

• La detención de los cinco se realizó sin una orden de aprehensión y sin que los detenidos fueran informados de los cargos que se les imputan. Tampoco fueron llevados ante un juez una vez fueron arrestados. La orden de aprehensión fue emitida a posteriori, pero antes de que la Fiscalía la solicitara, lo que evidenciaría la parcialidad del Juez en el desarrollo del proceso penal.
• No existían razones para la aplicación de la prisión preventiva oficiosa, revelando la aplicación arbitraria de un mecanismo que debe ser la excepción y no la normal.
• Manuel Sántiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez y Juan Velasco Aguilar fueron sometidos a desaparición forzada durante las 24 horas que siguieron a su detención.
• Los detenidos no tuvieron acceso a un intérprete español - tzeltal ni en el momento de su detención ni en su proceso judicial hasta la reposición de las audiencias.
• Las pruebas presentadas por la Fiscalía en los dos juicios muestran incongruencias como la falta de datos sobre la ubicación de la víctima durante un período clave, la omisión del protocolo de primer respondiente, deficiencias en la determinación de la causa de la muerte, contradicciones entre la necropsia y los dictámenes periciales, ausencia de identificación formal del fallecido, peritos sin cédula profesional y conclusiones médicas que no se corresponden con el contenido del dictamen. Además, las lesiones descritas no coinciden entre los distintos informes ni con el cadáver.

Además, el Grupo de Trabajo reconoce a los cinco sentenciados como defensores de derechos humanos, y considera que su criminalización se debe precisamente a su labor de defensa de la tierra y el territorio y al hecho de pertenecer a la etnia tzeltal, discriminación que se extiende incluso a su falta de dominio del español. Por todo lo anterior resuelve que la detención de Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco fue arbitraria y se cometió en base al ejercicio de sus derechos y libertades en tanto defensores de derechos humanos indígenas. Igualmente considera que no existen bases proporcionales que justifiquen su detención o el juicio en su contra. En consecuencia, solicita que:

• El Gobierno de México ponga en libertad inmediata a Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco y les conceda el derecho efectivo a obtener una indemnización y otros tipos de reparación, de conformidad con el derecho internacional.
• El Gobierno de México lleve a cabo una investigación exhaustiva e independiente de las circunstancias en torno a la privación arbitraria de libertad de los cinco individuos y adopte las medidas pertinentes contra los responsables de la violación de sus derechos.

Existe un marco de obligatoriedad al que el Estado Mexicano se debe adherir ya que, como miembro activo de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas desde 1945, ha asumido compromisos claros en materia de derechos humanos, los cuales incluyen el respeto y la atención a los mecanismos internacionales. En particular, ante las opiniones del Grupo de Trabajo de Detenciones Arbitrarias de la ONU, el Estado Mexicano se compromete legal y políticamente a tomar en cuenta sus opiniones y a actuar en consecuencia. Esto se basa en la Resolución 30/30, en la que se solicita a los Estados considerar seriamente las opiniones del Grupo de Trabajo, tomar las medidas necesarias para corregir las situaciones denunciadas e informar sobre las acciones adoptadas. También se basa en la Ley Orgánica de la Administración Pública Federal, que establece que corresponde a la Secretaría de Gobernación — a través de sus instancias competentes — vigilar el cumplimiento de los derechos humanos y dar seguimiento a las recomendaciones emitidas por organismos internacionales. Esto se demuestra argumentado en la sentencia RA (P).- 298/2022 del Primer Tribunal Colegiado en Materias Penal y Administrativa del Decimoctavo Circuito del Estado de Morelos, la cual resuelve la omisión por parte de las autoridades de proveer medidas de reparación integral en favor de la quejosa. Cabe señalar que la Relatora Especial sobre la situación de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y el Relator Especial de Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU emitieron una comunicación conjunta el 9 de octubre de 2024 en la que llamaron la atención del Gobierno Mexicano acerca de la presunta detención arbitraria, uso indebido del derecho penal e imposición de sentencias de forma desproporcionada contra diversas personas defensoras de derechos humanos, incluidos Agustín Pérez Velasco, Martín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar y Agustín Pérez Domínguez. Recuerda al Estado Méxicano sus obligaciones internacionales y solicita información relativa a los casos objeto de la comunicación. En la respuesta del Estado a la comunicación el caso de los defensores de San Juan Cancún no ha sido abordado. También queremos expresar nuestra preocupación por las violaciones de derechos humanos que el Movimiento Sueco por la Reconciliación - SweFOR - ha podido observar en su labor de acompañamiento y documentación, tanto en el marco de la detención como en las audiencias y en sus visitas a la cárcel. Dicha organización estuvo presente durante la detención de Agustín Pérez Velasco y Martín Pérez Domínguez, pudiendo atestiguar el desproporcionado uso de la fuerza y la actitud intimidatoria de los agentes, que negaron a los detenidos y a sus abogados visionar la orden de aprehensión, conocer los motivos del arresto y conocer sus derechos como detenidos. Durante las audiencias de primera instancia observó los tratos discriminatorios por parte del tribunal hacia las personas tzeltales presentes en el juicio, así como su trato abiertamente amenazante e intimidatorio contra los abogados defensores. A su vez, ha sido sistemática la obstaculización del proceso judicial, que se ha manifestado en constantes cancelaciones de audiencias o en la negación del acceso a observadoras internacionales y prensa. También es remarcable el impacto que SweFOR ha podido contemplar en los cinco defensores a lo largo de sus visitas al penal: la situación de criminalización y las condiciones de vida de la cárcel han derivado en afectaciones médicas cuyo abordaje no ha sido en absoluto facilitado por las autoridades carcelarias, mientras que los cambios en los protocolos de visitas han restringido enormemente las posibilidades de las familias de poder acompañarlos, con el impacto impacto psicológico que ello conlleva. Algunas de estas preocupaciones han sido recogidas en varias misivas enviadas a las autoridades en ocasiones previas.   A las autoridades del Estado mexicano y del estado de Chiapas solicitamos:

• Cumplir con la opinión emitida por el Grupo de Trabajo de Detenciones Arbitrarias, y que se traduce en la liberación inmediata de Manuel Sántiz Cruz, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Augustín Pérez Domínguez, Agustín Pérez Velasco y Martín Pérez Domínguez; la investigación de las autoridades responsables de su criminalización, y la reparación integral de todos los daños causados.
• Cumplir con sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de protección y garantía de los derechos humanos de los pueblos indígenas y personas defensoras de derechos humanos, así como los pactos en los que México es firmante, particularmente la Resolución 30/30 de 2016, aprobada por la Asamblea General de la ONU.
• Garantizar la no repetición de la privación arbitraria de la libertad a defensoras y defensores de derechos humanos, así como de otras estrategias de criminalización.

A las representaciones diplomáticas y a la comunidad internacional, solicitamos:

• Llamar al Estado mexicano a cumplir con la opinión del Grupo de Trabajo de Detenciones Arbitrarias y poner en libertad inmediata a Manuel Sántiz Cruz, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Augustín Pérez Domínguez, Agustín Pérez Velasco y Martín Pérez Domínguez; a investigar a las autoridades responsables de su criminalización, y a la reparación integral de todos los daños causados.
• Que se pronuncien públicamente sobre la opinión del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias acerca del caso de los cinco detenidos de San Juan Cancuc, e insten a las autoridades estatales y federales a ponerlos en libertad de forma inmediata, a investigar a las autoridades responsables de su criminalización, y a la reparación integral de todos los daños causados.
• Instar al Estado mexicano a cumplir sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de protección y garantía de los derechos humanos de los pueblos indígenas, personas defensoras de derechos humanos y garantías para el debido proceso.

Esperando que esta carta les resulte de interés y motive su actuación, les agradecemos de antemano su atención y quedamos atentas a las respuestas a la presente carta. Un saludo cordial,]]> Destinatarios: Mtra. Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, Secretaría de Gobernación Mtro. Félix Arturo Medina Padilla, Subsecretario de Derechos Humanos, Población y Migración, Secretaría de Gobernación. Dr. Froylán Vladimir Enciso Higuera, Titular de la Unidad de Derechos Humanos y Coordinación Ejecutiva Nacional del Mecanismo Federal de Protección a Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas, Secretaría de Gobernación. Mtra. Tobyanne Ledesma Rivera, Directora General del Mecanismo Federal de Protección a Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas, Secretaría de Gobernación. Maria del Rosario Piedra Ibarra, Presidenta de la Comisiòn Nacional de Derechos Humanos Dr. Cesar Estrada Pérez, Director General de Asuntos Internacionales de la Comisiòn Nacional de Derechos Humanos Dr. Jesús Roberto Robles Maloof, Director General del Programa de Agravio a Periodistas y Defensores Civiles de Derechos Humanos de la Comisiòn Nacional de Derechos Humanos Lic. Victoria Cecilia Flores Pérez, Secretaría General del Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas Lic. Floralma Gómez Santiz, Dirección de Derechos Humanos del Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas Mtro. Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca, Fiscal General, Fiscalía General del Estado de Chiapas. Jesús Ernesto Molina Ramos, Fiscal de Derechos Humanos, Fiscalía de Derechos Humanos del Estado de Chiapas. Dr. Lorenzo López Méndez, Fiscal de la Fiscalía Especializada de Justicia Indígena del Estado de Chiapas Lic. Horacio Culebro Borrayas, Presidente de la Comisión Estatal de los Derechos Humanos. Lic. Rosa Pérez Pérez, Visitadora General Especializada en Atención de Asuntos Indígenas de la Comisión Estatal de los Derechos Humanos. En copia: Jesús Peña Palacios, Representante de ONU-DH en México, Oficina en México del Alto Comisionado de Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos (ONU-DH). Francisco André, Jefe de Delegación, Delegación de la Unión Europea en México. Embajador Gunnar Aldén, Embajada de Suecia en México. Embajadora Ragnhild Imerslund, Embajada de Noruega en México Embajadora Delphine Borione Embajada de Francia en México Embajadora Johan Verkammen, Embajada de Bélgica en México Embajador Wilfred Mohr, Embajada de Países Bajos en México Embajador Pietro Piffaretti, Embajada de Suiza en México. Embajadora Susannah Goshko, Embajada Británica en México. Embajador Cameron MacKay, Embajada de Canadá en México. Embajador Ronald D. Johnson, Embajada de Estados Unidos en México. Grupo de Trabajo de Naciones Unidas sobre la Detención Arbitraria Mary Lawlor, Relatora Especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre la situación de los defensores de los derechos humanos. Dr Albert K. Barume , Relator Especial sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas Margaret Satterthwaite, Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre la independencia de los magistrados y abogados Roberta Clarke, Presidenta de la Comisión Interamericana de los derechos humanos. Andrea Pochak, Relatora de la Comisión Interamericana de los derechos humanos. Asunto: Opinión del Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Detención Arbitraria núm. 21/2025, relativa a Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco Estimadas Señoras y Señores, Nos dirigimos a ustedes con el fin de expresar nuestra preocupación por la situación de los cinco defensorestzeltales criminalizados Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín, Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco, arbitrariamente detenidos en 2022 y desde entonces presos en el Centro Estatal de Reinserción Social para Sentenciado (CERSS) n° 5, a la luz de la reciente publicación de la opinión emitida el 4 de abril de 2025 por el Grupo de Trabajo sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias acerca de su caso. El Grupo de Trabajo sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias de la ONU realizó una visita a México y al Estado de Chiapas en septiembre de 2023, y tras recibir información sobre el caso de diferentes fuentes, transmitió sus alegatos al Gobierno de México el 22 de julio de 2024. La respuesta del Gobierno fue recibida el 18 de octubre de 2024. El 4 de abril de 2025 el Grupo de Trabajo emitió una opinión en la que se destacan una serie de deliberaciones referentes a las violaciones de derechos humanos cometidas contra los cinco detenidos en el marco tanto de su arresto como de su proceso judicial:

• La detención de los cinco se realizó sin una orden de aprehensión y sin que los detenidos fueran informados de los cargos que se les imputan. Tampoco fueron llevados ante un juez una vez fueron arrestados. La orden de aprehensión fue emitida a posteriori, pero antes de que la Fiscalía la solicitara, lo que evidenciaría la parcialidad del Juez en el desarrollo del proceso penal.
• No existían razones para la aplicación de la prisión preventiva oficiosa, revelando la aplicación arbitraria de un mecanismo que debe ser la excepción y no la normal.
• Manuel Sántiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez y Juan Velasco Aguilar fueron sometidos a desaparición forzada durante las 24 horas que siguieron a su detención.
• Los detenidos no tuvieron acceso a un intérprete español - tzeltal ni en el momento de su detención ni en su proceso judicial hasta la reposición de las audiencias.
• Las pruebas presentadas por la Fiscalía en los dos juicios muestran incongruencias como la falta de datos sobre la ubicación de la víctima durante un período clave, la omisión del protocolo de primer respondiente, deficiencias en la determinación de la causa de la muerte, contradicciones entre la necropsia y los dictámenes periciales, ausencia de identificación formal del fallecido, peritos sin cédula profesional y conclusiones médicas que no se corresponden con el contenido del dictamen. Además, las lesiones descritas no coinciden entre los distintos informes ni con el cadáver.

Además, el Grupo de Trabajo reconoce a los cinco sentenciados como defensores de derechos humanos, y considera que su criminalización se debe precisamente a su labor de defensa de la tierra y el territorio y al hecho de pertenecer a la etnia tzeltal, discriminación que se extiende incluso a su falta de dominio del español. Por todo lo anterior resuelve que la detención de Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco fue arbitraria y se cometió en base al ejercicio de sus derechos y libertades en tanto defensores de derechos humanos indígenas. Igualmente considera que no existen bases proporcionales que justifiquen su detención o el juicio en su contra. En consecuencia, solicita que:

• El Gobierno de México ponga en libertad inmediata a Manuel Santiz Cruz, Agustín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Martín Pérez Domínguez y Agustín Pérez Velasco y les conceda el derecho efectivo a obtener una indemnización y otros tipos de reparación, de conformidad con el derecho internacional.
• El Gobierno de México lleve a cabo una investigación exhaustiva e independiente de las circunstancias en torno a la privación arbitraria de libertad de los cinco individuos y adopte las medidas pertinentes contra los responsables de la violación de sus derechos.

Existe un marco de obligatoriedad al que el Estado Mexicano se debe adherir ya que, como miembro activo de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas desde 1945, ha asumido compromisos claros en materia de derechos humanos, los cuales incluyen el respeto y la atención a los mecanismos internacionales. En particular, ante las opiniones del Grupo de Trabajo de Detenciones Arbitrarias de la ONU, el Estado Mexicano se compromete legal y políticamente a tomar en cuenta sus opiniones y a actuar en consecuencia. Esto se basa en la Resolución 30/30, en la que se solicita a los Estados considerar seriamente las opiniones del Grupo de Trabajo, tomar las medidas necesarias para corregir las situaciones denunciadas e informar sobre las acciones adoptadas. También se basa en la Ley Orgánica de la Administración Pública Federal, que establece que corresponde a la Secretaría de Gobernación — a través de sus instancias competentes — vigilar el cumplimiento de los derechos humanos y dar seguimiento a las recomendaciones emitidas por organismos internacionales. Esto se demuestra argumentado en la sentencia RA (P).- 298/2022 del Primer Tribunal Colegiado en Materias Penal y Administrativa del Decimoctavo Circuito del Estado de Morelos, la cual resuelve la omisión por parte de las autoridades de proveer medidas de reparación integral en favor de la quejosa. Cabe señalar que la Relatora Especial sobre la situación de las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos y el Relator Especial de Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU emitieron una comunicación conjunta el 9 de octubre de 2024 en la que llamaron la atención del Gobierno Mexicano acerca de la presunta detención arbitraria, uso indebido del derecho penal e imposición de sentencias de forma desproporcionada contra diversas personas defensoras de derechos humanos, incluidos Agustín Pérez Velasco, Martín Pérez Domínguez, Juan Velasco Aguilar y Agustín Pérez Domínguez. Recuerda al Estado Méxicano sus obligaciones internacionales y solicita información relativa a los casos objeto de la comunicación. En la respuesta del Estado a la comunicación el caso de los defensores de San Juan Cancún no ha sido abordado. También queremos expresar nuestra preocupación por las violaciones de derechos humanos que el Movimiento Sueco por la Reconciliación - SweFOR - ha podido observar en su labor de acompañamiento y documentación, tanto en el marco de la detención como en las audiencias y en sus visitas a la cárcel. Dicha organización estuvo presente durante la detención de Agustín Pérez Velasco y Martín Pérez Domínguez, pudiendo atestiguar el desproporcionado uso de la fuerza y la actitud intimidatoria de los agentes, que negaron a los detenidos y a sus abogados visionar la orden de aprehensión, conocer los motivos del arresto y conocer sus derechos como detenidos. Durante las audiencias de primera instancia observó los tratos discriminatorios por parte del tribunal hacia las personas tzeltales presentes en el juicio, así como su trato abiertamente amenazante e intimidatorio contra los abogados defensores. A su vez, ha sido sistemática la obstaculización del proceso judicial, que se ha manifestado en constantes cancelaciones de audiencias o en la negación del acceso a observadoras internacionales y prensa. También es remarcable el impacto que SweFOR ha podido contemplar en los cinco defensores a lo largo de sus visitas al penal: la situación de criminalización y las condiciones de vida de la cárcel han derivado en afectaciones médicas cuyo abordaje no ha sido en absoluto facilitado por las autoridades carcelarias, mientras que los cambios en los protocolos de visitas han restringido enormemente las posibilidades de las familias de poder acompañarlos, con el impacto impacto psicológico que ello conlleva. Algunas de estas preocupaciones han sido recogidas en varias misivas enviadas a las autoridades en ocasiones previas.   A las autoridades del Estado mexicano y del estado de Chiapas solicitamos:

• Cumplir con la opinión emitida por el Grupo de Trabajo de Detenciones Arbitrarias, y que se traduce en la liberación inmediata de Manuel Sántiz Cruz, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Augustín Pérez Domínguez, Agustín Pérez Velasco y Martín Pérez Domínguez; la investigación de las autoridades responsables de su criminalización, y la reparación integral de todos los daños causados.
• Cumplir con sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de protección y garantía de los derechos humanos de los pueblos indígenas y personas defensoras de derechos humanos, así como los pactos en los que México es firmante, particularmente la Resolución 30/30 de 2016, aprobada por la Asamblea General de la ONU.
• Garantizar la no repetición de la privación arbitraria de la libertad a defensoras y defensores de derechos humanos, así como de otras estrategias de criminalización.

A las representaciones diplomáticas y a la comunidad internacional, solicitamos:

• Llamar al Estado mexicano a cumplir con la opinión del Grupo de Trabajo de Detenciones Arbitrarias y poner en libertad inmediata a Manuel Sántiz Cruz, Juan Velasco Aguilar, Augustín Pérez Domínguez, Agustín Pérez Velasco y Martín Pérez Domínguez; a investigar a las autoridades responsables de su criminalización, y a la reparación integral de todos los daños causados.
• Que se pronuncien públicamente sobre la opinión del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Detenciones Arbitrarias acerca del caso de los cinco detenidos de San Juan Cancuc, e insten a las autoridades estatales y federales a ponerlos en libertad de forma inmediata, a investigar a las autoridades responsables de su criminalización, y a la reparación integral de todos los daños causados.
• Instar al Estado mexicano a cumplir sus obligaciones internacionales en materia de protección y garantía de los derechos humanos de los pueblos indígenas, personas defensoras de derechos humanos y garantías para el debido proceso.

Esperando que esta carta les resulte de interés y motive su actuación, les agradecemos de antemano su atención y quedamos atentas a las respuestas a la presente carta. Un saludo cordial,]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/turkey-arbitrary-detention-and-acts-of-ill-treatment-against-ersin-berke-gok-and-caner-perit-ozen/ Tue, 21 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17866 Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen, students at Boğaziçi University, in Istanbul, and participants in the “Boğaziçi Resistance Movement”, a student mobilisation that calls for academic freedom and peacefully protests against the appointment of rectors by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan[efn_note]On January 2, 2021, former parliamentary candidate for the ruling party Justice and Development Party (AKP) Melih Bulu was appointed as the new rector of Boğaziçi University by Presidential Decree. Boğaziçi University students, together with students from other universities, university staff and professors have carried peaceful protests since then, calling for the respect of academic freedom and the autonomy of universities. On August 21, 2021, Mr. Bulu was replaced by Naci İnci as a rector through Presidential Decree. The protests have been met with repression, arbitrary arrests, judicial harassment and stigmatisation. [/efn_note]. On January 7, 2022, Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen will appear before the İstanbul 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance for the first hearing in their case. They are facing charges of “not complying with orders by the security forces for the dispersal of an unlawful demonstration” (article 32 of the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations), “deprivation of liberty”, “preventing public duty” and “hijacking or seizing transport vehicles” (articles 109, 265 and 223 of the Criminal Code, respectively) in connection with their participation in a peaceful protest in front of the Boğaziçi University rectorate building on October 5, 2021. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen remained detained in high-security Silivri Prison, in Istanbul, where they have been denied correspondence with their relatives. Since the beginning of his detention, Ersin Berke Gök has not been provided with food compatible with his diet. On October 5, 2021, Ersin Berke Gök, Caner Perit Özen and a group of eight other Boğaziçi University students were battered by university security guards as they were peacefully delivering a statement in front of the rectorate building. They were subsequently arrested by police officers and taken to the İstanbul Police Station. Three of them were released with judicial control measures, pending investigation. On the same day, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan labelled the protesting students as “terrorists who infiltrated universities” in his speech delivered at the 2021-2022 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony. Moreover, rector Naci İnci submitted a complaint against the students before the prosecutor’s office on charges of “threat”, “insult”, “damage to property”, “preventing public duty” (articles 106, 151 and 265 of the Criminal Code, respectively) and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”. On October 6, 2021, Ersin Berke Gök, Caner Perit Özen and five other students were taken to the Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse for interrogation at the prosecutor’s office. While four of them were released with judicial control measures, Ersin Berke Gök, Caner Perit Özen and another student were referred to the Istanbul 9th Magistrate Judgeship. Messrs. Gök and Özen were placed in solitary confinement in Metris Prison, in Istanbul, on charges of “preventing public duty” and “not complying with orders by the security forces for the dispersal of an unlawful demonstration”, and the third student was released with judicial control measures. On October 26, 2021, Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen were transferred to Silivri Prison. On November 26, 2021, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor formally indicted them on charges of “not complying with orders by the security forces for the dispersal of an unlawful demonstration”, “deprivation of liberty”, “preventing public duty” and “hijacking or seizure of transport vehicles”. The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen as well as the ongoing violations of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly documented by the Observatory in the report “A Perpetual Emergency: Attacks on Freedom of Assembly in Turkey and Repercussions for Civil Society”. The Observatory urges the authorities of Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen, and put an end to all acts of harassment -including at the judicial level- against them and all participants in the “Boğaziçi Resistance Movement”.]]> Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen, students at Boğaziçi University, in Istanbul, and participants in the “Boğaziçi Resistance Movement”, a student mobilisation that calls for academic freedom and peacefully protests against the appointment of rectors by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan[efn_note]On January 2, 2021, former parliamentary candidate for the ruling party Justice and Development Party (AKP) Melih Bulu was appointed as the new rector of Boğaziçi University by Presidential Decree. Boğaziçi University students, together with students from other universities, university staff and professors have carried peaceful protests since then, calling for the respect of academic freedom and the autonomy of universities. On August 21, 2021, Mr. Bulu was replaced by Naci İnci as a rector through Presidential Decree. The protests have been met with repression, arbitrary arrests, judicial harassment and stigmatisation. [/efn_note]. On January 7, 2022, Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen will appear before the İstanbul 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance for the first hearing in their case. They are facing charges of “not complying with orders by the security forces for the dispersal of an unlawful demonstration” (article 32 of the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations), “deprivation of liberty”, “preventing public duty” and “hijacking or seizing transport vehicles” (articles 109, 265 and 223 of the Criminal Code, respectively) in connection with their participation in a peaceful protest in front of the Boğaziçi University rectorate building on October 5, 2021. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen remained detained in high-security Silivri Prison, in Istanbul, where they have been denied correspondence with their relatives. Since the beginning of his detention, Ersin Berke Gök has not been provided with food compatible with his diet. On October 5, 2021, Ersin Berke Gök, Caner Perit Özen and a group of eight other Boğaziçi University students were battered by university security guards as they were peacefully delivering a statement in front of the rectorate building. They were subsequently arrested by police officers and taken to the İstanbul Police Station. Three of them were released with judicial control measures, pending investigation. On the same day, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan labelled the protesting students as “terrorists who infiltrated universities” in his speech delivered at the 2021-2022 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony. Moreover, rector Naci İnci submitted a complaint against the students before the prosecutor’s office on charges of “threat”, “insult”, “damage to property”, “preventing public duty” (articles 106, 151 and 265 of the Criminal Code, respectively) and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”. On October 6, 2021, Ersin Berke Gök, Caner Perit Özen and five other students were taken to the Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse for interrogation at the prosecutor’s office. While four of them were released with judicial control measures, Ersin Berke Gök, Caner Perit Özen and another student were referred to the Istanbul 9th Magistrate Judgeship. Messrs. Gök and Özen were placed in solitary confinement in Metris Prison, in Istanbul, on charges of “preventing public duty” and “not complying with orders by the security forces for the dispersal of an unlawful demonstration”, and the third student was released with judicial control measures. On October 26, 2021, Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen were transferred to Silivri Prison. On November 26, 2021, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor formally indicted them on charges of “not complying with orders by the security forces for the dispersal of an unlawful demonstration”, “deprivation of liberty”, “preventing public duty” and “hijacking or seizure of transport vehicles”. The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen as well as the ongoing violations of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly documented by the Observatory in the report “A Perpetual Emergency: Attacks on Freedom of Assembly in Turkey and Repercussions for Civil Society”. The Observatory urges the authorities of Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen, and put an end to all acts of harassment -including at the judicial level- against them and all participants in the “Boğaziçi Resistance Movement”.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/azerbaijan-denial-of-mitigation-of-sentence-of-elchin-mammad/ Fri, 22 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17689 Elchin Mammad, human rights lawyer, President of the Social Union of Legal Education of Sumgait Youth (SULESY), an NGO providing free legal assistance to low-income families and non-profits, as well as the Editor-in-chief of the newspaper Yukselish Namine, which publishes articles on human rights concerns in the country. On October 9, 2021, the Surakhani District Court dismissed the appeal filed by Elchin Mammad requesting the replacement of his remaining prison term with either a suspended prison sentence or non-custodial alternatives. The court argued that even though Elchin Mammad has not committed any violation of the penitentiary rules during his period of imprisonment, he has not pleaded guilty to the charges. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Elchin Mammad remained detained in prison No. 14 of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice, where his health condition has drastically deteriorated as a result of not receiving adequate medical care. The Observatory recalls that on March 30, 2020, the police arrested Elchin Mammad at his home in the city of Sumgait, a few days after he had published online a critical report on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The police claimed to have found stolen jewellery worth 7,500 manats (around 4,070 Euros) and ammunition at his office. The Sumgait City Court remanded Mr. Mammad in custody on charges of “theft causing significant damage” and “illegal purchase and possession of firearm accessories”. On October 14, 2020, the Sumgait City Court sentenced Mr. Mammad to four years in prison. The Observatory further recalls that the circumstances in which the verdict was handed down suggest that Elchin Mammad did not benefit from a fair trial. The evidence heard at the trial was inconsistent and should not have led to Mr. Mammad’s conviction, while the investigation phase also appeared to have been marred by police tampering of evidence. Yet, on February 19, 2021, the Sumgayit Court of Appeal upheld the four-year prison sentence of Elchin Mammad and concluded that his right to a fair trial was respected during the judicial proceedings in his case. Moreover, on July 7, 2021, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld Elchin Mammad’s prison sentence. His lawyers announced they will submit his case to the European Court of Human Rights. On June 12, 2021, Elchin Mammad was transferred to the Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice (Central Penitentiary hospital), following an order from the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan. Elchin Mammad’s health condition has drastically deteriorated while detained in prison No. 14 of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice as a result of not receiving adequate medical care. Six days before his transfer to the penitentiary hospital, Elchin Mammad fainted. Moreover, he has lost a significant amount of weight while in detention, has trouble walking and swollen legs. Being ill with Hepatitis C, his health condition is particularly concerning and puts him at high risk of contracting Covid-19 in view of the overcrowding and poor prison conditions in Azerbaijan. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the ongoing arbitrary detention and the health condition of Elchin Mammad and urges the Azerbaijani authorities to grant him access to adequate and comprehensive medical treatment, and to immediately and unconditionally release him, as his detention is arbitrary and is only putting his life at risk. The Observatory further deplores that the case of Elchin Mammad is only emblematic of the serious and widespread abuses and intimidation of human rights activists in Azerbaijan, where a decades-long crackdown on human rights defenders has considerably curtailed civic space in the country.]]> Elchin Mammad, human rights lawyer, President of the Social Union of Legal Education of Sumgait Youth (SULESY), an NGO providing free legal assistance to low-income families and non-profits, as well as the Editor-in-chief of the newspaper Yukselish Namine, which publishes articles on human rights concerns in the country. On October 9, 2021, the Surakhani District Court dismissed the appeal filed by Elchin Mammad requesting the replacement of his remaining prison term with either a suspended prison sentence or non-custodial alternatives. The court argued that even though Elchin Mammad has not committed any violation of the penitentiary rules during his period of imprisonment, he has not pleaded guilty to the charges. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Elchin Mammad remained detained in prison No. 14 of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice, where his health condition has drastically deteriorated as a result of not receiving adequate medical care. The Observatory recalls that on March 30, 2020, the police arrested Elchin Mammad at his home in the city of Sumgait, a few days after he had published online a critical report on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The police claimed to have found stolen jewellery worth 7,500 manats (around 4,070 Euros) and ammunition at his office. The Sumgait City Court remanded Mr. Mammad in custody on charges of “theft causing significant damage” and “illegal purchase and possession of firearm accessories”. On October 14, 2020, the Sumgait City Court sentenced Mr. Mammad to four years in prison. The Observatory further recalls that the circumstances in which the verdict was handed down suggest that Elchin Mammad did not benefit from a fair trial. The evidence heard at the trial was inconsistent and should not have led to Mr. Mammad’s conviction, while the investigation phase also appeared to have been marred by police tampering of evidence. Yet, on February 19, 2021, the Sumgayit Court of Appeal upheld the four-year prison sentence of Elchin Mammad and concluded that his right to a fair trial was respected during the judicial proceedings in his case. Moreover, on July 7, 2021, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld Elchin Mammad’s prison sentence. His lawyers announced they will submit his case to the European Court of Human Rights. On June 12, 2021, Elchin Mammad was transferred to the Main Medical Department of the Ministry of Justice (Central Penitentiary hospital), following an order from the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan. Elchin Mammad’s health condition has drastically deteriorated while detained in prison No. 14 of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice as a result of not receiving adequate medical care. Six days before his transfer to the penitentiary hospital, Elchin Mammad fainted. Moreover, he has lost a significant amount of weight while in detention, has trouble walking and swollen legs. Being ill with Hepatitis C, his health condition is particularly concerning and puts him at high risk of contracting Covid-19 in view of the overcrowding and poor prison conditions in Azerbaijan. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the ongoing arbitrary detention and the health condition of Elchin Mammad and urges the Azerbaijani authorities to grant him access to adequate and comprehensive medical treatment, and to immediately and unconditionally release him, as his detention is arbitrary and is only putting his life at risk. The Observatory further deplores that the case of Elchin Mammad is only emblematic of the serious and widespread abuses and intimidation of human rights activists in Azerbaijan, where a decades-long crackdown on human rights defenders has considerably curtailed civic space in the country.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/israel-opt-new-hearing-in-the-case-against-human-rights-defender-shatha-odeh/ Mon, 04 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17639 Shatha Odeh Abu Fannouneh, a woman human rights defender and the Director of the Health Work Committees (HWC), an organisation working to deliver health services to Palestinians in remote areas of the West Bank. On October 4, 2021, a new hearing in the case against Shatha Odeh will take place before the Ofer Military Court. The woman human rights defender is facing charges of “holding a position in an unlawful association”, “receiving and bringing funds illegally into the area”, “receiving funds and support fraudulently”, “fraudulent use of documents” and “presence on a public event on May 14, 2019”, the latter in relation to her attendance to a public event commemorating the death of Mr.Rabah Mhana, a former member of the HWC and member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Shatha Odeh was arbitrarily arrested on July 7, 2021 by 15 Israeli soldiers who raided her house in ‘Ain-Musbah, Ramallah, West Bank. Her mobile phone, the keys of the HWC’s car and the car itself were seized. She was subsequently taken to the ‘Ofer’ Israeli Military Camp in Ramallah and interrogated for nine hours. Shatha Odeh was then taken to Hasharon detention facility, which is located outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where her family members could not travel as security permits issued by the Israeli authorities were needed. On July 8, 2021, Shatha Odeh attended her first hearing at the Ofer Military Court. Her arbitrary detention was extended until July 14, 2021, as further investigations were needed. On July 14, 2021, a second hearing took place and her detention was further extended for five days. On July 19, 2021, Shatha Odeh appeared again before the Ofer Military Court. The prosecutor requested eight days to prepare the list of charges and the judge ordered an extension of her detention. On July 26, 2021, the fourth hearing in her case took place, and the above-mentioned charges were pressed against her. All the hearingswere conducted in Hebrew, a language that neither ShathaOdeh nor her family members understand. Moreover, Shatha Odeh appeared to the first three hearings with the same clothes, as the Israeli authorities consistently denied her family and lawyers’ request to bring her clean clothes to the prison, until July 25. On July 27, 2021, she was transferred to Damoun Female Prison, in Haifa. On August 17, 2021, Shatha Odeh appeared again before the Ofer Military Court, where the list of charges against her was orally translated into Arabic by a translator who made mistakes during the translation and added charges that had not been pressed against her, according to Shatha Odeh’s lawyer. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Shatha Odeh remained detained in Damoun Female Prison. Since her detention, Shatha Odeh has lost a significant amount of weight and her health conditions are extremely concerning, as she is diagnosed with numerous chronic illnesses including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome. The Israeli prison authorities have denied her request to have access to one of her medications up until July 15. Moreover, during her detention in Hasharon detention facility, her cell was lacking pillows and covers and was under constant camera surveillance. The Observatory underlines that the arbitrary detention of Shatha Odeh took place within the framework of the harassment against HWC. On June 9, 2021, Israeli forces raided HWC’s office in Ramallah, seizedits computers and vandalised its premises. They additionally fixed a military order on the outside door after sealing itandordering the close-down of the organisation for six months on the basis of ‘security reasons’ without providing further details. This was the fourth raid to the HWC premises since 2019. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the arbitrary detention, judicial harassment and deteriorating health condition of Shatha Odeh and urges the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release her. The Observatory further urges the Israeli authorities to put an end to all form of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Shatha Odeh and all other human rights defenders in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.]]> Shatha Odeh Abu Fannouneh, a woman human rights defender and the Director of the Health Work Committees (HWC), an organisation working to deliver health services to Palestinians in remote areas of the West Bank. On October 4, 2021, a new hearing in the case against Shatha Odeh will take place before the Ofer Military Court. The woman human rights defender is facing charges of “holding a position in an unlawful association”, “receiving and bringing funds illegally into the area”, “receiving funds and support fraudulently”, “fraudulent use of documents” and “presence on a public event on May 14, 2019”, the latter in relation to her attendance to a public event commemorating the death of Mr.Rabah Mhana, a former member of the HWC and member of the political bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Shatha Odeh was arbitrarily arrested on July 7, 2021 by 15 Israeli soldiers who raided her house in ‘Ain-Musbah, Ramallah, West Bank. Her mobile phone, the keys of the HWC’s car and the car itself were seized. She was subsequently taken to the ‘Ofer’ Israeli Military Camp in Ramallah and interrogated for nine hours. Shatha Odeh was then taken to Hasharon detention facility, which is located outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where her family members could not travel as security permits issued by the Israeli authorities were needed. On July 8, 2021, Shatha Odeh attended her first hearing at the Ofer Military Court. Her arbitrary detention was extended until July 14, 2021, as further investigations were needed. On July 14, 2021, a second hearing took place and her detention was further extended for five days. On July 19, 2021, Shatha Odeh appeared again before the Ofer Military Court. The prosecutor requested eight days to prepare the list of charges and the judge ordered an extension of her detention. On July 26, 2021, the fourth hearing in her case took place, and the above-mentioned charges were pressed against her. All the hearingswere conducted in Hebrew, a language that neither ShathaOdeh nor her family members understand. Moreover, Shatha Odeh appeared to the first three hearings with the same clothes, as the Israeli authorities consistently denied her family and lawyers’ request to bring her clean clothes to the prison, until July 25. On July 27, 2021, she was transferred to Damoun Female Prison, in Haifa. On August 17, 2021, Shatha Odeh appeared again before the Ofer Military Court, where the list of charges against her was orally translated into Arabic by a translator who made mistakes during the translation and added charges that had not been pressed against her, according to Shatha Odeh’s lawyer. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, Shatha Odeh remained detained in Damoun Female Prison. Since her detention, Shatha Odeh has lost a significant amount of weight and her health conditions are extremely concerning, as she is diagnosed with numerous chronic illnesses including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome. The Israeli prison authorities have denied her request to have access to one of her medications up until July 15. Moreover, during her detention in Hasharon detention facility, her cell was lacking pillows and covers and was under constant camera surveillance. The Observatory underlines that the arbitrary detention of Shatha Odeh took place within the framework of the harassment against HWC. On June 9, 2021, Israeli forces raided HWC’s office in Ramallah, seizedits computers and vandalised its premises. They additionally fixed a military order on the outside door after sealing itandordering the close-down of the organisation for six months on the basis of ‘security reasons’ without providing further details. This was the fourth raid to the HWC premises since 2019. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the arbitrary detention, judicial harassment and deteriorating health condition of Shatha Odeh and urges the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release her. The Observatory further urges the Israeli authorities to put an end to all form of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Shatha Odeh and all other human rights defenders in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/china-journalist-zhang-zhan-at-imminent-risk-of-death/ Fri, 03 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17568 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/belarus-arbitrarily-detained-for-over-a-month-viasnas-members-must-be-released/ Fri, 20 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17523 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/khm-002-0920-obs-101-2-thun-ratha/ Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17414 1] Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, and Phoun Keo Reaksmey. In May 2021, Mr. Ratha was sentenced to 20 months in prison and remains detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 1, while Mses. Kunthea and Keo Reaksmey were sentenced to 18 months in prison and remain detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 2. On July 19, 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, and Phoun Keo Reaksmey with “plotting” (Article 453 of the Criminal Code) after being brought to court for questioning without the presence of their lawyers. If found guilty, they could face up to 10 years in prison. The new charge pressed against them would be connected to a case opened against environmental rights defenders Sun Ratha, Seth Chhiv Limeng, Ly Chandarvuth, Yim Leanghy, and Alejandro González-Davidson, who have been facing charges of “plotting” and “insulting the King” (Article 437(bis) of the Criminal Code) since June 2021. The Observatory recalls that on May 5, 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Long Kunthea and Phoun Keo Reaksmey to 18 months in prison and a fine of 4 million riel (approximately 825 Euros) on charges of “incitement to cause societal chaos” (Articles 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code). Thun Ratha was sentenced to 20 months in prison and a fine of 4 million riel on the same charges. On the same day, Mother Nature activist Alejandro González-Davidson and Khmer Thavrak [2] member Chea Kunthin were sentenced in absentia to 20 and 18 months in prison respectively, on charges of “accomplice” (Article 29 of the Cambodian Criminal Code) and “incitement to cause societal chaos”, and to a fine of 4 million riel each. The Observatory further recalls that Long Kunthea, Phoun Keo Reaksmey, and Thun Rathahave been held in pre-trial detention on charges of “incitement to cause societal chaos”since September 6, 2020, following their arrest on September 3, 2020 for planning a solo protest calling for the protection of Phnom Penh’s Bueng Ta-mouk lake. Ms. Chea Kunthin was arrested and subsequently released in August 2020, after signing an agreement stating she would not participate in a protest calling for the release of human rights defender Rong Chhun. On September 7, 2020, the Ministry of Interior released a statement instructing authorities to take legal action against members of Mother Nature Cambodia, accusing the group of “causing social chaos”, and labelling the organisation as illegal for not being registered under the repressive Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (“LANGO”). The Observatory reiterates its deepest concern about the fact that Cambodian authorities have systematically used legal harassment and the politicised judicial system to target land and environmental activists, and recalls in particular that this is not the first time that Mother Nature Cambodia activists have faced harassment. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing judicial harassment and arbitrary detention of Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, Phoun Keo Reaksmey, Sun Ratha, Ly Chandarvuth, and Yim Leanghy,as well as the judicial harassment of Alejandro González-Davidson and Chea Kunthin, as it seems to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate environmental and human rights activities, and urges the Cambodian authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment against them and immediately and unconditionally release the above-mentioned human rights defenders.]]> 1] Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, and Phoun Keo Reaksmey. In May 2021, Mr. Ratha was sentenced to 20 months in prison and remains detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 1, while Mses. Kunthea and Keo Reaksmey were sentenced to 18 months in prison and remain detained in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 2. On July 19, 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, and Phoun Keo Reaksmey with “plotting” (Article 453 of the Criminal Code) after being brought to court for questioning without the presence of their lawyers. If found guilty, they could face up to 10 years in prison. The new charge pressed against them would be connected to a case opened against environmental rights defenders Sun Ratha, Seth Chhiv Limeng, Ly Chandarvuth, Yim Leanghy, and Alejandro González-Davidson, who have been facing charges of “plotting” and “insulting the King” (Article 437(bis) of the Criminal Code) since June 2021. The Observatory recalls that on May 5, 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Long Kunthea and Phoun Keo Reaksmey to 18 months in prison and a fine of 4 million riel (approximately 825 Euros) on charges of “incitement to cause societal chaos” (Articles 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code). Thun Ratha was sentenced to 20 months in prison and a fine of 4 million riel on the same charges. On the same day, Mother Nature activist Alejandro González-Davidson and Khmer Thavrak [2] member Chea Kunthin were sentenced in absentia to 20 and 18 months in prison respectively, on charges of “accomplice” (Article 29 of the Cambodian Criminal Code) and “incitement to cause societal chaos”, and to a fine of 4 million riel each. The Observatory further recalls that Long Kunthea, Phoun Keo Reaksmey, and Thun Rathahave been held in pre-trial detention on charges of “incitement to cause societal chaos”since September 6, 2020, following their arrest on September 3, 2020 for planning a solo protest calling for the protection of Phnom Penh’s Bueng Ta-mouk lake. Ms. Chea Kunthin was arrested and subsequently released in August 2020, after signing an agreement stating she would not participate in a protest calling for the release of human rights defender Rong Chhun. On September 7, 2020, the Ministry of Interior released a statement instructing authorities to take legal action against members of Mother Nature Cambodia, accusing the group of “causing social chaos”, and labelling the organisation as illegal for not being registered under the repressive Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (“LANGO”). The Observatory reiterates its deepest concern about the fact that Cambodian authorities have systematically used legal harassment and the politicised judicial system to target land and environmental activists, and recalls in particular that this is not the first time that Mother Nature Cambodia activists have faced harassment. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing judicial harassment and arbitrary detention of Thun Ratha, Long Kunthea, Phoun Keo Reaksmey, Sun Ratha, Ly Chandarvuth, and Yim Leanghy,as well as the judicial harassment of Alejandro González-Davidson and Chea Kunthin, as it seems to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate environmental and human rights activities, and urges the Cambodian authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment against them and immediately and unconditionally release the above-mentioned human rights defenders.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/blr-007-0721-obs-080-2/ Fri, 16 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17392 coordinated raids and arbitrary arrests that started on July 14, 2021. On July 16, 2021, Belarus’ law enforcement officials conducted about 40 searches into the flats of several journalists and human rights activists, including journalists and former journalists of Belsat, Radio Liberty Belarus and Media-Polesye. The law enforcement officers also cracked open the doors of Radio Liberty Belarus office to conduct a search. It is unclear which charges, if any, the aforementioned individuals and organisations face. In addition to these searches, at least five journalists have been detained, namely, Aleh Hruzdzilovich and Inesa Studzinskaya (Radio Liberty Belarus), Hanna Haliota and Ihar Iliash [1] (Belsat), as well as freelance journalist from Brest Siarhei Skulavets, who was later released after being interrogated. On the same day, the human rights centre “TimeAct” was raided, whereas searches took place in the houses of three members of the board of the “Legal Initiative” centre Viktoryia Fyodarava, Halina Ustsinava and Yauhen Puhach. The KGB further interrogated and searched the flat of the Human Rights Centre ‘Viasna’ member Valery Putsitski as a part of a criminal case under Article 289 of the Criminal Code (“act of terrorism”). Later that day, a KGB officer detained another member of ‘Viasna’, journalist and human rights defender Andrei Myadzvedzieu, after a search in his flat. The Observatory recalls that between July 14 and 15, 2021, more than 45 searches were conducted at the homes of human rights defenders as well as at the offices of civil society organisations across Belarus. Documents and IT equipment, including laptops, mobile phones and computers, were seized during the searches. On the same days, several human rights defenders and journalists were arbitrarily detained and subsequently released after interrogation. Furthermore, on July 14, 2021, law enforcement officers arbitrarily detained Yauheniya Babaeva, human rights defender; Siarhei Matskevich, civil society activist; and Mykola Sharah, trade union activist and member of the Polatsk human rights group. Eight members of the Human Rights Centre ‘Viasna’ were also detained, including Ales Bialiatski, Viasna’s Chairman; Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Head of Viasna and Vice-President of FIDH; Uladzimir Labkovich, lawyer, and his wife Nina Labkovich; Alena Laptsenak, human rights defender; Andrey Paluda, Coordinator of the Viasna’s campaign “Human rights defenders against death penalty”; Siarhei Sys; Viktar Sazonau, also a journalist; and Ales Kaputski, member of Viasna Hrodna office. The three latter were subsequently released after interrogations. Siarhei Sys and Viktar Sazonau however are under travel ban and still facing charges. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, all the above-mentioned human rights defenders remained detained for a 72-hour period within the investigation of criminal cases opened under Article 342 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (“organisation and preparation of actions violating public order or active participation in such actions”) and Article 243 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code (“tax evasion”). Upon completion of the 72-hour detention, it will be decided whether the human rights defenders are released or stay in pre-trial detention. On July 15, 2021, law enforcement officers went to the office of the prominent independent media outlet ‘Nasha Niva’, which has been sealed since July 8, 2021. On July 8, the police had carried out searches in their offices and subsequently arrested its Editor-in-chief Yahor Martsinovich, Editors Andrey Skurko and Andrey Dynko, as well as the Head Accountant Olga Rakovich, who was released in the evening of July 16, 2021. The Observatory recalls that the above-mentioned searches and detentions started only one day after the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted its resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus, which expresses deep concern over the unprecedented escalation in violation of human rights in the country, including systematic repression of human rights defenders and journalists, and demands the authorities to release all persons arbitrarily detained and to promptly investigate all allegations of human rights violations. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and journalists and expresses grave concern over the high risk of torture and ill-treatment the above-mentioned human rights defenders are facing while in custody. The Observatory further condemns the ongoing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of other human rights defenders in the country, including ‘Viasna’ members Leanid Sudalenka, Tatsiana Lasista and Marfa Rabkova, as well as the legal counsellor at the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Aleh Hrableuski. The director of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski remains under house arrest, while the lawyer of ‘Viasna’ HRC Dzmitry Salauyou is under a restriction order. The Observatory urges the authorities in Belarus to immediately put an end to the persecution and harassment, including at the judicial level, of the above-mentioned human rights defenders and journalists. The Observatory further urges the authorities to immediately release all human rights defenders, journalists and activists arbitrarily detained in Belarus and to guarantee their physical integrity and psychological well-being.]]> coordinated raids and arbitrary arrests that started on July 14, 2021. On July 16, 2021, Belarus’ law enforcement officials conducted about 40 searches into the flats of several journalists and human rights activists, including journalists and former journalists of Belsat, Radio Liberty Belarus and Media-Polesye. The law enforcement officers also cracked open the doors of Radio Liberty Belarus office to conduct a search. It is unclear which charges, if any, the aforementioned individuals and organisations face. In addition to these searches, at least five journalists have been detained, namely, Aleh Hruzdzilovich and Inesa Studzinskaya (Radio Liberty Belarus), Hanna Haliota and Ihar Iliash [1] (Belsat), as well as freelance journalist from Brest Siarhei Skulavets, who was later released after being interrogated. On the same day, the human rights centre “TimeAct” was raided, whereas searches took place in the houses of three members of the board of the “Legal Initiative” centre Viktoryia Fyodarava, Halina Ustsinava and Yauhen Puhach. The KGB further interrogated and searched the flat of the Human Rights Centre ‘Viasna’ member Valery Putsitski as a part of a criminal case under Article 289 of the Criminal Code (“act of terrorism”). Later that day, a KGB officer detained another member of ‘Viasna’, journalist and human rights defender Andrei Myadzvedzieu, after a search in his flat. The Observatory recalls that between July 14 and 15, 2021, more than 45 searches were conducted at the homes of human rights defenders as well as at the offices of civil society organisations across Belarus. Documents and IT equipment, including laptops, mobile phones and computers, were seized during the searches. On the same days, several human rights defenders and journalists were arbitrarily detained and subsequently released after interrogation. Furthermore, on July 14, 2021, law enforcement officers arbitrarily detained Yauheniya Babaeva, human rights defender; Siarhei Matskevich, civil society activist; and Mykola Sharah, trade union activist and member of the Polatsk human rights group. Eight members of the Human Rights Centre ‘Viasna’ were also detained, including Ales Bialiatski, Viasna’s Chairman; Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Head of Viasna and Vice-President of FIDH; Uladzimir Labkovich, lawyer, and his wife Nina Labkovich; Alena Laptsenak, human rights defender; Andrey Paluda, Coordinator of the Viasna’s campaign “Human rights defenders against death penalty”; Siarhei Sys; Viktar Sazonau, also a journalist; and Ales Kaputski, member of Viasna Hrodna office. The three latter were subsequently released after interrogations. Siarhei Sys and Viktar Sazonau however are under travel ban and still facing charges. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, all the above-mentioned human rights defenders remained detained for a 72-hour period within the investigation of criminal cases opened under Article 342 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (“organisation and preparation of actions violating public order or active participation in such actions”) and Article 243 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code (“tax evasion”). Upon completion of the 72-hour detention, it will be decided whether the human rights defenders are released or stay in pre-trial detention. On July 15, 2021, law enforcement officers went to the office of the prominent independent media outlet ‘Nasha Niva’, which has been sealed since July 8, 2021. On July 8, the police had carried out searches in their offices and subsequently arrested its Editor-in-chief Yahor Martsinovich, Editors Andrey Skurko and Andrey Dynko, as well as the Head Accountant Olga Rakovich, who was released in the evening of July 16, 2021. The Observatory recalls that the above-mentioned searches and detentions started only one day after the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted its resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus, which expresses deep concern over the unprecedented escalation in violation of human rights in the country, including systematic repression of human rights defenders and journalists, and demands the authorities to release all persons arbitrarily detained and to promptly investigate all allegations of human rights violations. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and journalists and expresses grave concern over the high risk of torture and ill-treatment the above-mentioned human rights defenders are facing while in custody. The Observatory further condemns the ongoing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of other human rights defenders in the country, including ‘Viasna’ members Leanid Sudalenka, Tatsiana Lasista and Marfa Rabkova, as well as the legal counsellor at the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Aleh Hrableuski. The director of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski remains under house arrest, while the lawyer of ‘Viasna’ HRC Dzmitry Salauyou is under a restriction order. The Observatory urges the authorities in Belarus to immediately put an end to the persecution and harassment, including at the judicial level, of the above-mentioned human rights defenders and journalists. The Observatory further urges the authorities to immediately release all human rights defenders, journalists and activists arbitrarily detained in Belarus and to guarantee their physical integrity and psychological well-being.]]> https://observatoryfordefenders.org/fr/alert/dcl-ind-050721-stan-swamy/ Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/?post_type=alert&p=17334