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26 November 1999
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HR/99/109
26 November 1999
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TRAVELS TO CHIAPAS
AS OFFICIAL VISIT TO MEXICO CONTINUES
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson called today for an end to impunity for human rights violations in Mexico and expressed concern over the militarization of parts of the country.
Speaking in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas in the southern State of Chiapas, the High Commissioner said there were worries that justice is still to be done in a number of cases of serious human rights abuses, including the massacre in the Chiapas village of Acteal in December of 1997. After meeting with survivors of the massacre, Mrs. Robinson said: "I was deeply moved by the accounts from the people of Acteal. Their story is one that, sadly, points to a major difficulty in Mexico, namely the failure in too many cases to punish rights violators."
According to the High Commissioner, a number of factors seemed to contribute to a climate where breaches could occur and go unpunished, including the increased militarization of public security functions and the failure to bring soldiers before civilian tribunals for rights violations reportedly committed against civilians.
Among the abuses reported, she continued, were cases of arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances, violence against women and harassment. There were also worries regarding the situation of displaced people in Chiapas as a result of military activity and continued marginalization of indigenous people, despite extensive work by the National Indigenous Institute, said the High Commissioner.
Another subject of concern, she said, was the activity of armed civilian groups in Chiapas and the attitude demonstrated by the authorities in dealing with some of them. "It would appear that some of these groups enjoy a degree of official indulgence. That would be unacceptable, as the law must apply equally to all", she went on.
The High Commissioner raised her concerns at meetings this morning with Chiapas Governor Roberto Albores Guillen and with the President of the Supreme Court of Chiapas, Dr. Noe Castanon Leon. These issues had also been discussed in meetings with the highest authorities of the country, including President Ernesto Zedillo, the Foreign Minister and the Ministers of the Interior and Defence, she indicated.
Before leaving San Cristobal for Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mrs. Robinson said there was a deep gulf between what the Government said it was doing and wanted to do and what was being reported from the ground. "From my discussions so far, I believe there is the intention on the part of authorities at the highest level to achieve progress in the human rights situation. But the reality up to now is that serious problems persist, as the will to move forward with human rights is not scoping down to all levels."
"There needs to be a major deployment of political will and vigilance if the situation is to improve for all Mexicans", she said. "My Office is ready to provide any assistance it can in realizing progress. I hope that the signing two days ago of a memorandum of intent between my Office and the Government will lead to a programme of cooperation soon".
Mrs. Robinson will continue her visit to Mexico tomorrow, when she is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Chiapas state legislature, officials of the state commission on human rights, the Catholic bishops of Chiapas and former Chiapas Bishop Samuel Ruiz. She will then travel to Mexico City to meet with indigenous groups before leaving Mexico for Ecuador.
26 November 1999
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TRAVELS TO CHIAPAS
AS OFFICIAL VISIT TO MEXICO CONTINUES
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson called today for an end to impunity for human rights violations in Mexico and expressed concern over the militarization of parts of the country.
Speaking in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas in the southern State of Chiapas, the High Commissioner said there were worries that justice is still to be done in a number of cases of serious human rights abuses, including the massacre in the Chiapas village of Acteal in December of 1997. After meeting with survivors of the massacre, Mrs. Robinson said: "I was deeply moved by the accounts from the people of Acteal. Their story is one that, sadly, points to a major difficulty in Mexico, namely the failure in too many cases to punish rights violators."
According to the High Commissioner, a number of factors seemed to contribute to a climate where breaches could occur and go unpunished, including the increased militarization of public security functions and the failure to bring soldiers before civilian tribunals for rights violations reportedly committed against civilians.
Among the abuses reported, she continued, were cases of arbitrary detention, torture, disappearances, violence against women and harassment. There were also worries regarding the situation of displaced people in Chiapas as a result of military activity and continued marginalization of indigenous people, despite extensive work by the National Indigenous Institute, said the High Commissioner.
Another subject of concern, she said, was the activity of armed civilian groups in Chiapas and the attitude demonstrated by the authorities in dealing with some of them. "It would appear that some of these groups enjoy a degree of official indulgence. That would be unacceptable, as the law must apply equally to all", she went on.
The High Commissioner raised her concerns at meetings this morning with Chiapas Governor Roberto Albores Guillen and with the President of the Supreme Court of Chiapas, Dr. Noe Castanon Leon. These issues had also been discussed in meetings with the highest authorities of the country, including President Ernesto Zedillo, the Foreign Minister and the Ministers of the Interior and Defence, she indicated.
Before leaving San Cristobal for Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mrs. Robinson said there was a deep gulf between what the Government said it was doing and wanted to do and what was being reported from the ground. "From my discussions so far, I believe there is the intention on the part of authorities at the highest level to achieve progress in the human rights situation. But the reality up to now is that serious problems persist, as the will to move forward with human rights is not scoping down to all levels."
"There needs to be a major deployment of political will and vigilance if the situation is to improve for all Mexicans", she said. "My Office is ready to provide any assistance it can in realizing progress. I hope that the signing two days ago of a memorandum of intent between my Office and the Government will lead to a programme of cooperation soon".
Mrs. Robinson will continue her visit to Mexico tomorrow, when she is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Chiapas state legislature, officials of the state commission on human rights, the Catholic bishops of Chiapas and former Chiapas Bishop Samuel Ruiz. She will then travel to Mexico City to meet with indigenous groups before leaving Mexico for Ecuador.