MEXICAN COMMUNITY LEADER ABDUCTED On 13 September, social activist Víctor Ayala Tapia was abducted by six armed men in Tecpan de Galeana municipality in the Southern Mexican state of Guerrero. His whereabouts remain unknown and Amnesty International is concerned that he may have been subjected to enforced disappearance. Please read complete Amnesty International Report. On the morning of 13 September, six armed men arrived at Víctor Ayala Tapia’s house in the small rural village of Papanoa, Tecpan de Galena municipality, and demanded to see his identification. They then forced Víctor Ayala Tapia into their pick up truck and drove away. He has not been seen since. At the time of Víctor Ayala Tapia’s abduction, two state police vans were stationed one street away from his home. Witnesses from the local community have said that the police vans left the village immediately after the abduction. The presence of the police vans was noted by the villagers as state police vans apparently come into the Papanoa village only rarely. Víctor Ayala Tapia is the President of the peasant farmer (campesino) organization Frente Libre Hermenegildo Galeana. He maintains a high profile in the local community as the organization campaigns for improved access to resources. In recent months these demands have led to increasing tensions with municipal authorities. Amnesty International believes that Víctor Ayala Tapia’s disappearance may be on account of his work as a community leader promoting projects in the Papanoa community. A local human rights organization is filing habeas corpus (amparo) with federal courts and a criminal complaint for his abduction has been filed with the State Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de Justicia). PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language: Insisting the authorities take immediate steps to establish the whereabouts of Víctor Ayala Tapia and order an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into his abduction. Calling on the authorities to take steps to ensure the safety of Víctor Ayala Tapia’s family and other members of the Frente Libre Hermenegildo Galeana. If Víctor Ayala Tapia is in custody, calling on the authorities to order his immediate release or ensure he is immediately brought before a judge to face recognised criminal charges. PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 OCTOBER 2010 TO: Attorney General of the Republic Lic. Arturo Chávez Chávez Procuraduría General de la República Av. Paseo de la Reforma nº 211-213, Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. Cuauhtémoc México D.F., C.P. 06500, MEXICO Fax: +52 55 5346 0908 Email: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx Governor of Guerrero Lic. Zeferino Torreblanca Galindo Palacio de Gobierno Edificio Centro, Piso 2 Ciudad de los Servicios Chipancingo, Guerrero Mexico, CP 39075 Fax: +52 747 471 9956 Email: gobernador@guerrero.gob.mx Attorney General Office of Guerrero Lic. David Augusto Sotelo Rosas Procuraduria General de Justicia de Guerrero Boulevard René Juarez Cisneros Esq. calle Juan Jiménez Sánchez, Col. Tepetongo, C.P. 39098, Chilpancingo, México Fax: +52 747 49 4 29 99 Email: pgj@guerrero.gob.mx Also send copies to diplomatic representatives of Mexico accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
