Mexico City, Friday June 2, 2006

Press Release No. 5 of the International Civil Commission on Human Rights Observation in Mexico.

In our fourth day of work, the International Civil Commission on Human Rights Observation in Mexico was finally able yesterday to begin to interview the different instituional actors.

In the morning we went to the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), in the afternoon a delegation of the Commission went to Toluca to interview the Secretary of Government of the State of Mexico. After explaining the role of the Commission, the Government ratified his point of view about "the problem of Atenco", explaining that the People's Front in Defense of the Land (FPDT) has always stopped any action the Government has tried to take to support the people in this Municipality. The government recognized that the operation produced excessive police force, but he continued to minimize and elude any penal o political responsibility of the police.

In Texcoco, the CCIODH went to speak to the Mayor of the municipality of Mexico, who brought up the subject of the flower growers, explaining that there was never any agreement that permit them to sell flowers on the 3rd of May, which constrasts with other testimonies and documents that were handed into the Commission. He also affirmed that the FPDT "controls" the flower growers. He declared that there was no conjunctive operation between the municipal and state police, and that the first of them were unarmed. Other interviews manifest opinions that contradict the official argument with photos to support.

In the evening the Commission received a call from America del Valle, daughter of Ignacio del Valle, leader of the FPDT detained in the maximum security prison La Palma and who's whereabouts are unknown. She explained to us "the people of the Front are not delinquents. We will struggle for the freedom of our prisoners." She added that her whole family had to flee from the town, as well as those without an arrest warrant. She has news that her mother and sister are well, thought she has not seen them since the 3rd of May.

Yesterday morning, the team of lawyers that are participants of the CCIODH wanted to participate in the first public hearing of the process against the three prisoners in the maximum security prison of La Palma. Nevertheless they were not allowed in and finally the hearing happened behind closed doors. These same people interviewed with the judge of the prison of Santiaguito, and this morning they went to the prison Almoloya de Juárez, due to the prison director´s positive response to our request to interview the prisoners.

In the morning this 5th day of work, a delegation of the Commission went to the German embassy in Mexico City; another group went to the Procuraduría General of the Republic of the State of Mexico and another to the Procuraduría General of the Republic of Mexico City at 2 in the afternoon.

At three this afternoon, the Delegado Zero (Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos) came to our office after a positive response to our invitation Commission made through a letter to the Other Campaign.

International Civil Commission for Human Rights Observation, Mexico

Address: Fray Servando Teresa de Mier 92, second floor (in the Autonomous University of Mexico City)

May 29th June 4th (9AM-9PM)

Telephone (0052) 55785563
Mobile (0052) 044 55 32758122
E-mail: cciodh@pangea.org
Website www.cciodh.pangea.org