Oaxaca, December 20th, 2006

The systematic violation of human rights in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico is of national concern and is what pushes more than 1,500 citizens of 39 countries to support the visit of the International Civil Commission for Human Rights Observation (CCIODH) to this Mexican region.

Last Monday the 18th in Mexico City, the Commission officially began its work with a first group that made up the V Visit of the CCIODH concerning the events of Oaxaca. It started with a press release in the Journalists' Club. Starting Monday at the offices of the UACM we've had various contacts: with the Secretary of Government through Licensed Rodrigo Espeleta to coordinate the scheduling of the institutional interviews, with different people from the APPO that are in Mexico City in order collect their concerns and denouncements, and with the General Director of the IV Visit of the CNDH who handed us the last report made.

Today, Wednesday the 20th, the CCIODH will go to Oaxaca to continue its work where it will be until the 1st of January, traveling once again to Mexico City to welcome the second group that will arrive on the 7th of January to continue with interviews.

Tomorrow, which starts the work schedule in Oaxaca City, the CCIODH will convoke a press release at the Institute of the Graphic Arts of Oaxaca, located on Alcala Street 507 in the Historic Center of the city at 12:00. It will include the participation of the Network of Human Rights of Oaxaca, Father Uvi coordinator of the Commission of Peace and Justice of the Arcodioces of Oaxaca, Francisco Toledo and members of the V CCIODH.

We have also begun contacts with Rosario Villalobos of the Subsecretary of Human Rights of the Secretary General of the Government of the State of Oaxaca, to establish the schedule with institutional organisms with whom we will meet on Friday the 22nd.

The office of the CCIODH will set up in the House of the Church located on Heroico Colegio Militar Street and Escuela Naval Militar Street. The telephone contact numbers are 5155289 and (045) 5534676763. We invite every person and organization that would like to present their denouncements and testimonies to this Commission with complete freedom and trust. For this reason we ask for all necessary guarantees so that anyone can give their testimony without encountering any obstacles whatsoever. We hope to be able to attend to all the petitions expressed from the civil society as well as the Mexican government.

Sincerely:

Press Commission of the CCIODH