Oaxaca, December 21, 2006

Today the Commission began its activities in the city of Oaxaca. The CCIODH has an office in the Casa de la Iglesia, including a reception room for interviewees and boarding space for members of this first CCIODH delegation to Oaxaca.

At 12 noon, a press conference was held at the Institute for Graphic Arts of Oaxaca. Participants included Sara Méndez from the Oaxacan Web for Human Rights, Father Uvi from the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Diocese of Oaxaca, artist Francisco Toledo who provided the meeting space, as well as three representatives of the CCIODH. Introduced by actress Ofelia Medina, the commission was welcomed and satisfaction expressed regarding the visit. The members of the Commission explained their work and invited all persons to feel at ease in giving their testimony.

In the afternoon, the CCIODH attended a meeting with COFADAPO (Committe of Relatives of Missing Persons and Political Prisioners of Oaxaca). With 150 persons in attendance the Commission explained how its work is carried out. An agenda of interviews was organized with family members and people who were imprisoned, in order to collect their testimonies. Family members discussed their demands and problems, demanding the liberty of all political prisioners after the violent happenings in Oaxaca.

The commission interviewed several persons who were recently released from prison on bail. It also conducted interviews with family members of persons who were assassinated, as well as with human rights organizations in indigenous communities, among others.

In the upcoming days, the Commission will continue to gather the testimonies of people who were directly affected, of family members and various other groups within Oaxaca. Moreover, this morning there will be a meeting with Ms. Rosario Villalobos of the Human Rights Subsecretariat of the Ministry of the Interior of Oaxaca. At this meeting, we hope to establish an agenda for carrying out interviews with institutional organizations, as well as a schedule for interviews in prisons. We make a positive assessment the day and thank all those who have allowed us to begin carrying out our work.

Sincerely:

Press Commission of the CCIODH