Mexican Political Prisoners Subjected to Inhumane Detention

By Jacob Leon Beier
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, North America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Human Rights groups, including the NGO, Decade Against Impunity Solidarity Network (RSD), report that over 500 political prisoners have been detained for lengthy periods of time in jails throughout Mexico.  The prisoners have been denied basic legal rights and are being subjected to torture while in the custody of Mexican law enforcement officials.

RSD released a report recently that details the “false charges” that have been levied against the prisoners by the government as well as interrogation tactics that amount to torture—illegal under international law.  The RSD report found that due to the drawn out judicial process in Mexico, prisoners must await trial for prolonged periods of time.  For example, two indigenous Nahua people have been imprisoned for 22 months in the state of Veracruz for crimes related to organized criminal activity and committing acts of terrorism—charges that the RSD avers are false.

Critics argue that many of the prisoners were forced to confess for crimes they did not commit through “repression, oppression and torture.”

Mexican human rights activist, Ericka Zamora, stated at the release of the RSD report, “[s]ocial struggle and defending human rights in the country have become high-risk activities because of constant threats of arrest and harassment of grassroots activists.”

The Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Centre for Human Rights argues that President Felipe Calderon has largely ignored the suggestions of the United Nations concerning the defense of human rights in the case of political prisoners.

The inhumane treatment of Mexican political prisoners is not a new issue by any means.  US citizens protested the imprisonment of Mexican students back in the 1970’s.  The American activists were barred from any political activism within the country because they were foreign visitors and prohibited to do so under existing Mexican law.  The large majority of the imprisoned students were arrested, detained without a trial or public hearing, and did not receive notice of any formal charges until well over a year after their arrest.

For more information, please see:

Indian Muslim News and Information – Mexico Holding 500 Political Prisoners – 22 November 2007

Solidarity-US.org – Help Oaxacan Political Prisoners – 30 March 2007

The New York Review of Books – An Open Letter to American Citizens on Behalf of Mexican Political Prisoners – 4 June 1970

YouTube – Testimony: Mexico 2006 Atenco Political Prisoners