|
|
|
|
IDHBB 21.06.2003
Digna Ochoa jointly with
awarded The International Human Rights Prize “Ludovic Trarieux” 2003 The 21 European lawyers
members of the Jury called the Mexican authorities to ensure an effective, independent and
thorough investigation into the
killing of Digna Ochoa
and expressed deep concern for the safety of Barbara
Zamora and urged to give her
immediately an appropriate protection. Mexican human
rights lawyer Digna Ochoa y Plácido was found shot dead in her office in
Mexico City on October 19 2001 after being shot in the head and leg. A note,
directed at Ochoa's Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Center and
presumably left by the killers, warned: "If they continue, this will
also happen to another. You have been advised. This is not a trick." Ochoa, 38, had
been kidnapped and had received a string of death threats since 1995 that
Batiz's office was investigating. But Edgar Cortez, the center's director,
said the investigations weren't sufficient. Although Ochoa
had received protection in the past, Cortez said, she left the country for
work and was not given government guards when she returned in April. Ochoa had often
defended rebel sympathizers in southern Mexico, including those jailed for
supporting Zapatistas who led a 1994 uprising in Chiapas state. Digna Ochoa was
shot dead on 19 October in a legal office in the centre of Mexico City. The
killers left a message next to her body, threatening to kill other human
rights defenders from the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Centre,
(Centro de Derechos Humanos "Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez", PRODH). This murder
could have been prevented if the Mexican authorities had carried out their
responsibility to investigate the threats and the attacks suffered by Digna
Ochoa and members of the PRODH over a number of years, and they had brought
the perpetrators to justice. "The
Mexican government has an unequivocal obligation to protect the work and the
integrity of human rights defenders," Irene Khan added. She insisted
that the authorities undertake an independent and thorough investigation in
accordance with national laws and the international obligations of the
Mexican government. "The
impunity which has so far protected those responsible for the threats and
harassment against human rights defenders is a pivotal factor in this latest
tragedy," Irene Khan said. The inability of previous and current Mexican
authorities to carry out the required investigations, to prosecute or punish
those responsible for the attacks, threats and harassment against human
rights defenders, has created an environment in which the perpetrators feel
certain that they will not be punished for their crimes. This impunity is a
permanent and real threat against human rights defenders in Mexico. Digna Ochoa
worked in the legal team of the PRODH and with other human rights lawyers. There
is no doubt that her murder was the result of her work in defence of human
rights. In particular, her insistence that the authorities fully investigate
cases of serious human rights violations in which state agents could be
implicated, including officials in the army and the Office of the Attorney
General, Procuraduría General de la República (PGR). Digna Ochoa and
other human rights defenders have been victims of attacks and threats for a
number years. Almost none of the official investigations undertaken have
managed to identify or prosecute the perpetrators. In 1995 Digna Ochoa began to receive death threats as a result of
her human rights work. In 1999, along with other colleagues from the PRODH,
she suffered intense harassment. On October 28
1999, human rights lawyer Digna Ochoa, head of the legal division of the
Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Center for Human Rights (PRODH) was attacked in her
home, and PRODH’s offices were broken into. Recent events signaled an
alarming escalation of threats and attacks that have been occurring since
1995. Ms Ochoa and PRODH staff are in danger. ·
In a nine-hour ordeal beginning late October 28 1999,
Digna Ochoa was attacked in her Mexico City home, rendered unconscious,
blindfolded, tied up, threatened, harshly interrogated on activities of her
and her colleagues, and pressured to sign papers by at least two unidentified
individuals, who seemed to be recording her answers on a portable computer. They
insistently questioned her on insurgent organizations in southern Mexico. She
was left tied up near escaping natural gas. Her phone line was cut. She later
discovered files, apparently left behind by her assailants, that had been
taken from her during her attack and abduction by unknown assailants on
August 9. ·
On the morning of October 29, PRODH staff found that
their offices had been broken into and desks in the legal area ransacked. They
discovered a death threat scrawled on a file folder. ·
On October 13, an anonymous written communiqué
containing a bomb threat was discovered in the area of PRODH offices where
the legal staff works. Several members of the legal staff, including Ms.
Ochoa, had just returned from a two-day trip to the southern state of
Guerrero for legal defense of imprisoned clients. ·
On October 5, Ms. Ochoa found in her home identity
papers that had been stolen from her during the August 9 attack. The
identity papers appeared at her new address even though they contain a former
address, suggesting her whereabouts are being tracked. ·
On the morning of September 14, PRODH staff found
two written death threats in a desk drawer of PRODH offices. The attacks,
threats and harassment have been intensifying since early August despite
Mexico City District Attorney Samuel Del Villar's promises in late September
1999 that the incidents would be vigorously investigated by law enforcement
officials. On September 3,
1999, three anonymous communiqués containing death threats arrived in the
mail at the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Center for Human Rights (Centro de
Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez or PRODH) offices. While the
threats appear to be directed against all members of PRODH, there is particular
concern for the safety of lawyer Digna Ochoa, PRODH's legal coordinator. On
August 9, she was forced into the back of a car and struck in the stomach by
two unknown men, who threatened her with death upon releasing her. PRODH
believes the latest threats are related to this abduction. Ms. Ochoa's PRODH
business card, possibly the one stolen from her during the abduction, was
included with the mailed threats. On September 8, four more anonymous
communiqués containing death threats arrived at PRODH offices. One of them
was addressed specifically to the PRODH legal staff. PRODH staff members have
also been receiving threatening phone calls at their homes. PRODH has been
the target of threats since 1995, when PRODH lawyers including Ms. Ochoa took
the cases of individuals accused of involvement with the Zapatista insurgency
in Chiapas. In several of these cases, PRODH alleged that their clients
suffered torture and due process violations at the hands of the police and
prosecutors. Ms. Ochoa has also initiated legal proceedings against 16
paramilitary groups that operate in Mexico's troubled Chiapas state. More about Digna Ochoa :
|
