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WE DEMAND THEIR RELEASE.
rhythms of resistance amsterdam - 05.06.2004 02:47
WE DEMAND THEIR RELEASE. CALL TO MEXICAN CONSULATE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST REPRESSION.
Mexican Consulate in Amsterdam southern suburbs disturbed by Rhythms of Resistance against repression at the Guadalajara protests. June 4, 2004.
Though a small action, the little but shiny green samba band which paid a visit to the anonymous Mexican consulate definitely got delivered its message of solidarity with protesters and detainees in Guadalajara. The small international samba committee delivered a letter with demands (see letter below) to a very inviting and understanding consul, who promised to deliver the letter to the requested authorities. The coming week we will follow up with phone calls to ask for further information about the situation with the detainees in Guadalajara and the legal situation for people arrested there. It could help to put some more pressure by sending the letter below as a fax to the embassy on +31-70-3560543
Among the charged people is a member of the Rhythms of Resistance band from Mexico City, one of the newly started action samba bands which is part of the international action samba network. This person is, together with 42 others still held in prison, charged of rioting and property destruction.
June 4 was called as a day of global mobilization to pressure the Mexican government to release those detained in the Guadalajara protests.
Rhythms of Resistance Amsterdam
Rhythms of Resistance Gent
------ End of Forwarded Message
WE DEMAND THEIR RELEASE.
CALL TO MEXICAN CONSULATE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST REPRESSION
During protests of the free trade meeting between ministers from countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union May 26-29th in Guadalajara, Mexico, violent repression and torture occurred. Police harassment and brutality has been rampant during the protests.
On May 28th, serious confrontation broke out during the main march against the conference. The police unnecessarily attacked protesters with tear gas, pepper spray and physical aggression. The majority of arrests were made after the confrontation had ended, as protesters attempted to reach a safe place.
After the protests over 100 activists and bystanders were missing. Protesters were being held in 5 different jails and 2 different hospitals and the authorities refused to release their names. No visitors, including lawyers, were allowed to visit any detainees. Witnesses in the jails have reported on torture inside the jail. Women have been forced to strip naked and men have been brutally beaten while handcuffed on the ground. All foreigners arrested at the protest have been deported except one who suffers severe injuries.
43 people are still in jail. Most are charged with property destruction and rioting, and could face prison sentences. At the protests were present members of the international ‘Rhythms of Resistance” network, a network of groups and individuals who believe in protesting through musical and colourful actions. It seems that the ‘Rhythm of Resistance” group has been a political target for the police forces during the Guadalajara protests. 1 of its members is still kept in prison with the other 43 detainees, charged with the above.
OUR DEMANDS:
1) Unconditional freedom for all the political detainees
2) Drop all charges
3) No more harassment, torture, beatings or arrests
4) Proper medical treatment for injured detainees
5) Safe passage home for all activists
IN NETHERLANDS, OUR DEMANDS ARE:
We demand from the Mexican Consulate to put pressure on their national government and the city of Guadalajara to stop the repression and meet the demands of the international community, as stated above.
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