Mexican investigators reopen Oaxaca deaths cases

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Posted on Wednesday, 03.09.11
Mexican investigators reopen Oaxaca deaths cases
The Associated Press

OAXACA, Mexico -- Mexican prosecutors are reopening investigations into 21 deaths during 2006 protests against the Oaxaca state government, including the killing of an independent U.S. journalist.

Oaxaca state Gov. Gabino Cue said Wednesday he created a special prosecutors' office to review the cases.

Journalist Bradley Will of New York was killed as he videotaped a clash between protesters and supporters of then-Gov. Ulises Ruiz.

The lone suspect in the killing of the 36-year-old will was released last year for lack of evidence. Many human rights groups contended the suspect, Juan Manuel Martinez, was wrongly accused. He had been was one of the protesters seeking the ouster of Ruiz, who was accused of rigging his election.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/09/2106860/mexican-investigators-reopen-oaxaca.html

[readerreader]

1. MOre than one suspect

US Journalist Murder Investigation Reopened.
Brad Will, murdered in Oaxaca, Mexico in 2006, along with 21 others

Opposition growing to Repressive "Merida Initiative"


Contact:

+++++++++++
Advocates in the USA for accountability in the murder of Brad Will and dozens of others during the vicious oppression of labor and other activists in Oaxaca are glad to learn that Mexican prosecutors are reopening investigations into 21 deaths during 2006 protests. These people have never been forgotten.

Oaxaca state Gov. Gabino Cue said Wednesday he created a special prosecutors' office to review the cases, he replaced then Gov. Ulises Ruiz who was responsible for the deaths abd repression at that time.

Journalist Bradley Will of New York was killed as he videotaped his own murder.

Contrary to current news reports, there was more than one suspect. After a few years, to respond to growing concerns, the government arrested a member of the widespread social movement, Juan Manuel Martinez, who was eventually released under intense local and international pressure.

In fact, immediately after Brad Will's murder, a number of local police and security personnel videotaped and photographed shooting at demonstrators were arrested and later released under strange circumstances. They are:

Juan Carlo Soriano, municipal police officer; Manuel Aguilar, council personnel chief; Able Santiago Zarate; and Pedro Carmona, Mayor of Felipe Carrillo Puerto de Santa Lucia del Camino.

And pictured shooting guns at that very time here:

http://friendsofbradwill.org/issues/brads-case/

"We are optimistic that now true justice for Brad Will and the many others murdered by a repressive government can occur. It must be recalled that after such tragic violence Bush and Obama rewarded the Mexican forces with over a billion dollars of military aid in the form of weapons and helicopters, all used against the growing social movements. True justice in this case will identify and bring to people known to have committed these acts of violence and an end to the US tax payer funded Merida Initiative and the so-called drug war." said Violeta Rivera of Friends of Brad Will.


Friends of Brad Will is a nationwide network of activists, friends and family members of Brad Will, the U.S. journalist who was murdered by Mexican government paramilitaries in broad daylight in Oaxaca, Mexico in October 2006. Despite numerous eye witnesses and photographic/video evidence, no one has been held accountable. Friends of Brad Will has been educating, organizing, and pressuring the U.S. government to work on behalf of Brad Will and to reject the Merida Initiative. http://friendsofbradwill.org

Translation of some key portions of Human Rights report:

http://www.friendsofbradwill.org/2008/10/27/portions-of-the-cndh-report-sept-26th-on-federal-and-state-investigations-into-brad-will%E2%80%99s-murder/

The Nobel Prize winning Physicians for Human Rights reviewed forensic evidence, declared shots were from 30 + meters away and urged investigation of paramilitary involvement in Brad Will's murder and the murders of others:

http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/news-2008-05-23.html

Here's a detailed account of the case through October 2008, including the arrest of an innocent man, Juan Manuel Martinez Moreno and the issuing of arrest warrants against witnesses to the murder:

http://www.indypendent.org/2008/10/24/rule-of-impunity/


More on the Merida Initiative here: http://americas.irc-online.org/am/5118

[Judi Lynn]

2. Just discovered your post, having missed it at the time you posted.

Thank you so much for taking the time to link to these sources. I'll be taking time to read through it later today.

It's important for those who already know about what happened in Oaxaca to refresh their memories. It was watched with such great concern here at the time.

It's very important for people who missed it altogether to learn what happened.

Welcome to D.U., and thank you. :hi:

[RedCloud]

3. Judi Lynn, with her pulse on Latin America!

Much appreciated.