URGENT ACTION

fear for security of shelter staff in mexico

Members of Belén Migrant Shelter (Casa del migrante - Posada Belén), in Saltillo, Coahuila state, northern Mexico have been subjected to threats and information theft.

On 19 December, the window of a car belonging to catholic priest and director of the shelter, Pedro Pantoja Arreola was smashed and a briefcase containing confidential work documents stolen. On 27 December, the car of shelter coordinator Javier Martínez Hernández was also broken into and another briefcase with confidential important documents was taken. Valuables were not taken in either case, despite access and opportunity.

On 30 December, a call was made to Pedro Pantoja Arreola’s private phone in the church by a man threatening to the whole team at the Posada Belén, stating “You will all be screwed” (Se los va a llevar la chingada).

On 1 January an unidentified person called the offices of Posada Belén, saying they had found documents with the name and telephone number of Javier Martínez Hernández and said they could be picked up. When Javier Martínez Hernández arrived at the address provided, there was only an unidentified woman present; she said she did not know of any documents. A formal complaint has been filed for the events mentioned above at Coahuila State Attorney General's Office.

In 2010, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos) instructed the Mexican government to provide protective measures for Father Pedro Pantoja Arreola and his team at the Belén Migrant Shelter. As part of the measures provided by the state, a patrol car is stationed outside the shelter. However workers at the shelter have raised concern at the lack training and capacity of officials charged with their protection, along with other failures to fully implement protection measures.

Please write immediately in Spanish, English or your own language:

Demanding that the authorities provide effective protection to members of the Belén Migrants Shelter according to their wishes;

Calling on authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation regarding the information theft events and telephone threat received by members of Belén Migrants Shelter;

Calling on the authorities to implement an effective protection programme as stipulated in the precautionary measures granted by the Inter American Commission of Human Rights.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 18 FEBRUARY 2013 TO:

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Minister of Interior

Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong

Secretario de Gobernacion

Bucareli 99, col. Juárez, Cuauhtemoc, Distrito Federal, México, C.P. 6600

Fax: +52 55 5093 3414

Email: secretario@segob.gob.mx

Salutation: Dear Minister

Governor of Coahuila State

Rubén Moreira Valdez

Palacio de Gobierno Piso 1, Zona Centro, Saltillo, Coahuila C.P. 25000, México, Fax: +52 844 411 8500

Email: correspondenciadelgobernador@coahuila.gob.mx

Salutation: Dear Governor

And copies to:

Saltillo Migrants’ House Shelter

Email: fronteraconjusticia@gmail.com

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Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:

Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

Name: Pedro Pantoja Arreola, Javier Martínez Hernández and all other members of Belén Migrant Shelter

Gender m/f: both

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UA: 004/13 Index: AMR 41/001/2013 Issue Date: 07 January 2013