Dear Mr. President,
I’m writing to express my deep concern with regard to the case of Alberta Alcántara Juan and Teresa González Cornelio who have been condemned to 21 years in prison for allegedly kidnaping six “AFI” agents in an incident on March 26, 2006 when the agents without identifying themselves raided a market in Santiago Mexquititlán, Qro. According to members of the local community, although the agents’ vehicle had its tires flattened the incident ended without any violence. Local lawyers believe there is no reason to declare kidnap has taken place.
More than four months later, on August 3, 2006 the General Prosecutor ordered the women to be arrested. The indigenous Otomi women were not provided access to an interpreter during the judicial procedures and the public lawyer provided for them never talked to them to explain their rights and means of defense.
These indigenous women had won an appeal already in 2009 but the prosecutor still insists on their guilt even without presenting any new evidence and even when the AFI agents contradicted each other in their declarations and when the main witness never appeared in the face to face cross-examinations. It appears that they have been charged in retaliation to the way the community reacted the day of the agents raid.
I ask for the immediate and unconditional liberation of Alberta Alcántara y Teresa Cornelio whom I consider as prisoners of conscience. I hope you will do everything within your power for them to be released as early as possible.

Best regards,
Beatrix Ihasz

Dear Mr. President,

I’m writing to express my deep concern with regard to the case of Alberta Alcántara Juan and Teresa González Cornelio who have been condemned to 21 years in prison for allegedly kidnaping six “AFI” agents in an incident on March 26, 2006 when the agents without identifying themselves raided a market in Santiago Mexquititlán, Qro. According to members of the local community, although the agents’ vehicle had its tires flattened the incident ended without any violence. Local lawyers believe there is no reason to declare kidnap has taken place.

More than four months later, on August 3, 2006 the General Prosecutor ordered the women to be arrested. The indigenous Otomi women were not provided access to an interpreter during the judicial procedures and the public lawyer provided for them never talked to them to explain their rights and means of defense.

These indigenous women had won an appeal already in 2009 but the prosecutor still insists on their guilt even without presenting any new evidence and even when the AFI agents contradicted each other in their declarations and when the main witness never appeared in the face to face cross-examinations. It appears that they have been charged in retaliation to the way the community reacted the day of the agents raid.

I ask for the immediate and unconditional liberation of Alberta Alcántara y Teresa Cornelio whom I consider as prisoners of conscience. I hope you will do everything within your power for them to be released as early as possible.

Best regards,

Michiko Murai