Date: 08 May 94 21:39 PDT
From: International Gay Lesbian Human Rights Commission <iglhrc@igc.apc.org>
Lines: 120

NEW

Murders of Transvestites in Chiapas, Mexico Remain Unsolved

Between June of 1991 and February of 1993 at least 15, and
possibly as many as 25, transvestites and gay men were
assassinated in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Mexico's southern
most state of Chiapas. Most of the murder victims were shot with
the same high caliber bullets used by the police, the wounds
indicating the shots were fired by expert marksmen. The efforts of
the Mexico City based Circulo Cultural Gay to force an exhaustive
investigation into the killings now stand at a critical juncture.
Urgent action is needed to pressure the local authorities into
moving, once and for, to bring the perpetrators of these murders
to justice.

Indications of the willingness of local government offices to
pursue an investigation have been contradictory and inconsistent.
Most heartening, was the announcement on April 6th, 1994 by the
Governor of Chiapas that he would appoint Jorge Gamboa Borraz as
independent investigator to reopen the cases. The appointment is
in partial response to Recommendation 113/93 issued last April by
the National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH). It remains to be
seen if the independent investigator will receive all the
resources, cooperation, and protection he needs, especially given
concerns that not all levels of the local judicial system can be
expected to cooperate.

While supportive of the appointment, IGLHRC is concerned over
recent indications that the Procurador General of the State of
Chiapas (the state's prosecutor) is affording the independent
investigator a cool reception. So far, the Procurador General has
balked at Gamboa Borraz's request that he be allowed to conduct
his work outside of the offices of the Procurador, a condition
that seems indispensable given the understandable reluctance of
crucial witnesses to cooperate with the local police.

IGLHRC has also expressed concern over a series of raids targeting
transvestite prostitutes that continue to be conducted in the
center of Tuxtla. According to reports given to IGLHRC by
eyewitnesses, municipal police patrol cars routinely swoop down on
transvestites working the streets. If caught, the transvestites
face extortion, detention, beatings, and in some cases,
confiscation of their clothing. At least one witness reports shots
being fired in the direction of transvestites who were running
away from approaching police patrols. The raids are creating an
atmosphere of fear and mistrust and unnecessarily hindering an
effective investigation.

IGLHRC has also communicated directly with the director of the
National Commission on Human Rights seeking clarification as to
the current location of the former coordinator of police forces
for the State of Chiapas, Ignacio Flores Montiel. Confusion as to
Flores Montiel's whereabouts follows several newspaper reports
published on January 26th announcing his arrest under charges of
trafficking arms, kidnapping and murder. Because of his former
position in Chiapas, he is widely suspected of either being
involved in the murders of the transvestites or at least being an
indispensable informant to the investigation. However, human
rights organizations have been unable to confirm his detention.
Government officials now attest that Flores Montiel was never
arrested. IGLHRC is concerned that Flores Montiel was either
released or that he was never actually detained. The later option
leaves unexplained how the story came to appear in the press.

Strongly worded letters are needed demanding the following:

1. It should be unacceptable that such a large number of murders,
perpetuated in a manner that indicates they were part of
systematic campaign, would remain unsolved to this day. Because of
the amount of evidence suggesting that sectors of the police
forces in Chiapas may have been involved in the murders, it is
important that any and all official complicity in the murders be
uncovered. Both the intellectual and the actual authors of the
crimes must be brought to justice.

2. It is imperative that the recently appointed Independent
Investigator, Jorge Gamboa Borraz, be given all the access to
official records, prisoners and witnesses he needs. The federal
and state government should take every possible step to ensure
that his requests are met.

3. The renewed investigation can only succeed if an atmosphere of
trust and safety is created. As such all raids against
transvestites should immediately cease and the safety of all those
who come forward to testify should be guaranteed. The last
resident of Chiapas who publicly demanded police action against
the assassins was Neftali Ruiz (Vanessa). (S)He was killed after
being shot twice from a moving car on February 6th, 1993. The
federal and state governments must do everything in their power to
ensure the well being of the independent investigator, the members
of Circulo Cultural Gay, and anybody else who makes either private
or public declarations to aid the investigation.

4. The Mexican government owes the international human rights
community and the citizens of Mexico an explanation as to the
whereabouts of former Director of Police Forces for the State of
Chiapas, Ignacio Flores Montiel. His former position makes him an
important source of information and he must be brought before the
independent investigator.

Letters should be sent to:

Sr. Lic. Javier Lopez Moreno Gobernador Internio del Estado de
Chiapas Palacio de Gobierno Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas MEXICO

fax: +52-961-338-86

Arturo Becerra Martinez Procurador General de Justicia del Estado
de Chiapas Palacio de Justicia, Tercer Piso Calle Central y
Segunda Sur Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas MEXICO

fax: +52-961-303-11

Lic. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar Presidente Comision Nacional de
Derechos Humanos Periferico Sur No 3469 Col. San Jeronimo Lidice
Deleg. Magdalena Contreas Mexico, D.F.    C.P. 10200 MEXICO

fax:  +52-5-681-7199
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