Please send faxes and make phone calls to the government officials listed below, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Oaxacan political prisoners, most of whom have been imprisoned since November, badly beaten, and in some cases tortured.

Please see details on recommended actions, and addresses below.

Background

As of today, 64 political prisoners remain illegally detained in various prisons throughout the state of Oaxaca. Many of them were detained while participating in non-violent protests against the current repressive government of Oaxacan Gov.Ulises Ruiz. Others were not involved politically in any way, but were caught up in a wave of massive detentions carried out by state and federal police in an attempt to crush a popular movement that is using non-violent tactics to demand political change.

Local and national human rights organizations, as well as the Oaxaca Solidarity Network (OSN), have recorded many testimonies of people who were brutalized during their illegal arrests. Most of the 64 detainees aren't directly connected with popular organizations; hence they lack the support that helped many other political prisoners to win their release. Many of them recently reported that they feel forgotten and are fighting despair.

Campaign for the release of political prisoners, "Los Olvidados": In response to their pleas for help, and in solidarity with those Forgotten Ones—"Los Olvidados"—OSN is partnering with local grassroots organization EDUCA (Services for an Alternative Education), and a number of other Oaxacan human rights and other grass rots organizations in a campaign to press for the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners. We'll be sending out profiles of individual political prisoners each week, highlighting the cases of individuals—but always demanding the release of ALL prisoners of conscience.

Prisoner Profile: Felipe Sánchez Rodríguez is founder and director of Calpulli, a non-governmental organization that works to educate boys and girls from the community of Lomas de San Jacinta—one of the poorest, marginalized communities in Oaxaca city. Calpulli has trained women from Lomas de San Jacinta to teach local kids, with a focus on making the children aware of their rights and personal potential, and encouraging them to embrace values of love, justice and tolerance. Capulli's work is supported by international aid organizations familiar with Felipe Sánchez's work, and Felipe is widely respected througout Oaxaca.

Illegal arrest and detention of Sánchez: Felipe Sánchez Roriguez was detained on November 25 last year by paramilitary forces, and was violently beaten in the process.

URGENT ACTION

Contact your local representatives and Mexican consuls and inform them of your concern about Felipe and the other "Olvidados" political prisoners. Ask them to contact local Mexican consuls and national Mexican authorities about the issue (listed below). Please also send appeals to official addresses below (by fax is most effective) to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language, making the following points:

1. Express your concern for the well-being of Felipe Sánchez Rodríguez, as well as all other Oaxacan political prisoners.
2. Call for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the illegal detentions of people engaged in peaceful protest, for findings to be published, and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
3. Remind the authorities that they have a duty to carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the alleged fabrication of charges against political prisoners, with the results to be made public.

SEND APPEALS TO MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS E-MAIL...

MORE ON WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• A fundamental element to work in favor of global justice, equality and the environment is to fund and support local organizations that are leading their own struggles in defense and promotion of development, the environment and human rights.
• Get involved in education and activism work in your home community concerning the negative impacts of North American investors and hydro-electric and mining policies on community-controlled development, the environment and the human rights of local populations in Oaxaca.
• Consider coming in on one of OSN's Human Rights/Educational-Activist Delegations and meet with victims of the repression, local human rights groups, leaders of the popular movement, local political and business leaders, and to visit local indigenous communities to learn about vital social, economic and political issues.
• Invite us to give educational presentations in your home community.
• Get on our e-mail list and visit our website for news updates, delegation announcements and more.

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS: You can make donations to Oaxaca Solidarity Network by making a check payable to "Rights Action". Please write "FOR OSN" in the memo space and mail to: UNITED STATES: Box 50887, Washington DC , 20091-0887; CANADA: 509 St.Clair Ave W, box73527, Toronto ON, M6C-1C0.

CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS: http://www.rightsaction.org. Please note that the donation is for Oaxaca Solidariy Network.

QUESTIONS: info@oaxacasolidarity.org

URGENT ACTION ADDRESSES:

U.S.: Ambassador Carlos Alberto De Icaza Gonzalez Embassy of Mexico 1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington DC 20006 Fax: 1 202 728 1698

MÉXICO: President: Lic. Felipe Calderon Hinojosa Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos Residencia Oficial de ''Los Pinos'', Casa Miguel Aleman Col. San Miguel Chapultepec Mexico D.F., C.P. 11850, MEXICO Fax: 011 52 55 52772376 felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx Salutation: Senor Presidente/Dear President Calderon

Minister of the Interior: Lic. Francisco Ramirez Acu ña Secretario de Gobernacion, Secretaria de Gobernacion Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juarez, Delegacion Cuauhtemoc, Mexico D.F., C.P.06600, MEXICO Fax: 011 52 55 5093 3414 Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimado Secretario No e-mail, please send fax.

Minister of Public Security: Lic. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza Procurador General de la Republica Paseo de la Reforma #211-213 Cuactemoc Mexico D.F. C.P. 06500 Colonia Juarez, Delegacion Cuauhtemoc, Mexico DF. C.P. 06600, Mexico Fax: 011 52 55 5241 8393 Salutation: Dear Minister/Estimado Secretario To send e-mails online: http://pgr.gob.mx/index.asp

President of National Human Rights Comisión Dr. José Luis Soberanes Fernández Periférico Sur 3469, Col San Jerónimo Lídice, CP 10200, México, D.F.

Governor of Oaxaca: Ulises Ruiz Ortiz Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca Carretera Oaxaca - Puerto Angel, Km. 9.5 Santa Maria Coyotopec, C. P. 71254 Oaxaca Oaxaca, MEXICO E -mail: gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx Fax: 011 52 951 511 6879 (if someone answers, say ''me da tono de fax, por favor'') Salutation: Senor Gobernador/Dear Governor

COPIES TO: President of the Oaxaca State Human Rights Commission: Dr. Jaime Perez Jimenez Presidente de la Comision Estatal Calle de los Derechos Humanos no. 210 Colonia America, C.P. 68050 Oaxaca Oaxaca, Mexico Fax: 011 52 951 503 0220

Please send appeals immediately. Thank you for your solidarity and support.