URGENT SOLIDARITY NEEDED

OAXACA ACTIVIST JUAN MANUEL MARTINEZ MORENO, MEMBER OF APPO (ASAMBLEA POPULAR DE LOS PUEBLOS DE OAXACA), IS STILL INCARCERATED, FALSELY ACCUSED OF THE MURDER OF U.S. INDYMEDIA PHOTO-JOURNALIST BRAD WILL IN OAXACA IN OCT. 2006.  HIS NEXT COURT HEARING TO HAVE THE CASE DISMISSED FOR LACK OF CREDIBLE EVIDENCE WILL BE HELD IN FEDERAL COURT IN OAXACA ON AUGUST 26, 2009.

THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS DESPERATE FOR A CONVICTION IN THIS CASE BECAUSE ITS RESOLUTION WAS SPECIFICALLY MADE A CONDITION OF APPROVAL OF THE ECONOMIC AID PACKAGE KNOWN AS  THE MERIDA INITIATIVE, ALONG WITH  OTHER ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MEXICO.   

THE FEDERAL JUDGE IN OAXACA WHO WILL RECEIVE THE ARGUMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES AND DECIDE THE FATE OF JUAN MANUEL IS AT THE JUDICIAL LEVEL BELOW THE SUPREME COURT OF MEXICO.

 WE ARE URGING:

Send email or letter (write your own or use the one below)  to the Supreme Court of Mexico :

scjn_presidencia@mail.scjn.gob.mx

Please send a copy of your e – mail to the solidarity committee: porjuanmanuel@gmail.com

Or write to:

    Ministro Presidente Guillermo I. Ortiz Mayagoitia

    Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion

    Pino Suarez #2, Colonia Centro, Deleg. Cuautemoc

    D.F. Mexico 06065

PHONE CALLS AND LETTERS TO U.S. AND MEXICAN EMBASSIES, U.S. CONGRESS-PERSONS, AND AS MUCH MEDIA AS POSSIBLE ARE ALSO NEEDED   RIGHT NOW.

DEMAND:  DISMISS THE CASE OF JUAN MANUEL MARTINEZ MORENO FOR LACK OF A THOROUGH, IMPARTIAL AND TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATION BY THE MEXICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL (PGR) AND FOR LACK OF CREDIBLE EVIDENCE - THE GOVERNMENT CASE RESTS ON FAULTY, UNSCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION AND TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES WHO ADMIT THEY DID NOT SEE THE MURDER.  FREE JUAN MANUEL MARTINEZ MORENO IMMEDIATELY.

Sample  e-mail  or letter below:

C. PRESIDENTE DE LA HONORABLE SUPREMA CORTE  DE JUSTICIA DE LA NACIÓN.

MINISTRO PRESIDENTE Guillermo I. Ortiz Mayagoitia

P R E S E N T E.-

I am writing to express my concern regarding the case of Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno, who has been unjustly accused of the murder of the American journalist, Bradley Roland Will, on October 27, 2006 in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno was arrested on October 16, 2008 and is currently imprisoned in the state of Oaxaca, in the Ixcotel prison. 

Two weeks after Bradley Roland Will was murdered, Santiago Zárate and Aguilar Coello were arrested due to strong links indicating their responsibility for the murder. However, they were released after two weeks and no further investigation of their involvement has been conducted. Two years later Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno was arrested and accused of the murder of Will, despite the lack of formal investigation that in any way indicated his responsibility for the crime. The trial against Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno has been based solely upon two testimonies, neither of which directly indicates that Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno was responsible for the murder. Both of these testimonies are imprecise and inconsistent and are the only source of evidence that exist against Martínez Moreno,although there are seventy witnesses who in no way implicate Martínez Moreno in the murder. 

The judge responsible for the trial of Martínez Moreno has disregarded the results of an independent scientific and technical investigation by forensic experts from the International Program of Physicians for Human Rights, which directly contradicts the findings of the PGR. The judge has also disregarded the scientific investigation and recommendation of the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH 050/2008), which found that the bullets that killed Bradley Roland Will were fired from a distance of 32 meters and not from 2 meters, as the Attorney-General (PGR) and two retired Canadían police officers reported. 

I would like to strongly express my concern for the safety of the family of Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno, who have suffered multiple threats during this past 10 months and are currently fearful for their lives. 

Due to the complete lack of credible evidence to prove the responsibility of Juan Manuel Martínez Moreno for this crime, I am extremely concerned that he has been incarcerated without trial for 10 months and that his family continues to live in danger.  I urge his prompt release and a thorough, credible and transparent investigation of the murder of Bradley Roland Will so that the responsible person(s) are fairly prosecuted. 

Respectfully,