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6 March, 2012Over fifty members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) marched to the Mexican embassy in Pretoria on 29 February in support of the international campaign calling for the Mexican government to respect government to respect worker, union and human rights.
NUMSA also protested against the criminalisation of human rights activities and called for all charges against Bettina Cruz Velázquez to be dropped. Bettina, who last year addressed delegates at a NUMSA conference, is an indigenous Mexican human rights activist. She is working to protect indigenous people's rights by resisting the take over of their land by multinational companies for wind farm projects and fighting against the privatisation of the atmosphere. These projects have terrible consequences for local indigenous people that don't get to benefit from the power generated which is used to power other multinationals.
Bettina was arrested in Mexico on 22nd February with no information being made available of the charges or her whereabouts, raising concerns about her security and physical and psychological integrity. She was released on bail on 24th February.
NUMSA handed over a letter to a representative of the Mexican embassy that assured marchers that their letter would be sent though to the Mexican government.