9 September, 2010Approximately 600 scabs and Federal Police attack striking workers and members of the Mexican Miners' Union at Cananea on September 8, arresting and leaving many wounded. PRODESC calls an urgent action appeal.
MEXICO: IMF has received reports overnight that early on the morning of September 8 approximately 600 scabs and Federal Police in plainclothes attacked the striking Mexican Miners' Union (SNTMMSRM) members at the Cananea copper mine owned by Grupo Mexico.
The violence is reported to have begun on September 7, around 3:30 pm, when a group of about 300 people in civilian clothes came to the mine facilities and began attacking the striking Mexican Miners' Union members with sticks and stones. The workers were guarding the No. 2 gate of the mine under the provisional suspension granted to them by the Ninth District Court on August 12, 2010 to avoid being evicted from their workplace. The striking miners retreated to shelter within the Union hall where the attacks recommenced in the early hours of September 8.
It is understood that the company was able to take control of the main gate of the mine away from the union and that police raided the union hall in Cananea, beating and arresting a large number of union members. An earlier report of a person dying in the clashes is now thought to be untrue, however several people have sustained injuries. A bus and five trucks loaded with Federal Police has since arrived in Cananea.
More than 800 workers, accompanied by their families and residents of the town, reoccupied the mine installations in August after Ninth District Judge in the State of Sonora ruled on August 12 that the three-year strike organised by the union remains valid despite the forcible removal of striking workers by federal police on June 6, 2010.
During these most recent acts of violence perpetrated against the Mexican Miners' Union, elements of the Federal and State Security Secretariats, who remained on the premises of the mine since June 6, were present and allowed the violence against the striking miners.
Reports also indicate that on September 8 elements of the Sonora State Police illegally and arbitrarily arrested 30 striking miners of the Union. Their whereabouts and the charges against them are unknown, confirming that they were arrested without a warrant.
The workers started to strike and occupied the Grupo Mexico mine in Cananea on July 30, 2007 protesting the company's refusal to remedy extreme safety hazards. In February 2010, a Mexican appellate court gave the green light to the Calderón government to terminate 1,200 miners and to break the strike, effectively eliminate the right to strike in Mexico, and setting the stage for the government's invasion of the mine on June 6, 2010.
The Project on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PRODESC), part of a network of organizations providing solidarity support to the Mexican Miners' Union, including the International Metalworkers' Federation, has sent out an urgent action appeal to write immediately asking:
1. That immediate measures be taken to ensure the safety and physical and psychological integrity of the striking miners of Section 65 of SNTMMSSRM and their families, in accordance with the highest standards of human rights;
2. That the Sonora State Police immediately present the 30 striking miners of Section 65 of SNTMMSSRM who are still being detained to the competent authority;
3. That a prompt and thorough investigation be conducted, in accordance with the highest international standards of human rights, concerning the events of September 7 and 8, 2010 in Cananea, Sonora;
4. That in terms of the international obligations assumed by the Mexican State, the striking miners of Section 65 of SNTMMSSRM and their families be guaranteed access to a rapid, easy, convenient and effective remedy for protection of their human rights; and
5. That the right of access to justice be fully guaranteed, with fairness and expeditiously.
Please send communications to:
Lic. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa. Presidente Constitucional de la República Mexicana Residencia Oficial de los Pinos, Casa Miguel Alemán, Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF. Tel: +52 55 27891100; Fax: +52 55 50934900. E-mail: [email protected]
Secretario General de Gobernación. Lic. José Francisco Blake Mora. Bucareli 99, 1er. piso, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06600, México, FAX +52 (55) 5093 34 14. Email: [email protected]
Licenciado Arturo Chávez Chávez, Procuraduría General de la República, Paseo de la Reforma nº 211-213, Piso 16, Col. Cuauhtémoc, Del. Cuauhtémoc, México D.F., C.P. 06500, Fax: +52 55 53 46 09 08; + 52 55 27 89 11 13 (si responde una voz, digan: "tono de fax, por favor"), Correo Electrónico: [email protected] / [email protected]
Lic. Javier Lozano Alarcón, Secretario de Trabajo y Previsión Social Periférico Sur No. 4271, Col. Fuentes del Pedregal, Tlalpan 14149, México D.F Conmutador 3000-2100 Correo: [email protected]
Dr. Raúl Plascencia Villanueva, Presidente de la Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos Fax +52 (55) 5681 7199, [email protected]
Lic. Guillermo Padres Elias, Gobernador del Estado de Sonora, Palacio de Gobierno, Planta Alta, Dr. Paliza y Comonfort, C.P 83260 Hermosillo, Sonora. Fax: +52 662-2120001, tel: +52 662210051
Lic. Ernesto Munro Palacio, Secretario de Seguridad Pública, ROSALES Y PASEO DEL CANAL S/N A UN COSTADO DE LA PGJE, Hermosillo, Sonora. Teléfono(s): 662 259-57-01
LIC. ABEL MURRIETA GUTIERREZ Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales Zamora 169 despacho 2B Colonia Condesa, C.P. 06140, México D.F. Tel. 5212 2229 Tel. y Fax 5212 2230
Procurador General de Justicia Rosales y Paseo del Canal Módulo Norte, Planta Alta Col. Centro C.P. 83000 Hermosillo, Sonora. Lada sin Costo 01-800-000-74-53 E-mail procurador@pgjeson Teléfono(s): (662) 259-48-00 ext 14000, 259-48-03, 259-48-04
Send copies to:
Oficina de la Alta Comisionada de Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos en México, Alberto Brunori Representante de la Alta Comisionada en México Fax +52 (55) 5061 6358; [email protected]
Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos Sr. Santiago Cantón Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos Fax +1 (202) 458 3992 [email protected]
Sra. Navanethem Pillay, Alta Comisionada de Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos Fax +41 22 917 9000 [email protected]
Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales A.C., Zamora 169 despacho 2-B, Colonia Condesa, C.P. 06140 México, D. F. Tel. (55) 5212-2229 Tel y fax. (55) 5212-2230 [email protected]