Baja Bernie - 12-11-2008 at 04:48 PM
December 11, 2008
Tijuana News
Report: Police Massacred Prisoners
An official report from the Baja California Attorney General for Human
Rights has blamed state police for killing the majority of at least two
dozen prisoners slain during uprisings at Tijuana's La Mesa prison last
September. Among the 22 findings made in the report were "observations"
that state lawmakers and prosecutors should initiate political and
criminal proceedings against state Public Safety Director Daniel de la
Rosa Anaya, whose employees were blamed for torturing and shooting
prisoners.
Francisco Javier Sanchez Corona, state human rights ombudsman, said
evidence showing slain prisoners were shot from above coincided with
testimonies of shots being fired from a State Preventive Police
helicopter. According to Sanchez, the official death toll of the prison
violence of 24 inmates was higher since the burned remains of other
victims were recovered.
Sanchez's office urged state officials to investigate federal, state and
local police officers who were involved in suppressing the rebellious
prisoners, as well as four ex-prison officials for their possible role in
the massacre. In its report, the official state human rights agency said
Baja California Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan should issue a
"public apology" to inmates and the families of slain and injured
prisoners who were "victims of human rights violations."
The report called for the apprehension of two former guards, Marco Antonio
Ibarra Chavez and Daniel Ibarra Perez, both of whom are charged with
torture and murder in connection with the death of inmate Israel Blanco
Marquez. Baja California officials earlier said they suspected the two
ex-guards had fled to the United States.
The fugitives, together with correctional officers Jorge Eduardo Gonzalez
Montero and Alex Cervantes, have been linked to the beating death of
19-year-old Israel Blanco over the issue of possessing a cell phone and
marijuana. Twenty-two other prisoners of La Mesa's Cellblock No. 5 also
were allegedly tortured by guards during the probe.
Observers credited the Blanco killing and inmate tortures for sparking the
first inmate uprising that terminated in a massacre several days later.
Source: La Jornada, December 11, 2008. Article by Olga Alicia ******
Castillo.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Sallysouth - 12-11-2008 at 08:25 PM
Oh No! A cell phone AND marijuana??? That is the norm all around , everywhere. That is a disturbing article, to say the least.Bernie, can you tell me
what an ombudsman is? Sounds kinda like a guy high on weed and meditating!!!
shari - 12-11-2008 at 08:32 PM
Oh sally, thanks for the best laugh of the week....I shall never look at ombudsmen the same ever again.
Sallysouth - 12-11-2008 at 08:39 PM
Well sure Shari! I really could look it up, but seriously, what IS a ombudsman???(I live a sheltered life).
shari - 12-11-2008 at 08:43 PM
I thought it was a NGO, kind of non partisan...neutral person who one can file a complaint with...maybe...but I prefer your take on em.
Sallysouth - 12-11-2008 at 08:48 PM
Yeah, Me thinks it is a lot betta!(State human rights ombudsman?) Thats just weird!!
gnukid - 12-11-2008 at 09:24 PM
Sally,
The victim Blanco had a cell phone and marijuana in Jail. His beating and death in Jail they blame for the prison riot. In truth this is a scape goat,
the prison riot was initially said to be a result of prison over-crowding and very poor conditions which is prevalent in Mexican Prisons.
An Ombudsman is a speaker or representative to argue for the best outcome for the majority of people in a given scenario or case, legal or simple
conflict, especially those who need the most help. It can either be a public or self appointment. Anyone can be an Ombudsman though they often are
chosen representatives.
[Edited on 12-12-2008 by gnukid]
Sallysouth - 12-12-2008 at 02:13 PM
Thanks gnukid. !! Got it now...sorry Shari
Hook - 12-12-2008 at 03:46 PM
Sally, your definition would be an aum-buds-mon and would be a shaman from Jamaica.
Sallysouth - 12-12-2008 at 03:51 PM
good one Hook!!