A Tourist Is A Witness

-An opportunity to protest government repression in Oaxaca and in Mexico by writing a letter or making a fax or phone contact.-

Many people after the May Day arrests in Oaxaca,  followed by the attack in Atenco, and preceded by all kinds of violence and repression during the year, have been moved to object. A TOURIST IS A WITNESS. Hello Friends,

Many people after the May Day arrests in Oaxaca,  followed by the attack in Atenco, and preceded by all kinds of violence and repression during the year, have been moved to object. A TOURIST IS A WITNESS is a letter-writing campaign in which foreign tourists write, fax or phone or e-mail Mexican government office, or their own local tourist office. The message: I won’t recommend Oaxaca or Mexico as tourist destinations until police and government attacks cease.

In Mexico, tourists and foreign residents are witnesses as well as economic contributors.

Many of us are aware of the human rights violations in Mexico documented by the United Nations, and the increased pre-electoral violence in several states, including Oaxaca. This government violence includes, in 2006,  police riots and murder in  San Salvador Atenco in the state of Mexico, the arrest of four foreign journalists in Oaxaca along with three Mexicans; and the intimidation of  Oaxaca’s local leaders in San Pedro Huilotepec, Tehuantepec, San Blas Atempa, Santiago Cuixtla and several other towns.

Oaxaca alone holds a minimum of 25 political prisoners in its jails, some estimates are much higher.

Many Mexicans fear the renewal of the “dirty war” by this repressive president, and by Governor Ruiz. We have received several e-mails asking for assistance in whatever way we can offer it, as individuals of conscience.

Those of us whose dollars and euros contribute to the Mexican economy can raise our voices. Tourism is a major industry. Tourists wield economic influence. TOURISTS ARE WITNESSES.

Each of us makes private decisions about what we can and will resist, as members of the global community. These moral decisions do not belong to any political party, and are not sponsored by any group.

Individuals who want to remind Governor Ruiz of Oaxaca and/or President Fox that we “see” them, can write, fax  or e-mail a letter. Inform the governments of Oaxaca (and/or Mexico) that  a tourist destination is not desirable so long as government repression, violence, fraud, and corruption continue.

1. Write courteously but without hesitation.
2. CC your letter to as many other Mexican officials as you can (List below). You might prefer to write to a travel agency in your home state and CC that letter to Mexican officials.
3. It’s okay to write in English or another language.
4. Please let us know how many letters you send. (nmsdavies@yahoo.com)

These letters are not a boycott. They are a little reminder, a note in the mail, if you will, that government does not act in a vacuum. Tourists, as well as Human Rights Watch, are witnesses.
This act of  letter writing is in no way illegal or likely to place in jeopardy the person who writes. Nevertheless, you may choose to take the extra precaution of sending or mailing from outside the country!

The following is a suggested guideline. Write your own:

Dear  Governor Ruiz,

 I want to advise you, as I will advise my friends and family,  that at present Oaxaca and Mexico are  not desirable tourist destinations.

Unprovoked arrests and violence toward newspaper reporters and others (such as the 7 arrests  on May 1, 2006 in Oaxaca, including arrests of four  foreigners), have long been preceded by local clashes. Several towns in Oaxaca and in other states have lost citizens to assassination, while struggling against control by caciques. Human Rights Watch reports that over 40 percent of prisoners in Mexico have never been formally convicted of any crime.

Twenty-five political prisoners are presently held just in Oaxaca, and arrests are made weekly. As many as 78 warrants are outstanding, leaving these people in fear.

Mexico’s, and Oaxaca’s, government repression and violence,  as well as its corruption and theft are publicly documented.

I’m sure many travel options are available which don’t sustain a government or a tourist industry which deserve no support until the people of Oaxaca and of Mexico are permitted to build better lives for themselves.

Sincerely yours,

Mary Jones
Cincinatti, Ohio
USA.

ADDRESSES OF INTEREST:

Governor of Oaxaca:

Ulises Ruiz Ortiz
Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca
Carretera Oaxaca-Puerto Angel Km 9.5
Santa María Coyotepec
Oaxaca, México
Fax:                 011 52 951 5020530 (If someone answers, say "Tono de fax, por favor.")
or   011 52 951 51 637 37
Salutation:         Señor Gobernador / Dear Governor

Attorney General of Oaxaca:

Lic. Rosa Lizbeth Caña Cadeza
Procuradora del Estado de Oaxaca
Avenida Luis Echeverría s/n
La Experimental
San Antonio de la Cal, Oaxaca
CP. 71236, México
Fax:                 011 52 951 51 1 5519
Salutation:        Dear Attorney General / Estimada Procuradora

Lic. Vicente Fox Quesada
Presidente Constitucional de los Estados
Unidos Mexicanos
Salutation:  Dear  President Fox

Director of Human Rights – Federal Interior Ministry:

Maestro Ricardo Sepúlveda
Secretaría de Gobernación
Reforma 99, PISO 21, PH
Colonia Tabacalera, C.P. 06030
Mexico D.F. MEXICO
Fax:  011 52 55 5128 0234 (If someone answers, say "Tono de fax, por favor.")
Salutation:   Estimado Maestro / Dear Sir

Ambassador in Canada

Her Excellency María Teresa García Segovia
Ambassador for the United Mexican States
45 O'Connor Street, Suite 1000
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4
Fax: (613) 235-9123
E-mail: info@embamexcan.com

Human Rights Non Governmental Organization:

Centro de Derechos Humanos y Asesoría a Pueblos Indígenas
León #15, Barrio San Diego
Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca
C.P. 69800, Mexico

State Human Rights Commission of Oaxaca:

Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Estado de Oaxaca
Calle de los Derechos Humanos No. 210
Col. América, CP. 68050
Oaxaca, Mexico

Ambassador Carlos de Icaza
Embassy of Mexico in the United States of America
1911 Pennsylvania AV, NW, Washington D.C. 20006
Tel: (202) 728 1600

Mexico Tourist  Center  For USA and Canada:
Call Center: 1-800-44-MEXICO (1-800-44 63942) E-mail: contact@visitmexico.com

Lic. Carlos Maria Abascal Carranza
Secretario de Gobernación

Lic. Eduardo Tomás Medina Mora Icaza
Secretario de Seguridad Pública Federal

Lic. Enrique Peña Nieto
Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de México

Lic. Abel Villicaña Estrada
Procurador General de Justicia del Estado de México

Lic. Wilfrido Robledo Madrid
Comisionado de la Agencia de Seguridad Estatal.

Lic. Nazario Gutiérrez Martínez
Presidente Municipal del Ayuntamiento de Texcoco, Estado de México

Lic. Alejandro Encinas Rodriguez
Jefe de Gobierno del Distrito Federal

Ing. Joel Ortega
Secretario de Seguridad Pública del Distrito Federal

Mtro. Bernardo Bátiz Vázquez
Procurador General de Justicia del Distrito Federal

PART II

Today I received a suggestion that non-Mexicans interested in showing solidarity with the repressed or imprisoned people in Oaxaca or Mexico may do so by contacting a Mexican tourist or government office, TO INQUIRE IF IT IS SAFE TO TRAVEL IN MEXICO because reports have circulated, about police riots in Atenco and the arrest of young foreign journalists in Oaxaca.

I pass along these office addresses because it seems to be a fairly simple and reasonable inquiry: Is is safe to come as a tourist to Oaxaca or other Mexican states?

Mexico State Tourism Offices
Oficinas Estatales de Turismo de México

Numbers must be preceded with your international operator number and country code of 52.

Antepongan el prefijo de llamada internacional de su operador y el código de país que es 52 si llama desde el extranjero.

Aguascalientes
Av. Universidad No. 1001
Edif. Torre Plaza Bosques 8 Piso
CP 20127 Aguascalientes, AGS.
Tel: (449) 912-3511 * Fax: (449) 912-1990

Morelos
Av. Morelos Sur No. 187, Las Palmas
CP 62050 Cuernavaca, Mor.
Tel: (777) 314-3872 * Fax: (777) 314-3654

Baja California
Blvd. Diaz Ordaz s/n
Edif. Plaza Patria Nivel 3
CP 22400 Tijuana, B.C.
Tel: (664) 634-6330 * Fax: (664) 634-7157
E-mail: dirpromocion@turismobc.gob.mx

Nayarit
Calz. del Ejército y Av. México s/n
Ex-Convento de la Cruz de Zacate
CP 63168 Tepic, Nay.
Tel: (311) 214-8071 * Fax: (311) 214-1017

Baja California Sur
Carr. al Norte Km. 5.5 Fracc. Fidepaz
CP 23090 La Paz, B.C.S.
Tel: (612) 124-0100 * Fax: (612) 124-0722
E-mail: turismo@lapaz.cromwell.com.mx

Nuevo Leon
Zaragoza No. 1300 Sur
Edif. Kalos Nivel A-1 Desp. 137
CP 64000 Monterrey, N.L.
Tel: (81) 344-4343 * Fax: (81) 344-1169

Campeche
Av. Ruiz Cortines s/n
Plaza Moch-Couoh, Centro CP 24000 Campeche, Camp.
Tel: (981) 811-9200 * Fax: (981) 816-6068

Oaxaca
Independencia No. 607 esq. García Vigíl
CP 68000 Oaxaca, Oax.
Tel: (951) 516-0717 * Fax: (951) 516-1500
E-mail: info@oaxaca.gob.mx

Chiapas
Blvd. Belisario Dominguez No. 950, Planta Baja
CP 29060 Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chis.
Tel: (961) 613-9396 * Fax: (961) 612-5509

Puebla
5 Oriente No. 3
Centro Histórico CP 72000 Puebla, Pue.
Tel: (222) 246-2044 * Fax: (222) 246-2044
E-mail: secturep@infosel.net.mx

Chihuahua
Calle Libertad No. 1300
Edif. Agustin Melgar, 1er Piso
CP 31000 Chihuahua, Chih.
Tel: (61) 429-3421 * Fax: (61) 416-0032
E-mail: cturismo@buzon.chihuahua.gob.mx

Queretaro
Av. Luis Pasteur No. 4, Nte.
Centro Histórico
CP 76000 Ouerétaro, Qro.
Tel: (442) 212-1412 * Fax: (442) 212-1094
E-mail: turismo@queretaro.com.mx

Coahuila
Blvd. Luis Echeverría No. 1560
Edif. Torre Saltillo Piso 11
CP 25286 Saltillo, Coah.
Tel: (884) 415-1714 * Fax: (884) 415-2174
E-mail: turismo@seplade-coahuila.gob.mx

Ouintana Roo
Carr. a Calderitas No. 622
Entre Ciricote e Ignacio Comonfort
CP 77010 Chetumal, Q. Roo
Tel: (983) 835-0860 * Fax: (983) 835-0880
E-mail: webmaster@qr.gob.mx

Colima
Portal Hidalgo No. 96 Centro
CP 28000 Colima, Col.
Tel: (312) 312-2857 * Fax: (312) 312-8360
E-mail: turiscol@palmera.colimanet.com

San Luis Potosi
Alvaro Obregón No. 520
CP 78000 San Luis Potosí, S.L.P.
Tel: (444) 812-9939 * Fax: (444) 812-6769

Distrito Federal (Mexico City)
Amberes No. 54, 2 Piso
CP 06600 México, D.F.
Tel: (5) 553-8759 * Fax: (5) 525-9386
E-mail: turismo@df.gob.mx

Sinaloa
Av. Camarón Sabalo esq. Tiburon
Edificio Banrural 4 Piso
CP 82100 Mazatlán, Sin.
Tel: (667) 916-5160 * Fax: (667)916-5166

Durango
Hidalgo No. 408 Sur
CP 34000 Durango, Dgo.
Tel: (618) 811-3160 * Fax: (618) 811-9677

Sonora
Centro de Gobierno, Edif. Estatal Norte 3er Nivel
Comonfort y Paseo Río
CP 83280 Hermosillo, Son.
Tel: (662) 217-0076 * Fax: (662) 217-0076

Guanajuato
Plaza de la Paz No. 14
CP 36000 Guanajuato, Gto.
Tel: (473) 732-1574 * Fax: (473) 732-4251

Tabasco
Av. Los Ríos s/n esq. Calle 13 Tabasco 2000
CP 86035 Villahermosa, Tab.
Tel: (993) 316-5134 * Fax: (993) 316-2890

Guerrero
Av. Costera Miguel Alemán No. 4455
Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Acapulco
Fracc. Club Deportivo
CP 39850 Acapulco, Gro.
Tel: (744) 484-2423 * Fax: (744) 481-1160

Tamaulipas
16 Rosales No. 272
CP 87000 Cd. Victoria, Tamps.
Tel: (834) 312-1057 * Fax: (834) 312-7002

Hidalgo
Carr. Mexico-Pachuca Km. 93.5
Col. Venta Prieta
CP 42080 Pachuca, Hgo.
Tel: (771) 717-8117 * Fax: (771) 717-8116

Tlaxcala
Av. Juárez esq. Lardizábal
CP 90000 Tlaxcala, Tlax.
Tel: (246) 462-0027 * Fax: (246) 462-5307

Jalisco
Morelos No. 102, Plaza Tapatia
CP 44100 Guadalajara, Jal.
Tel: (33) 613-1196 * Fax: (33) 614-4365

Veracruz
Blvd. Cristóbal Colón No. 5
CP 91190 Xalapa, Ver.
Tel: (228) 812-8500 * Fax: (228) 812-5939
E-mail: ambiance_adventure@infosel.net.mx

Mexico (state) (estatal)
Urawa No. 100
Edif. Centro de Servicios Admvos. Puerta No. 110
CP 50150 Toluca, Edo. de México
Tel: (722) 212-5998 * Fax: (722) 212-1633
E-mail: turismo@mail.edomex.gob.mx

Yucatan
Calle 59 No. 514 entre 62 y 64, Centro
CP 97000 Mérida, Yuc.
Tel: (999) 924-9389 * Fax: (999) 928-6547

Michoacan
El Nigromante No.79, Palacio Clavijero, Centro
CP 58000 Morelia, Mich.
Tel: (443) 312-5244 * Fax: (443) 312-9816

Zacatecas
Av. Hidalgo No. 403 Segundo Piso
CP 98000 Zacatecas, Zac.
Tel: (492) 924-0552 * Fax: (492) 922-9329