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 Editorials | At Issue | May 2006 
Amnesty International Worried about Rape, Brutality Allegations against Mexican Police
 MSN-Mainichi Daily News
| | According to Amnesty International, sexual violence affects one in every five women worldwide. (Sadin/Rapho) |
Mexico City - Human rights watchdog Amnesty International expressed concern about reports of police brutality during a violent protest earlier this month outside Mexico City, including allegations that officers raped seven female detainees and sexually abused 16 more.
In a news release this week, Amnesty added pressure to the Mexican government to probe some the strongest accusations of police misconduct to have been made during President Vicente Fox's six-year term.
"The investigation should be thorough and transparent, and there needs to be accountability for anybody found responsible for abuse, including those of high rank," the statement said.
The unrest broke out May 4 in the town of San Salvador Atenco, which has a history of resisting the government, after some residents were arrested for selling flowers without permits.
Hundreds of people blocked roads, threw Molotov cocktails and held six police officers captive for several hours, beating them and cutting them with machetes. Police responded with tear gas and batons, and a 14-year-old Atenco resident was shot dead during the clashes.
Police swept the town for two days, rounding up and arresting more than 200 suspects, including 49 women. At least six of the women who said they were abused while in police custody are still in jail.
On Wednesday, Amnesty also expressed its "concern for the safety of 28 people who remain detained," and implored authorities to probe the alleged beatings of dozens of protesters and several journalists during the demonstration.
Fox's office has promised justice in the case, and the Mexico State police department, which headed the operation against the protesters, has said it is probing its officers.
But women's activists say an internal investigation is not good enough and international groups need to be involved. On Tuesday, a group of Mexican women's groups filed complaints with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
"How can we expect justice from the same people who carried out the atrocities," said Pilar Muriedas of the Mexican Women's Forum, which represents 20 groups.
Among the women who claimed they were sexually abused but not raped were three foreigners - two Spaniards and a Chilean - all of whom were deported for allegedly violating the terms of their visas. |
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