2006 Civil Unrest in San Salvador Atenco - National Human Rights Commission Report

National Human Rights Commission Report

On 16 October 2006, National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) President José Luis Soberanes Fernández published the results of its five-month investigation of the case. The CNDH called the incident a "tragedy", called particular attention to the excessive use of force and firearms by state and federal authorities, and specifically found that:

  • 207 people (including ten minors) were victims of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
  • 145 were arbitrarily arrested.
  • 26 women suffered sexual assault.
  • 5 foreigners, in addition to the violence inflicted on them, were illegally expelled from the country.

In connection with these findings, the CNDH served recommendations to the federal Secretary of Public Security, Eduardo Medina Mora; the governor of the state of México, Enrique Peña Nieto; and the commissioner of the National Migration Institute, Hipólito Treviño. The contents of the recommendation included, inter alia, improved training for the security forces, due compensation for the next-of-kin of the two fatalities and for all those whose human rights were violated, and a review of the expulsion procedures applicable to foreign visitors.

The report also concluded that the violence could have been prevented through dialogue, but that "preference was given to the use of public force".

Read more about this topic:  2006 Civil Unrest In San Salvador Atenco

Famous quotes containing the words national, human, rights, commission and/or report:

    Being a gentleman is the number one priority, the chief question integral to our national life.
    Edward Fox (b. 1934)

    The work of the miner has its unavoidable incidents of discomfort and danger, and these should not be increased by the neglect of the owners to provide every practicable safety appliance. Economies which involve a sacrifice of human life are intolerable.
    Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)

    The rights of citizenship will be taken away from all Jews and other non-Aryans. They are inferior and therefore enemies of the state. It is the duty of all true Aryans to hate and despise them.
    Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977)

    Children cannot eat rhetoric and they cannot be sheltered by commissions. I don’t want to see another commission that studies the needs of kids. We need to help them.
    Marian Wright Edelman (20th century)

    I am often mad, but I would hate to be nothing but mad: and I think I would lose what little value I may have as a writer if I were to refuse, as a matter of principle, to accept the warming rays of the sun, and to report them, whenever, and if ever, they happen to strike me.
    —E.B. (Elwyn Brooks)