MEXICO: Mexican activist takes hunger strike to Senate to pressure authorities for the safe return of kidnapped relatives

Record ID: 304089

  • Title: MEXICO: Mexican activist takes hunger strike to Senate to pressure authorities for the safe return of kidnapped relatives
  • Date: 23rd February 2011
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 21, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HUNGER STRIKER MARISELA REYES AND OTHER ACTIVISTS PUTTING UP POSTER JOURNALISTS PHOTOGRAPHING MARISELA REYES MARISELA REYES STANDING IN FRONT OF POSTER DEMANDING THE RETURN OF HER BROTHERS REYES AND JOURNALISTS IN FRONT OF SENATE REYES PUTTING UP POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MARISELA REYES, ACTIVIST, SAYING: "We're inviting the general community to join our demand to pressure authorities at the highest level to pressure Chihuahua state authorities to locate and return my brothers." REYES WALKING IN FRONT OF SENATE VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS SARA SALAZAR AND REYES IN NEWS CONFERENCE WITH MEXICAN SENATOR ROSARIO OBARRA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SARA SALAZAR, MOTHER OF ACTIVIST, SAYING: "They want one to shut up, to kill your children and have you remain silent. My children used to tell me, 'Mother, stay home,' and I would tell them, "Not I! I will go out and yell until the final consequences. They will kill me along the path!" MARISELA REYES WALKING DOWN STAIRS IN SENATE BUILDING VARIOUS OF REYES PROTESTING OUTSIDE SENATE CIUDAD JUÁREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS DURING ANTI-CRIME OPERATIVE IN CIUDAD JUAREZ
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ED85AL5GGBT80ZYCX1NY6HW7
  • Story Text: Mexican activists protest in front of Mexican Senate to pressure authorities for the safe return of relatives. The family says they have been targeted by soldiers since reporting human rights abuses in Ciudad Juarez.
    Mexican activists Marisela Reyes and her mother Sara Salazar traveled to the Mexico City Senate on Monday (February 21) to pressure authorities for the safe return of three of her relatives who were kidnapped February 7 in Ciudad Juarez.
    Reyes is on the 11th day of a hunger strike to highlight the kidnapping of her sister Magdalena, her brother Elias and her sister-in-law Luisa Ornelas in what was just the latest violent attack against her family.
    The nightmare began last year when her two of her siblings - sister Josefina and brother Ruben - denounced abuses by the military who they accused of violating human rights.
    In August of 2010, Ruben was shot to death. In January, Josefina was murdered.
    Soon after that, Magdalena, Elias and Luisa were kidnapped.
    Marisela Reyes went on hunger strike, demanding that Chihuahua state authorities prioritize the issue.
    "We're inviting the general community to join our demand to pressure authorities at the highest level to pressure Chihuahua state authorities to locate and return my brothers," she said.
    Last week, the family house was burned down although the area is heavily guarded by soldiers who maintain a military post just 100 meters away.
    Salazar said they cannot intimidate her to keep quiet about her children.
    "They want one to shut up, to kill your children and have you remain silent. My children used to tell me, 'Mother, stay home,' and I would tell them, "Not I! I will go out and yell until the final consequences. They will kill me along the path!" she said.
    As drug traffickers intensified their battle in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, President Felipe Calderon poured troops and federal police into the region, hoping to combat the cartels. However, residents have complained that federal authorities broke into homes, kidnapped, murdered and extorted civilians.
    Since December of 2006, when Calderon took office and cracked down on the cartels, over 6,000 people have died in drug-related murders in Ciudad Juarez.
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