The doors opened of the Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) at its new spacious new headquarters on Merrion Row. This much needed initiative is the fruit of over a year of organising from activists from within the Nicaragua Support Group and a host of other solidarity groups.
LASC is a resource centre, with a reference and information library, up to date news and space for social, cultural and solidarity activities. Their are also discussion groups in Spanish.
For more information contact the centre's coordinator Oisin Coughlan at :-
LATIN AMERICA SOLIDARITY CENTRE 5 MERRION ROW DUBLIN 2 PHONE 6760435IMG sent to the Irish Times and to La Jornada (Mexican newspaper) the following text to the people of Mexico, signed by 258 persons in Ireland :
To the people of Mexico : The undersigned wish to state that although the rich and powerful may welcome Carlos Salinas to Ireland as their brother in corruption we do not. We understand the economic and human rights cost his regime inflicted on you including torture, detention, extra judicial execution and the "disappearance" of community workers. We know he used the police against the Petroleum Workers Union and the army against the Miners and Metal workers union. We wish to make it clear that whatever the attitude of the Irish elite we do not want salinas here. We respect your continuing struggle for peace, democracy and justice in Mexico.We hope that will answer some of the Mexicans asking for the popular Irish reaction in front of the asylum concede to Mr. Salinas. Any other "welcome" proposals to him will be well received in the IMG !!!
Reports from Mexico indicate that in response to this petition some 30,000 Mexicans have signed one stating that they don't want Salinas back
The Irish Mexico Group took part in the Bloody Sunday commemoration weekend in Derry and distributed some 1, 000 leaflets about a similar massacre in Guerreo in Mexico in 1995 and the next 'gathering'
The Irish Mexico group took part in the European day of action, 16 Feb to protest at the continuing military buildup in Chiapas. We picked the Mexican embassy and handed in a letter of protest.
The IMG encourage people to come along to our meetings and get involved in the groups activities. Come along to the Latin American Solidarity Centre, 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 at 19:00 on Sundays for an introduction.
Zapatista Action Project:- Individuals who work with the IMG and others are organising a delegation to the 'gathering' in Spain and are organising gatherings in Ireland. They meet the first Sunday of every month in the Garden of Delight (Bookshop/Cafe opposite Christ Church Cathedral). We will also be showing videos there
1. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, President of Mexico
FOR SUPPORTING
an economical policy that in order to attract foreign investment increased interest rates. Because of this policy credit and mortgage rates increased a 150 % while the workers purchase power fell by 50% as a result of the peso's devaluation.
The IMG supports ADITOCH (The Association of Debtors to the Credit Institutions in Chiapas)
2.Antonio Lozano, Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico
FOR ALLOWING
Juan Salgado, member of the Academia de Derechos Humanos (Human Rights Academy) to be threatened with dead. Amnesty International also fears for the safety of other members of the same organisation.
3. Emilio Chuayffet Mexico's Minister of Interior
FOR ALLOWING :
The "disappearance" of Felipe Sanchez chairperson of the non-governmental Centro de Desarrollo Regional Indigena (Indigenous Regional Development Centre). He had been under surveillance by unidentified individuals and members of the Mexican army. Amnesty International fears he may be the latest victim of human rights violations by the security forces and paramilitary groups operating in the state of Oaxaca, in the context of a clampdown on rural guerrilla activities. Scores of civil rights and political activists, and even people picked up at random, have suffered serious human rights violations, and the perpetrators have continued to benefit from impunity.
4.Leonardo Larios, Attorney of the state of Jalisco (Mexico)
FOR ALLOWING :
The possible "disappearance" of Gabino Hernandez, peasant activist of the Consejo Indigena Campesino de Jalisco (Indigenous Peasant Council of Jalisco). He may be another victim of the security forces. Although some of the victims have reappeared within a short time, they have been tortured , ill-treated, threatened and harassed while "disappeared".
5. Jose Maria Figueres, President of Costa Rica
FOR NOT IMPLEMENTING
the agreements with the Coordinadora de Sindicatos Bananeros (Coordination of the Bananas Trade Unions) after a bitter general strike in the province of Limon and NOT RESPECTING the right to freedom of association in the banana plantations of Costa Rica.