Mexican animal rights activists arrested

ELP Information Bulletin (10th of April 2009)

Dear friends

ELP has learnt that a number of Mexican animal rights activists were arrested in February and are in need of support with their case.

Below is a mailout from their supporters explaining their situation.


SOLIDARITY
NEEDED FOR MEXICAN ANIMAL LIBERATION ACTIVISTS

Thirteen activists
arrested during an anti-bullfighting protest in
Mexico City in February 2009
need help with their legal costs.


On Thursday 5 February at around
3.30pm thirteen comrades were arrested
in an annual anti-bullfighting
protest in Mexico City. During the
protest there was a confrontation with
the police and some vehicles were
damaged.

Among those arrested were
young anti-authoritarians, punks, and students.


The names we have at
the moment are:

Emmanuel Miranda
Mario Antonio Lopez
Vilchis
Gonzales
Juan Carlos Palafox
Jair Parras
Ulises Pazaran Vargas
Diego
Tellez
Calos Quintana Torrecilla
Israel Canek Perez
Juan Antonio
Villa
Adrian Caballero Morales

Juan Carlos Palafox has the heaviest
charges as another of the arrestees
denounced him as the "ringleader" in
order to get their charges dropped.

It appears that all those arrested
have now been released on bail.
However bail costs varied and most of the
arrestees had to organise
loans, which now need to be paid back.

For
example: Four of the arrestees had to borrow a total of 53,000 pesos
(approx
$6,640 NZD) to cover their bail costs and now need help to repay

this.

Meanwhile another arrestee owes 700 pesos (about $100 NZD) that
he
borrowed to pay his bail.


Many of the charges have since been
dropped but there is the possiblity
that new charges may now be laid. Those
arrested are still awaiting
trial so also have legal fees to pay and
possible fines if convicted.

I hope to have more information to hand
soon. I don't have an official
contact email for this group of people but
emails sent to
rechazo_autonomo@riseup.net should
be passed on to the right people. Any
emails to this address should ideally
be in spanish, however the person
checking the mail does also speak some
english.

IN SOLIDARITY WITH FREEDOM FIGHTERS EVERYWHERE!

======

Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
BM Box 2407
London
WC1N 3XX
England
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk