Good news! Mexican human rights defender released (update to UA 62/12)

Mexico - Lucila Bettina Cruz Velázquez

On 24 February, at around 00:30, Mexican Human Rights Defender Lucila Bettina Cruz Velázquez was released on bail, following a court hearing in the afternoon of 23 February, in the 6th court of the District of Oaxaca. The charges against her have not been dropped, and Amnesty International remains concerned that she may be denied a fair judicial process free of fabricated evidence or unfounded charges.

Lucila Bettina Cruz Velázquez was arrested on 22 February by agents from the Federal Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la República) in the municipality of Santa María Xadani, in Oaxaca State, as she left a meeting with the Federal Electricity Commission. She was held incommunicado for four hours before being taken to Tehuantepec prison to face charges of illegally detaining staff of the Federal Electricity Commission and damage to public property (daños a los bienes nacionales). The judge ordered proceedings to continue and released Lucila Bettina Cruz Velázquez subject to bail conditions.

See the original Urgent Action circular.

No further action is requested from the UA network at this time. Many thanks to all who sent appeals. We will continue to monitor the situation and take further action if necessary.