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Human rights group urges Mexico to investigate abuse allegations at 2004 summit


ASSOCIATED PRESS

3:11 p.m. August 24, 2005

MEXICO CITY – An international human rights group said local authorities are not interested in investigating allegations of arbitrary detentions, excessive force and other rights abuses at a summit of Latin American and European leaders in Guadalajara in May 2004.
London-based Amnesty International renewed calls for federal officials to intervene after meeting on Monday and Tuesday with the Jalisco state attorney general to present evidence that local agents carried out arbitrary arrests and physically abused prisoners at the international talks.

"It was a cordial meeting, but we did not see that there was any kind of interest in opening an investigation," said Monica Costa, an investigator for Amnesty International who also met with representatives from Jalisco state police and the governor's office.

While much of the protesting at the summit was peaceful, some people threw rocks, sticks, signposts and barricades at police. Also, a small faction of demonstrators donned masks and helmets and brandished clubs and slingshots.

About 80 city and state police officers were injured. But people on the streets were then arrested based on the clothes they were wearing or because they aroused suspicions they might be taking part in the demonstrations, according to an Amnesty International investigation.

Mexico's National Human Rights Commission also has documented abuses by authorities at the summit.

Two Mexicans remain in jail on charges in connection with the protests, unable to post bail, Costa said.

About a dozen people have been tried, and Amnesty International plans to review those cases to see if forced confessions were used as evidence at trial.

Several foreigners arrested in the protest were quickly expelled from the country.