Trade Between U.S., Mexico

As the author of the Americas Watch Report on Human Rights in Mexico referred to in the interview with President Salinas (Opinion, Nov. 25), I would like to correct a misleading impression left by him concerning improvements in human rights conditions in his country.

Certainly the creation of a National Human Rights Commission and the proposing of new legislation to reduce the incidence of torture by police are positive developments. But the case President Salinas selected to illustrate the human rights improvements made by his administration in fact reveals that these improvements are more cosmetic than real.

The case involves Mexican attorney Antonio Valencia Fontes who was arrested in Mexicali on Nov. 22, 1989, by federal judicial anti-narcotics officers. He alleges that he was tortured and coerced into confessing to crimes he did not commit. The attorney general has denied that Valencia was in federal custody prior to Nov. 27. The Human Rights Commission investigated Valencia’s case and determined that the earlier arrest date was probable. It called on the attorney general to investigate whether his human rights had been violated by the police. Enrique Alvarez del Castillo refused.

Valencia Fontes remains in jail, the police officers who illegally detained and tortured him are still on duty.

It is time for President Salinas to demonstrate that he is serious about halting human rights abuses. He must insist that the recommendations of his National Human Rights Commission be carried out--even when that means releasing alleged criminals whose human rights were violated during their arrests. He must punish police officers and their commanders who engage in torture, incommunicado detention and other serious abuses. And, having hinted that he has done so already, he should immediately take steps to ensure Valencia Fontes’ release.

ELLEN L. LUTZ

California Director, Human Rights Watch

Los Angeles