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Dear friends, On this occasion I am writing to ask once more for your help and support, in order to bring an end to the Bolivian legal process to which I am still subjected. Since 1992 I have been prosecuted under the charges of 'armed insurrection and others' and was subsequently imprisoned in the Women's Prison of Obrajes, from April 1992 until April 1997. Five years passed, yet my trial was not concluded, nor was I sentenced. The primary evidence used against me in my trial were personal confessions drawn out under torture. The proceedings deadlocked in what is called fase de debates, the period in which the prosecution must prove their accusation and present their evidence. I gained provisional liberty on April 25, 1997, enabled to post bail under the protective law, known as the Ley de Fianza Juratoria. My release came as a result of a solidarity campaign, which in my case sought to achieve respect for the above legislation that establishes limits to the duration of preventative detention. I have continued living in Bolivia since my release, as the legal proceedings continue and I remain under an orden de arraigo, a measure that prevents me from leaving Bolivia and returning to Mexico, my country of origin. This situation has lasted almost four years, in which time my trial date is continually postponed in spite of the fact that the Bolivian Penal Processing Code maintains that legal processes cannot continue indefinitely, and must terminate in an eight-year period. Once this legal period has passed, the state is obligated to exonerate the trial. On July 19, 2000, taking recourse from the new legislation, I appealed for the termination of my legal proceedings as the eight-year period had passed without an end to my trial. Nevertheless, I have not gained recognition of my basic right to not continue indefinitely in legal proceedings and I am still obliged to remain in Bolivia. All my legal appeals have been rejected for unjustifiable arguments. After seven months of working through normal legal channels my rights have not been recognized. I must now ask for your solidarity and support in demanding the Bolivian government to end the proceedings against me so that I may return to Mexico. Please send letters on my behalf, or make contact with the officials of Relaciones Exteriores en Mexico (Exterior Relations in Mexico) in order to show your concern for my indefinite legal situation, requesting they demonstrate support of my case before the Bolivian authorities. Send letters (via FAX or e-mail) to: Corte Superior de Justicia de La Paz, FAX: 591-2-407062 Tribunal Constitucional, FAX: 591-64-21871 Ministerio de Justicia en Bolivia, FAX: 591-2-353044 Demand the prompt and favorable resolution of my petition to exonerate all penal action against me. Please send copies to the Mexican Embassy in Bolivia, e-mail embamex@kolla.net, FAX: 591-2-771885. Attached is a model of the suggested letter to send. It would also be helpful to increase publicity about my case by writing letters of solidarity to the following Bolivian newspapers: La Razon: larazon@la-razon.com Los Tiempos: lostiempos@bo.net Opinion: opinion@opinion-bo.com As of March 5, 2001 at 4:00 pm I am on a hunger strike in front of the Mexican Embassy in Bolivia, in order to increase pressure on the Bolivian government to terminate my case and enable my return to Mexico. I thank you all in advance for any efforts taken to ensure that this judiciary persecution comes to an end, to ensure my personal liberty, and above all allow me to return to my country. In friendship, Raquel Gutiérrez Aguilar raguagui@yahoo.com rgaagl@ceibo.entelnet.bo We suggest that you send a copy of the following letter in both English and Spanish, as the recipients are Spanish speaking. Versions in both languages are provided below.
For more information on the case of Raquel Gutierrez visit the following web site: http://usuarios.tripod.es/RaquelGutierrez
MODEL LETTER IN ENGLISH
March 1, 2001
Dr. Rafael Barrero Presidente de la H. Corte Superior de Justicia Districto La Paz FAX: 591-2-407062
To Whom It May Concern: We write to express the concern on our part with the case of Ms. Raquel Gutiérrez Aguilar, a Mexican national, who has remained in legal proceedings for almost 9 years in the case "The Public Ministry vs. EGTK". It has come to our attention that on July 19, 2000 Ms Gutiérrez requested the exoneration of penal action before the second Penal Court Judge, taking recourse from Article 29 of the New Penal Processing Code. It is now four months later and the appeal is still in paperwork. Taking the above facts into consideration, we request the expedient processing of the mentioned appeal. We hope that the laws in place, which establish a limit in the states authority to prosecute, shall be observed, in order to permit Ms. Gutiérrez to return to Mexico without having pending business with the Bolivian legal system. Without further ado, we thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely
MODEL LETTER IN SPANISH
1 de marzo de 2001
Señor. Dr. Rafael Barrero Presidente de la H. Corte Superior de Justicia Distrito de La Paz. Presente.- FAX: 591-2-407062
De nuestra mayor consideración: Nos dirigimos a Ud. para manifestarle nuestra preocupación por el caso de la Sra. Raquel Gutiérrez Aguilar, de nacionalidad mexicana, procesada desde hace casi nueve años en el caso "Ministerio Público Vs. EGTK". Sabemos que el 19 de julio de 2000 la Sra. Gutiérrez solicitó la prescripción de la acción penal ante el Juzgado 2º de Partido en lo penal, amparándose en el Art. 29 del Nuevo Código de Procedimiento Penal (NCPP), extremo que fue negado por dicha instancia judicial, abriéndose un recurso de apelación. Hasta ahora, más de cuatro meses después de presentada, la apelación continúa en trámite. Por este motivo le pedimos se agilice el tratamiento de la apelación mencionada, esperando que las leyes en vigencia, que establecen un límite en la facultad del Estado para juzgar, sean observadas a fin de permitir a la Sra. Gutiérrez retornar a México sin tener cuentas pendientes con la justicia boliviana. Sin otro particular, nos despedimos de Ud. Atentamente. END |
