Support builds for missing Mexican political activist

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On Jan. 15, 400 workers, peasants, and students left Cuautla, in Mexico's state of Morelos, on a 90-mile march to Mexico City to demand that José Ramón García Gómez be safely "reappeared."

García Gómez, a leader of the Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT, Mexican section of the Fourth International) in the state of Morelos, was kidnapped in front of his home on Dec. 16, 1988. [See accompanying story.] The march was met on the outskirts of Mexico City on Jan. 18 by 4000 people, who accompanied the marchers across the city to a rally in front of the Ministry of the Interior.

A rally was held upon the arrival of the marchers. It was addressed by García Gómez's wife, Ana Santander de García, and by former presidential candidates Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas and Rosario Ibarra.

Following the rally, a delegation of Edgar Sánchez, a national leader of the PRT, Rosario Ibarra, and Ana Santander de García was received by a representative of the Ministry of the Interior.

There they were told that the government had decided to form a special commission to investigate García Gómez's disappearance. Commission members include Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, Rosario Ibarra, and Monsignor Mendes Arceo.

On Jan. 18, as well, a paid advertisement appeared in the daily newspaper La Jornada with 1000 signatures of prominent individuals demanding García Gómez's release.

This protest came on the heels of other mass actions that began the very day García Gómez was disappeared.

For example, simultaneous demonstrations were held on Dec. 16 in both Cuautla and Cuernavaca, the capital of the state.

From Dec. 19 to Dec. 23, numerous leaders of the popular movement went on a hunger strike. And on Dec. 24, a mass rally in Cuautla with Ana Santander de García, Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas and Rosario Ibarra brought together 5000 people to demand his immediate freedom.

International campaign Thousands of signatures are being gathered internationally on a statement demanding the "reappearance" and safe return of García Gómez.

Delegations of human rights activists, trade-union leaders, and other prominent personalities have also been organized in various European and Latin American cities to take thesc petitions to the Mexican embassies or consulates.

In the United States, a telegram was sent from San Francisco to Mexico's Minister of the Interior. It was signed by David Aroner, Executive Director, Social Service Employees Union 535; Walter Johnson, Secretary Treasurer, San Francisco Labor Council; Margaret Butz, Deputy José Ramón García Gómez HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER! Director, SEIU 790; Bill Leumer, President, IAM 565; Howard Wallace, Field Representative, SEIU 250; Miles Myers, President, California Federation of Teachers; Bill May, Past President, American Immigration Lawyers Association; Ignacio de la Fuente, International Representative, Molders International Union; Tom Rankin, Legislative Director, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO; Dion Aroner, Legislative Consultant to California Assemblyman Tom Bates; Lucy Rideout, President, Hayward Education Association; and Jeff Mackler, National Secretary, Socialist Action.

In France, a delegation made up of leaders of the General Federation of Labor (CG1), National Teachers Association (SNES), International Federation of Human Rights, among others, was received at the Mexican Embassy on Jan. 12.

In Brazil, a delegation of the Workers Party, the Unified Labor Federation (CUT), and other prominent supporters of democratic rights presented a petition to the Mexican Consulate in Sao Paulo on Jan. 10. They also presented a letter demanding his safe return signed by Luiza Erundina, the newly elected mayor of Sao Paulo.

José Ramón García Gómez's wife, Ana Santander de García, and his comrades have launched an international appeal for his safe return.

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas and Rosario Ibarra, both candidates in the July 1988 presidential elections; Monsignor Mendes Arceo, Bishop of Cuernavaca; as well as deputies, prominent personalities, and thousands of workers and young people from around the world have already signed this appeal.

The appeal states in part:

"José Ramón García Gómez, former mayoral candidate for the town of Cuautla in the state of Morelos, organizer of the People's Defense Committees created after July 6, 1988, and leader of the PRT in the state of Morelos, was kidnapped on Friday, Dec. 16, 1988, at 5 "The kidnapping took place when he left his house at number 56, calle Privada de las Palmas, in Colonia San José on his way to a meeting of the Cárdenas Front of Morelos, scheduled to take place downtown....

"On the day of his disappearance, his house was under surveillance all morning by six undercover agents.... The police had spent the morning questioning neighbors about the personal and family life of the kidnapped comrade....

"He has committed no crime, unless his political activity in working against electoral fraud can be considered as such.

"We demand of the Salinas de Gortari government the immediate liberation and safe return of our comrade."

In Spain, a 32-person delegation including various national deputies and trade-union leaders of the General Workers Union (UGT) presented a similar petition to the Mexican Embassy in Madrid on Jan. 10.

Similar efforts are being organized in Switzerland, Peru, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Portugal.

What you can do Readers of Socialist Action can help save the life of José Ramón García Gómez. Please send letters or telegrams demanding his safe return to:

• Fernando Gutierrez Barrios, Secretario de Gobernación, Bucareli 99, Mexico D.F., Mexico;

• Antonio Riva Palacio López, Gobernador Constitucional, Estado de Morelos, Palacio de Gobierno, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.

Please send copies of letters or telegrams to the National Front Against Repression, Medellin 366, Col. Roma Sur, 06760 Mexico, D.F. Mexico.

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International appeal to save García Gómez