Home Nieuws TELEX Mexican Environmentalist in jail for defending illegally imported Solomon Islands dolphins

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Mexican Environmentalist in jail for defending illegally imported Solomon Islands dolphins

24 April 2005 - The Mexican environmentalist-lady Araceli Dominguez was imprisoned on Saturday 23rd of April for defending the freedom of the Solomon Island dolphins. Araceli Dominguez, the head of the environmental group GEMA ( Grupo Ecologista del Mayab) located in Cancun, Quintana Roo, México a distinguished lifelong warrior and environmental activist was arrested this morning in Cancun after being sued by the management of Park Nizuc importers of the Solomon dolphins. The charges against Araceli are for 'defamation of character' against Park Nizuc and Atlantida facility, for exposing the illegal import of 28 dolphins in July 2003.

You recall, 28 dolphins were imported from the Solomon Islands on July of 2003.  Mexican groups such as Comarino, Grupo de los Cien, Greenpeace, ECOTERRA Intl., IFAW, Defenders of Wildlife CEMDA and GEMA among many others exposed the illegal import and introduction into a Natural Protected Area of Park  Nizuc.

see: http://www.ecop.info/english/e-actions.htm#Massive

This case exposed the enormous international corruption behind the trade of wild dolphins for the captivity industry. It also exposed the corruption in Mexico, since many domestic laws were violated, specially the introduction of an exotic species into a natural protected area. The case became a political scandal in Mexico and both houses of Congress demanded investigations and punishment for all parties involved.

Comarino presented two lawsuits against Park Nizuc, one administrative and one criminal, since there is evidence of criminal acts according to Mexican laws. The case is still pending resolution. IFAW and CEMDA also presented popular denunciations against environmental authorities for breaking the law which ended with the sacking of the under-secretary of Environment Raul Arriaga.

Nevertheless, environmental authorities were incapable of confiscating the animals while admitting it was illegal for them to be inside a natural protected area. We dont even know for sure how many dolphins have died inside the facility since that information is classified!.

But we know from good sources that at least 6 dolphins have died since the arrival

Araceli Dominguez kept on publicly denunciating the illegal authorizations for the new swim with dolphins-projects and thus stepping on the toes of the powerful dolphin industry when she was arrested on Saturday morning. In Mexico the practice of arresting someone on a Saturday ensures that the arrestee stays incarcerated until Monday because judges and prosecutors are off for the weekend.

This incarceration represents a bizarre and grotesque action to intimidate Araceli and all the environmental activists involved against the dolphin captivity industry. Today it was Araceli. Tomorrow it can be anyone of us.

We cannot stand still while Mexican laws are violated, marine mammals are exploited and environmentalists and animal defenders who work strictly abiding the laws are imprisoned in jail, just like the dolphins.

Araceli Dominguez has been involved in the defense of the sea turtle sanctuary of Xcacel, mangroves, dolphins, coral reefs, natural protected areas and coastal ecosystems and she is a staunch human rights advocate. She is a law abiding activist and a personal friend of all of us who have worked for the environment in the Yucatan Peninsula and Mexico.

We need your support

Please send letters and faxes to President Fox. Please protest against this action of arbitrary and illegal arrest and demand the immediate release of Araceli Dominguez.

Mr Vicente Fox Quesada
President of Mexico
E-mail: vicentefox@presidencia.gob.mx,
 lcarrera@presidencia.gob.mx
Tel-fax (52 55)  55 15 17 94; 55 15 05 28;  55 15 42 74

Please send a copy to Comarino:  comarino@yahoo.com
ECOTERRA Intl.:  araceli@ecoterra.net
and GEMA:  gema@cancun.com.mx

Many thanks

Yolanda Alaniz

Bron: Ecoterra

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