San Diego

Five protesters picketed the Mexican consulate in downtown San Diego on Friday to demand an end to political repression in Mexico and the release of political prisoner Jose Ramon Garcia.

“We’re hoping they’ll send the word to President Salinas that everybody in the international community is watching Mexico’s record on human rights, and we insist on a change,” said Jelger Kalmijn, 27, a member of Solidarity, a socialist group.

Kalmijn and four others held the lunchtime demonstration in an effort to raise public awareness of Garcia, who disappeared in 1988.

Kalmijn said those working for Garcia’s release in Mexico called on his supporters throughout the world Friday to raise their concerns to the Mexican government over the welfare of Garcia and 500 others whose politics may have led to their disappearances.

“We’re very concerned about human rights violations in general and the freedom to express one’s political beliefs without the fear of repression,” Kalmijn said.

Marta Ortiz, deputy consul general for the Mexican consulate general in San Diego, said the Mexican Human Rights Commission has recommended that the government investigate Garcia’s case.