AFL-CIO: Mexican state officials say they have detained 3 in killing of union organizer

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) _ Mexican state prosecutors say they have detained three suspects who have confessed to killing a union organizer in northern Mexico, the U.S.-based AFL-CIO said.

In a statement late Thursday, AFL-CIO spokesman Benjamin Cokelet said union representatives would be meeting with prosecutors Friday to see copies of the confessions and get more details about why the suspects allegedly killed Santiago Cruz. Cokelet said the union believes Cruz was killed for helping Mexicans recruited into the U.S. guest worker program fight for their rights as legal, temporary workers in the U.S.

«We strongly believe that the killing of our co-worker Santiago was for political motives, and we hope that the suspects aren't scapegoats,» he said. Cruz was a Mexican national who had worked for years in the United States.

Cruz's body was found April 9 at the Monterrey offices of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, an AFL-CIO affiliated union that fights for the rights of migrant workers in the eastern United States. The committee's office in the northern city of Monterrey assists migrants living in Mexico, especially those who are being asked to pay Mexican recruiters exorbitant fees for legal visas.
The Nuevo Leon state prosecutor's office has refused to comment publicly on the case because it is still under investigation.
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On the Net:
Farm Labor Organizing Committee: www.floc.com 



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[Judi Lynn]

1. Hope these are the ones. So sorry they got the chance to kill Santiago Cruz.

From what I've seen written about him, he was very, very well liked, and very helpful to people who turned to him for help.

What a shame he was so vulnerable, trying to save his money sleeping in the office overnight. There was no one around who could have helped him.

Whatever the story is on these guys, hope it all comes out in the trial, and everyone involved is named and charged.

http://www.floc.com.nyud.net:8090/images/Santiago.jpg

Santiago Cruz.