US clothing brands join fray around Mexico governor
Reuters via Yahoo! News
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Levis, Gap and other major U.S. clothing brands urged a Mexican state governor to ensure the safety of a labor activist who says he is under threat for defending garment workers’ rights.
In a letter publicized on Thursday, the companies called on Puebla Gov. Mario Marin to protect Martin Barrios, his family and other members of a local rights commission who have brought complaints against factories that make clothes for top U.S. brands.
Local and international rights groups charge Marin with cozying up to Puebla factory owners and overlooking systematic labor abuses at their plants
“We are particularly concerned about reports alleging that Martin (Barrios) and his family have received death threats as a result of the commission’s work drawing attention to labor issues,” said the letter from Gap Inc., American Eagle Outfitters, Levi Strauss & Co., Phillips-Van Heusen, Polo Ralph Lauren and Warnaco Inc.
The governor has been caught up in a national political scandal after being accused of conspiring with a factory owner to jail a journalist who had exposed a child sex ring.
That affair has damaged his Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, as it seeks to win back the presidency after losing power in 2000 to President Vicente Fox.
Barrios was jailed on extortion charges in Puebla last year but the charge was later dropped without explanation.
Since then, Barrios says he has received a plausible warning his life was in danger for his activism.
Rights leaders say that in both arrests Marin did the bidding of powerful businessmen seeking to silence critics.
Marin denies any wrongdoing and his office said on Thursday authorities were investigating whether any threats had been made against Barrios.
In their letter, the companies asked for “proactive steps” to protect Barrios and others. “It is important that we and other foreign buyers who do business in Puebla remain confident in the government’s commitment to freedom of expression and the rule of law,” the letter said.
