E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.2 page 10 SEDOCAM to combat corruption and create a culture of transparency and lawfulness in Mexico. The Special Rapporteur would like to stress the importance of stepping up efforts to weed out and punish public officials and others involved in unlawful activities. It is suggested that better training for the police forces responsible for migration procedures and better supervision of the way they carry out their duties would help to combat the collusion between smugglers and officials. In order to provide better protection for migrants, this training should include not only information about the laws governing the treatment of migrants but also awareness-raising, to make the officials more sensitive to the psychological effects of ill-treatment. 24. The Special Rapporteur was told about the alleged murder of Mr. Ángel Martínez Rodríguez, the coordinator of the Beta Group in Tenosique in 1999. Mr. Martínez had reported cases of corruption and involvement of State officials in these networks. The Special Rapporteur would welcome up-to-date information on the investigations carried out to solve this case and the action taken to bring those responsible to justice. Accidents and abuse on trains 25. Another major source of concern to the Special Rapporteur is the precarious situation of migrants who use freight trains to cross Mexican territory. Numerous reports have been received of accidents on these trains and on the railway tracks that have resulted in death or the loss of arms or legs. The Special Rapporteur heard the testimony of a Honduran man in the migrant holding centre in Mexico City who had lost the toes of both feet. She also heard testimony from migrants who said they had seen others die when they fell from the train they were travelling on. The occurrence of incidents of this type highlights the need to prevent migrants from illegally using this form of transport and to have special programmes set up, including by consulates, to take care of people who are seriously injured in accidents. 26. The Special Rapporteur also received many reports about attacks and abuse by private security officers working for the railway companies. Migrants also reported that they had witnessed women being raped by these officers or by other migrants inside wagons. Once again, the Special Rapporteur observed that the threat of being reported as illegal immigrants and of being deported caused migrants not to report what had happened to them or what they had witnessed to the authorities. Racism and discrimination 27. Some of the INM officials interviewed told the Special Rapporteur that when they were stopping people, a person’s race, clothes or accent could be enough to make them suspicious and ask that person to show his or her papers. The Special Rapporteur learned about the case of seven indigenous persons from Chiapas who had been stopped in Hermosillo (Sonora) by INM officials for deportation from Mexico to Guatemala because they were thought to be Guatemalan. The case received widespread publicity and led to a public complaint by the victims. The Special Rapporteur draws attention to the need to adopt concrete measures as agreed upon at the World Conference in Durban to prevent discriminatory acts based on prejudice.3