Cd. Juarez Chihuahua , February 5, 2008.



To the independent media.

To the collective and social autonomous organizations.

To the comrades of the Other Campaign and the people in general.



Compañer@s:

On Friday 1st February of this year, at approx. 9:45 a.m. when I left my home situated in Calle Rafael Velarde # 2125 , in Colonia Monterrey [centre of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, trans. notes[1]], next to the social centre of the collective to which I belong - Kasa de Kultura para Tod@s- to go to work in the centre of this city, I noticed a white Suburban SUV, a recent model with darkened windows and without number plates, moving in a southerly direction at a very slow speed, and it was only two blocks later when on my side of the road the vehicle suddenly braked and 3 individuals leapt out and ran towards me. They grabbed my arms and pushed my head down, attempting to force me into the SUV. The men claimed to be Federal agents and one took out an ID tag which apparently contained his identification but I didn’t see it well as it was pushed into my face. I was not able to read if the ID tag actually corresponded to the person who was holding it and to which agency the person belonged. After pushing me around, and without my consent they forced me into the SUV. Inside the vehicle I demanded they show me a warrant for my arrest and I was shown a copy of an arrest warrant against me issued in July 2005. In the same way they asked me questions about names of people who I do not know. They took me to the PGR [Procudaria General de la Republica , the notoriously corrupt Mexican political police, translator notes] facilities located at the corner of Avenida Lincoln and Av. De Las Americas. I was jailed for about half an hour before I was transferred by the same people to the CERESO municipal facilities [local prison notorious for prison riots and the frequent violent deaths of inmates, translator notes]. Upon arrival at these facilities I was stripped completely naked and then made to do squats. They took my personal information, fingerprints, photographs, etc..; they denied me the right to make a phone call and also the right to be informed about my status at that moment. After an hour, I was moved to a car of the municipal police and guarded by another which contained 3 municipal police carrying high caliber weapons. They took me to the Sixth District Judge located on the Pan-American Highway, next to the Tech Mall where I was read the file in which I was accused of the crime of rioting [motin] during the events of September 13, 2003, during a march to protest against and demand a solution to the murders of women in Cd, Juarez and the city of Chihuahua [over 450 since 1993, only 30 resolved to the satisfaction of the families of the victims, translator notes]. Likewise, I was finally made aware of my status and I was assigned a legal aid lawyer. I was also asked if I wanted to make at that time my statement which I refused flatly to do, not having a solicitor of my total confidence. Bail of 7500 pesos [750 dollars, three times what most Mexicans earn in a month, translator notes] and again I was transferred back to the municipal prison, where I was placed in a cell. The next day, Saturday February 2, the bail was paid and I was released on bail on condition that I present myself to sign in the sixth district court on the 15th and 30th of every month indefinitely or until criminal proceedings concluded with the opinion of a federal judge. During the court hearing that dealt with the arrest orders, I was asked about co-accused whose names I do not know and shown photographs of comrades who participated in the mobilization. I also wish to report that during the past few days there have been several acts of intimidation against relatives, friends and comrades and the interference of phones, harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests in the streets, which show the cynical and shameless practices of the war by the state and its various structures and institutions against both comrades and people in general. I am grateful for the solidarity, cooperation and concern of friends and comrades.



[The arrested comrade’s name was not included at the end of this statement, translator notes]



Second message:

The repression has included all the critical and urban sectors of Ciudad Juarez, from the curfew against minors, outside any lawful order and despite the opposition of the families of young people; the assault of the residents of the Colonia Lomas de Poleo by the state and the Zaragoza brothers [one of the richest and most powerful families of the Ciudad Juarez oligarchy, also suspected of involvement in the “femicides”. They are one of the owners of the Corona Beer Company so BOYCOTT CORONA BEER!, translator notes] who have made an illegal claim to the land where the “colonos” (residents) live, and now the harassment and imprisonment of the compañeros of collective and social organizations.



Our collective “Kultura para Toda/os” [Kulture for all citizens] has developed various political activities from its cultural ones. Over the past 5 years, these activities have ranged from the preparation of publications, maintaining a political space called Kasa de Kultura para Tod@s in Calle Rafael Velarde 2137, Col. Monterrey, where various activities have been developed, including political, cultural, participation in demonstrations at local and national levels, as well as convening different mobilizations and we are members of the Other Campaign.



Over the last two years we have been brutally attacked and repressed by the

State since March 2006 when we participated in the organization and coordination of demonstrations in Mexico City against the IV World Water Forum. In February of the same year a hooded commando broke into the home of one of our comrades, rummaged through his belongings and dragged him out of his home by force, warning him to desist from his political activity, as well as asking for the names of people who he does not know. In May 2007 another commando broke into our social centre, the Kasa de Kultura para Tod@s, doing damage to our centre and kidnapping for several hours a woman comrade. Today, February 1st 2008, our comrade Nain Paulino Romero was arrested for participating in a mobilization in September 2003 against the Femicides [feminicidios]. Nain is now out on probation having had to pay a surety bond of 7500 pesos, and he is charged with rioting. There have been more threats against other comrades of our collective as well as other compas who have participated in demonstrations and resistance. They too could have detention orders against them. We know that these repressive policies are a clear message against the various groups and organizations that refuse the repressive control that the state exercises.



Send your messages of solidarity to:  pa_laotraenjuaritox@hotmail.com


Visit the website:  http://indy.espora.org/Juarez

Kasa de Kultura para Tod@s

Rafael Velarde 2137. Esquina con Mariano Escobedo. Col. Monterrey Tel. 2591313

Cd Juárez Chihuahua México


Send your messages of protest and denunciation to President Felipe Calderon, the Governor of Chihuahua, Lic. Jose Reyes Baeza, and the Mayor of Ciudad Juarez , Lic. Reyes Ferriz. (sorry, don’t have their emails, try googling them).


Translate this message and send it to your contacts and the independent media


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[1] Translation and notes by Padraig O’Coineagain.