ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN CHIAPAS – MAY 2008

1. ATTACKS ON ZAPATISTA COMMUNITIES

There has been a change in the nature of the threats, intimidation and aggression against Zapatista communities recently. While the paramilitary groups remain active, there has been a very worrying increase in incursions from the forces of the state and municipal authorities: a recent gathering in Mexico City itemised more than 20 acts of aggression and harassment from the military and police forces that had taken place against Zapatista communities so far this year.

This represents an intensification of the campaign on behalf of the Mexican government against all social and resistance movements, aimed at the destruction of opposition, in particular of the Zapatista’s support base, by creating a climate of fear, displacement, imprisonment, torture and aggression. This continues to be further enforced through the granting of land reclaimed and worked by the Zapatistas to other indigenous groups, promoting conflict.

The change in the nature of the state aggression coincides with the US government approving Plan Mexico, a multi-million dollar package to provide resources, equipment and training to the Mexican police and military forces, ostensibly for the “war against drugs” but in reality to be used against civilians, activists and indigenous communities. Amnesty International has just stated that there is a general, and in some states systematic, violation of human rights in Mexico, characterised by an excessive use of force.

INCIDENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN MAY 2008:

CARACOL OF MORELIA

Ejido Morelia – the seat of the JBG of Morelia has experienced an attack by the police and PRI authorities aimed at taking the land on which the Caracol is situated. People were imprisoned in their houses, beaten, and attacked with sticks, stones and machetes. Doors and windows were broken and a number of people were injured, 6 of them hospitalised. 300 PRIistas cut the electricity supply to some of the houses, the next day a large number of masked support bases reinstalled it. There is a state of alarm in the community and the situation is very serious.

CARACOL OF OVENTIC

Zinacantan - a continuation of a long-term systematic process of harassment, characterised by the deprivation of the water supply (an ancestral spring) to the community of Sok’on since 2002. This week a man from the community of Elambo Alto was abducted by the PRD authorities of Zinacantan.

Huitepec – again there is a long-term campaign to take the land from the Zapatista ecological reserve – the most recent incident being the deliberate poisoning of a well.

CARACOL OF LA GARRUCHA

San Jeronimo Tulilja: Military helicopters overflew this community, followed by a convoy of army vehicles containing 300 agents of the Mexican army and military police. They were accompanied by an armed civilian who showed them where the Zapatista authorities live. Verbal threats were issued, and houses entered.

MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN NORTH CHIAPAS

There have been military incursions into various populations in the Tila region. 2 people were arrested and interrogated in Tila last week. On 27 April the community of Cruzton was attacked by 500 state preventive police guided by 7 armed civilians who issued threats, beatings, damage and destruction and threatened to finish off the community.

It is essential the authorities know they are being watched and that we remain alert to developments.

PROTEST TO:

The Ambassador Juan José Bremer de Martino, The Mexican Embassy, 16 St. George Street, London W1S 1FD

Send a message via the UK Mexican Embassy website.

Or email the Ambassador via the assistants to the Ambassador:

 cmoye@sre.gob.mx
 jlopezr@sre.gob.mx

2. POLITICAL PRISONERS

The situation of the Chiapas political prisoners from the Voice of El Amate, adherents to the Other Campaign, and the Group of Zapatista prisoners has worsened dramatically. They had called another 24 hour Hunger Strike for 27 May, to be accompanied by a protest march and sit-in in front of the Government Palace in Tuxtla. At 2.30 am members of the Grupo Lobo (wolf group), a specialist body of the state preventative police, violently removed at least 7 prisoners with excessive force and brutal beatings and dispersed them among different prisons. They said the government would not tolerate one more hunger strike. This is clearly a deliberate attempt to punish any protest in advance and to dismantle any organised groups of prisoners, and is in direct contravention of the human rights of the prisoners. The situation has been closely monitored by the human rights NGO Frayba.

Another NGO which has been taking action against the deliberate campaign of repression is Capise. They have called for a Global Campaign of information to denounce the Government of Chiapas and in support of the political prisoners.

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMPLAINTS TO:

Lic. Juan José Sabines Guerrero Jose Juan Sabines Guerrero
Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Chiapas / Constitutional Governor of Chiapas
 Secparticular@chiapas.gob.mx

Lic. Amador Rodríguez Lozano
Ministro de Justicia del Estado de Chiapas / Minister of Justice of the State of Chiapas
 arodriguez@mje.chiapas.gob.mx

Lic. Juan Jesús Mora Mora
Secretario Ejecutivo del Consejo de Ejecución de Executive / Secretary of the Council of Execution
 jmora@secesp.chiapas.gob.mx
 sprs_chiapas@yahoo.com.mx

Favor de enviar copia a / Please send copies to:

Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de las Casas AC
Correo electrónico / Email:  accionurgente@frayba.org.mx