TARGETTED ARREST OF ACTIVIST IN OAXACA, MEXICO POINTS TO INCREASE IN REPRESSION OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FIGHTING FOR THEIR EXISTANCE.
Cipo activists at their protest camp before its violent eviction last month
BELOW IS A STATEMENT FROM CIPO-RFM ABOUT THE EVENTS OF THE LAST FEW DAYS.
2nd February 2005
CIPO member arrested
The offensive continues from the government of Ulises Ruiz and Jorge Franco Vargas against indigenous and social organisations. Particularly against members of communities that have refused to stop participating with CIPO-RFM.
The aggressions against the community of San Isidro Aloapam are increasing.
Around 3.15 pm on February 2nd Juan Alavez Mendez was arrested at a bus terminal by a force of about 32 police officers from different police forces. He was violently taken off the bus despite no arrest warrant being produced. He was put in a white van and driven to an unknown location.
Some of his neighbours that were in the bus at the time of the arrest demanded an explanation for this illegal arrest. At this point the police started to shout at them threats such as: ”Shut up or you’ll follow him”, “all those with CIPO are going to end up dead”, and “we have orders to finish with all of you”.
The background on the case of Juan Alavez Mendez:
He and seven colleagues from his community had participated in actions on defence of their forest and had fought to be recognised as “comuneros”.
For this reasons and to discourage them from their struggle, they have faced legal procedures accused of crimes they have never committed.
SEMARNAT (the government agency for the exploitation of forest resources) was facing a strong opposition from the communities against its plans to exploit the forests of Oaxaca.
On September 14th 2004 two representatives from the community San Isidro Aloapam; Jose Cruz Cruz and Gumaro Lopez Alavez were arrested along other members of CIPO-RFM. They were protesting against SEMARNAT plans. They were denied bail. Three days later on September 17th 2004 SEMARNAT authorised the exploitation of the forest in that area. On January 20th 2005 and without a single legal argument, the judges dictated a sentence against the community of San Isidro Aloapam denying the right to be recognised as “comuneros” to the original inhabitants of this community.
It is in this context that the arrest of Juan Alavez Mendez has taken place.
What is to follow?
Will they try to keep us quiet with a gun on our heads or behind bars?
The government of Ulises Ruiz and Jorge Franco Vargas is responsible for this latest aggression. They are trying to subdue the indigenous movement in Oaxaca with these fear tactics. They want to take full control over us and our land. Their way of governing is not going to shut us down. They are going to fill up their prisons and then they will have to built some more because even from the inside, we will keep up the resistance.
We call upon all those affected by violence and repression to unite behind us in our struggle. United we will stop the repression from a government seeking legitimacy through rivers of blood, incarceration and beatings.
We demand a solution to the misery, hunger and human rights violations that we are suffering.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Email these people (addresses below) and let them know that we are watching. Politics in Mexico is no different to anywhere else, politicians are acutely aware of their image both at home and abroad. If you don’t speak Spanish there is a letter below for the governor of Oaxaca. If you do speak the lingo then feel free to compose your own. DEMAND A REPLY IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE ONE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
Please copy your protest to all the addresses below. They are: The governor of Oaxaca, his secretary, the president of the commission for human rights in Oaxaca, the national human rights commision president for all Mexico, the Mexican consulate UK.
IT WILL TAKE YOU LESS TIME TO SEND THIS LETTER THAN IT HAS FOR YOU TO READ THIS REPORT. PLEASE SEND IT TO:
gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx, sriagral@oaxaca.gob.mx, correo@cedhoax.org, correo@cndh.org.mx, info@mexicanconsulate.org.uk
TITLE: URGENTE! Ulises Ruiz Ortiz. Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca. México.
TEXT:
Los que suscribimos, ciudadanas y ciudadanos de: (INSERT YOUR TOWN HERE), tenemos conocimiento por el testimonio de indígenas del Consejo Indígena Popular de Oaxaca “Ricardo Flores Magón” CIPO-RFM, de las múltiples violaciones a los Derechos Humanos y la constante represión que sufren los integrantes y comunidades indígenas de dicha organización.
Tenemos de conocimiento que a Raúl Gatica Bautista integrante de dicha organización, defensor por más de 20 años de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, ha sido golpeado, perseguido, encarcelado, amenazado de muerte y actualmente ha sufrido atentados contra su vida, 30 de septiembre de 2004. Además tenemos entendido que la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, CIDH, ha dictado medidas cautelares a favor de este defensor, y que ni usted ni el gobierno mexicano en su conjunto quieren instrumentarlas.
El 16 de octubre de 2003, paramilitares de la CROCUT y de Tanetze de Zaragoza, comandados por Cesar Toimil Roberts y Jacobo Chávez, entraron a la comunidad de Santa María Yaviche, en la Sierra Juárez, disparando sin piedad contra niños, mujeres, hombres y abuelitos que se encontraban reunidos en asamblea, matando a Bartolomé Salas Chávez e hiriendo de gravedad a nueve mas, quedando un ambiente de miedo y tensión en el pueblo.
El 24 de febrero de 2004 los paramilitares del municipio de Santa Lucía Monteverde, Tlaxiaco, dispararon sobre un grupo de pobladores de la comunidad de Lagunilla, Yosonotú , que se dirigían a sus labores del campo, matando a Eusebio Aparicio García y lesionado de gravedad a Juan Aparicio Mendoza.
El 14 de septiembre de 2004 fueron violentamente desalojados de protestas pacíficas, encarcelando sin delito alguno a 14 de sus integrantes, entre ellos 3 menores. Todos los detenidos fueron sometidos a tortura y tratos degradantes. Las detenidas/os son: Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzin, Margarita Garcia García, Leonor López Alavez, Kalid Pérez Gómez, Guadalupe García García, Carmen Pérez, Gildardo Pérez Gómez, Gumaro López Alavez, José Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz, Miguel Cruz Moreno, Abel Ramírez, Mauro García García, y Reynaldo Feria Hernández. A todos se les fijaron fianzas excesivas, se les dispersó sin razón alguna en distintas cárceles de estado, no han tenido atención médica y a 4 de ellos se les negó el derecho a fianza, sin más razón que ser considerados peligrosos para la sociedad.
Actualmente permanecen detenidos cinco personas Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzin, Margarita Garcia García, Gumaro López Alavez, José Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz y sufren maltrato por parte de los directores de las cárceles.
El 17 de septiembre de 2004, una vez encarcelados los representantes de la comunidad de San Isidro Aloapam se autorizó a paramilitares de Antorcha Campesina de San Miguel Aloapam la explotación forestal, contraviniendo la ley en el sentido que donde existan conflictos agrarios no se autorizaran permisos.
Y el día 2 de Febrero de 2005 Aproximadamente a las 3:15 fue detenido arbitrariamente Juan Alavez Méndez, por 2 policías ministeriales y cerca de 30 policías preventivos, municipales y tránsito municipal. Durante su detención que se dio en la central de abastos, a la altura de la riveras del rio Atoyac, en el estacionamiento de autobuses que vienen de diversas comunidades. No se mostró orden de aprehensión alguna, y con lujo de violencia bajaron a Juan Alavez Méndez del autobús comunitario de San Isidro Aloapam y lo subieron a una camioneta Pick Hup blanca y lo llevaron con rumbo desconocido.
Ante tales hechos y reconociendo la justeza de sus demandas, los abajo firmantes estamos muy preocupados, pues no podemos dejar que los derechos humanos de hermanos mexicanos sean vulnerados, por lo que le pedimos:
1. Libertad a las presas y presos indígenas: Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzi, Margarita García García, Gumaro López Alavez, José Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz y de Juan Alavez Mendez así como garantías para la vida Raúl Gatica y que se cumpla las medidas cautelares que la comisión interamericana de Derechos Humanos a otorgado el 29 de septiembre de 2004.
2. Se juzgue de inmediato a los autores materiales e intelectuales de las agresiones de Santa María Yaviche, San Isidro Aloapam y Lagunilla, Yosonotú.
3. Desmantelamiento de los grupos paramilitares denunciados en distintos procesos penales y aplicación de la ley a Cesar Toimil Roberts y Jacobo Chávez por su responsabilidad en distintos ilícitos.
4. Cancelación del permiso de explotación forestal otorgado ilegalmente a San Migue Aloapam y reconocimiento de sus derechos agrarios a los comuneros de San Isidro Aloapam.
5. Solución a los conflictos agrarios de San Isidro Aloapam, Santa Catarina Yosonotú, Guadalupe Chindua, Cacalotepec y Plan de Zaragoza, y atención a la demanda social presentada por las comunidades integrantes del CIPO-RFM
Finalmente señor gobernador, le invitamos a retomar el diálogo como instrumento para encontrar solución a las justas demandas de los indígenas del CIPO-RFM y a rechazar la violencia de estado como práctica común para solucionar el malestar social. Y lo convocamos a resolver este asunto de eminente sesgo político y reparar la injusticia cometida por el gobierno precedente y por parte de usted. Y mandar un mensaje a la ciudadanía de paz y concordia que tanta falta hace en ese estado sureño.
Sin más por el momento, solo esperamos su pronta intervención a todo lo planteado ya.
Atentamente
(YOUR SIGNATURE GOES HERE)
ENDS
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT CIPO-RFM LOOK HERE:
www.nodo50.org/cipo
OR FOR ENGLISH PAGES LOOK HERE:
http://www.nodo50.org/cipo/ourstory.htm
ACTIVISTS FROM CIPO-RFM WILL BE SPEAKING IN THE UK ON THE FOLLOWING DATES (CONFIRMED).
22nd Feb. Oxford
23rd Feb. Cambridge
24th Feb. Brighton
25th Feb London
More dates and details to follow.
2nd February 2005
CIPO member arrested
The offensive continues from the government of Ulises Ruiz and Jorge Franco Vargas against indigenous and social organisations. Particularly against members of communities that have refused to stop participating with CIPO-RFM.
The aggressions against the community of San Isidro Aloapam are increasing.
Around 3.15 pm on February 2nd Juan Alavez Mendez was arrested at a bus terminal by a force of about 32 police officers from different police forces. He was violently taken off the bus despite no arrest warrant being produced. He was put in a white van and driven to an unknown location.
Some of his neighbours that were in the bus at the time of the arrest demanded an explanation for this illegal arrest. At this point the police started to shout at them threats such as: ”Shut up or you’ll follow him”, “all those with CIPO are going to end up dead”, and “we have orders to finish with all of you”.
The background on the case of Juan Alavez Mendez:
He and seven colleagues from his community had participated in actions on defence of their forest and had fought to be recognised as “comuneros”.
For this reasons and to discourage them from their struggle, they have faced legal procedures accused of crimes they have never committed.
SEMARNAT (the government agency for the exploitation of forest resources) was facing a strong opposition from the communities against its plans to exploit the forests of Oaxaca.
On September 14th 2004 two representatives from the community San Isidro Aloapam; Jose Cruz Cruz and Gumaro Lopez Alavez were arrested along other members of CIPO-RFM. They were protesting against SEMARNAT plans. They were denied bail. Three days later on September 17th 2004 SEMARNAT authorised the exploitation of the forest in that area. On January 20th 2005 and without a single legal argument, the judges dictated a sentence against the community of San Isidro Aloapam denying the right to be recognised as “comuneros” to the original inhabitants of this community.
It is in this context that the arrest of Juan Alavez Mendez has taken place.
What is to follow?
Will they try to keep us quiet with a gun on our heads or behind bars?
The government of Ulises Ruiz and Jorge Franco Vargas is responsible for this latest aggression. They are trying to subdue the indigenous movement in Oaxaca with these fear tactics. They want to take full control over us and our land. Their way of governing is not going to shut us down. They are going to fill up their prisons and then they will have to built some more because even from the inside, we will keep up the resistance.
We call upon all those affected by violence and repression to unite behind us in our struggle. United we will stop the repression from a government seeking legitimacy through rivers of blood, incarceration and beatings.
We demand a solution to the misery, hunger and human rights violations that we are suffering.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Email these people (addresses below) and let them know that we are watching. Politics in Mexico is no different to anywhere else, politicians are acutely aware of their image both at home and abroad. If you don’t speak Spanish there is a letter below for the governor of Oaxaca. If you do speak the lingo then feel free to compose your own. DEMAND A REPLY IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE ONE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
Please copy your protest to all the addresses below. They are: The governor of Oaxaca, his secretary, the president of the commission for human rights in Oaxaca, the national human rights commision president for all Mexico, the Mexican consulate UK.
IT WILL TAKE YOU LESS TIME TO SEND THIS LETTER THAN IT HAS FOR YOU TO READ THIS REPORT. PLEASE SEND IT TO:
gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx, sriagral@oaxaca.gob.mx, correo@cedhoax.org, correo@cndh.org.mx, info@mexicanconsulate.org.uk TITLE: URGENTE! Ulises Ruiz Ortiz. Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca. México.
TEXT:
Los que suscribimos, ciudadanas y ciudadanos de: (INSERT YOUR TOWN HERE), tenemos conocimiento por el testimonio de indígenas del Consejo Indígena Popular de Oaxaca “Ricardo Flores Magón” CIPO-RFM, de las múltiples violaciones a los Derechos Humanos y la constante represión que sufren los integrantes y comunidades indígenas de dicha organización.
Tenemos de conocimiento que a Raúl Gatica Bautista integrante de dicha organización, defensor por más de 20 años de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, ha sido golpeado, perseguido, encarcelado, amenazado de muerte y actualmente ha sufrido atentados contra su vida, 30 de septiembre de 2004. Además tenemos entendido que la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, CIDH, ha dictado medidas cautelares a favor de este defensor, y que ni usted ni el gobierno mexicano en su conjunto quieren instrumentarlas.
El 16 de octubre de 2003, paramilitares de la CROCUT y de Tanetze de Zaragoza, comandados por Cesar Toimil Roberts y Jacobo Chávez, entraron a la comunidad de Santa María Yaviche, en la Sierra Juárez, disparando sin piedad contra niños, mujeres, hombres y abuelitos que se encontraban reunidos en asamblea, matando a Bartolomé Salas Chávez e hiriendo de gravedad a nueve mas, quedando un ambiente de miedo y tensión en el pueblo.
El 24 de febrero de 2004 los paramilitares del municipio de Santa Lucía Monteverde, Tlaxiaco, dispararon sobre un grupo de pobladores de la comunidad de Lagunilla, Yosonotú , que se dirigían a sus labores del campo, matando a Eusebio Aparicio García y lesionado de gravedad a Juan Aparicio Mendoza.
El 14 de septiembre de 2004 fueron violentamente desalojados de protestas pacíficas, encarcelando sin delito alguno a 14 de sus integrantes, entre ellos 3 menores. Todos los detenidos fueron sometidos a tortura y tratos degradantes. Las detenidas/os son: Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzin, Margarita Garcia García, Leonor López Alavez, Kalid Pérez Gómez, Guadalupe García García, Carmen Pérez, Gildardo Pérez Gómez, Gumaro López Alavez, José Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz, Miguel Cruz Moreno, Abel Ramírez, Mauro García García, y Reynaldo Feria Hernández. A todos se les fijaron fianzas excesivas, se les dispersó sin razón alguna en distintas cárceles de estado, no han tenido atención médica y a 4 de ellos se les negó el derecho a fianza, sin más razón que ser considerados peligrosos para la sociedad.
Actualmente permanecen detenidos cinco personas Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzin, Margarita Garcia García, Gumaro López Alavez, José Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz y sufren maltrato por parte de los directores de las cárceles.
El 17 de septiembre de 2004, una vez encarcelados los representantes de la comunidad de San Isidro Aloapam se autorizó a paramilitares de Antorcha Campesina de San Miguel Aloapam la explotación forestal, contraviniendo la ley en el sentido que donde existan conflictos agrarios no se autorizaran permisos.
Y el día 2 de Febrero de 2005 Aproximadamente a las 3:15 fue detenido arbitrariamente Juan Alavez Méndez, por 2 policías ministeriales y cerca de 30 policías preventivos, municipales y tránsito municipal. Durante su detención que se dio en la central de abastos, a la altura de la riveras del rio Atoyac, en el estacionamiento de autobuses que vienen de diversas comunidades. No se mostró orden de aprehensión alguna, y con lujo de violencia bajaron a Juan Alavez Méndez del autobús comunitario de San Isidro Aloapam y lo subieron a una camioneta Pick Hup blanca y lo llevaron con rumbo desconocido.
Ante tales hechos y reconociendo la justeza de sus demandas, los abajo firmantes estamos muy preocupados, pues no podemos dejar que los derechos humanos de hermanos mexicanos sean vulnerados, por lo que le pedimos:
1. Libertad a las presas y presos indígenas: Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzi, Margarita García García, Gumaro López Alavez, José Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz y de Juan Alavez Mendez así como garantías para la vida Raúl Gatica y que se cumpla las medidas cautelares que la comisión interamericana de Derechos Humanos a otorgado el 29 de septiembre de 2004.
2. Se juzgue de inmediato a los autores materiales e intelectuales de las agresiones de Santa María Yaviche, San Isidro Aloapam y Lagunilla, Yosonotú.
3. Desmantelamiento de los grupos paramilitares denunciados en distintos procesos penales y aplicación de la ley a Cesar Toimil Roberts y Jacobo Chávez por su responsabilidad en distintos ilícitos.
4. Cancelación del permiso de explotación forestal otorgado ilegalmente a San Migue Aloapam y reconocimiento de sus derechos agrarios a los comuneros de San Isidro Aloapam.
5. Solución a los conflictos agrarios de San Isidro Aloapam, Santa Catarina Yosonotú, Guadalupe Chindua, Cacalotepec y Plan de Zaragoza, y atención a la demanda social presentada por las comunidades integrantes del CIPO-RFM
Finalmente señor gobernador, le invitamos a retomar el diálogo como instrumento para encontrar solución a las justas demandas de los indígenas del CIPO-RFM y a rechazar la violencia de estado como práctica común para solucionar el malestar social. Y lo convocamos a resolver este asunto de eminente sesgo político y reparar la injusticia cometida por el gobierno precedente y por parte de usted. Y mandar un mensaje a la ciudadanía de paz y concordia que tanta falta hace en ese estado sureño.
Sin más por el momento, solo esperamos su pronta intervención a todo lo planteado ya.
Atentamente
(YOUR SIGNATURE GOES HERE)
ENDS
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT CIPO-RFM LOOK HERE:
www.nodo50.org/cipo
OR FOR ENGLISH PAGES LOOK HERE:
http://www.nodo50.org/cipo/ourstory.htm ACTIVISTS FROM CIPO-RFM WILL BE SPEAKING IN THE UK ON THE FOLLOWING DATES (CONFIRMED).
22nd Feb. Oxford
23rd Feb. Cambridge
24th Feb. Brighton
25th Feb London
More dates and details to follow.
e-mail:
Homepage:
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
translation
06.02.2005 21:49
- -
Translation
07.02.2005 17:50
We the undersigned, citizens of: (INSERT YOUR TOWN HERE), we have knowledge by the testimony of members of the Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca "Ricardo Flowers Magón" CIPO-RFM, of the multiple violations of Human rights and the constant repression that undergo the members and indigenous communities of this organization.
We are aware that member of this organisation Raul Gatica Bautista, defender for more than 20 years of the rights of the indigenous peoples, has been struck, persecuted, jailed, threatened with death and recently he has undergone attacks against his life, on 30 September 2004. In addition we know that the Inter-American Commission of Human rights, CIDH, has demanded preventative measures in favor of this defender, and that neither you nor the Mexican government as a whole wish to carry them out.
On 16 October 2003, paramilitaries of the CROCUT and Tanetze de Zaragoza, commanded by Toimil Roberts and Jacobo Chávez, entered the community of Santa Maria Yaviche, in the Juárez Mountain range, shooting without mercy against children, women, men and elderly people who were assembled in a meeting, killing Bartholomew Chávez Rooms and seriously wounding nine, leaving an atmosphere of fear and tension in the town.
On 24 February 2004 the paramilitaries of the municipality of Santa Lucia Monteverde, Tlaxiaco, shot at a group of settlers of the community of Lagunilla, Yosonotú, as they went to work in the fields, killing Eusebio Aparicio Garci'a and seriously wounding Juan Aparicio Mendoza.
On 14 September 2004 peaceful protests were violently evicted, jailing without crime some 14 of their members, among them 3 minors. All the prisoners were tortured and suffered degrading treatments. The detained are: Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzin, Garcia Daisy Garci'a, Leonor Lopez Alavez, Kalid Perez Go'mez, Guadalupe Garci'a Garci'a, Carmen Perez, Gildardo Perez Go'mez, Gumaro Lopez Alavez, Jose Cross Cross, Habacuc Cross Cross, Brown Miguel Cross, Abel Ramirez, Mauro Garci'a Garci'a, and Reynaldo Fair Hernandez. All of them were subject to excessive duress and were dispersed without reason to different jails in the state, have not had medical attention and 4 of them had their rights refused, without other reason than to be considered dangerous to society. At the moment five people are still detained: Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzin, Garcia Daisy Garci'a, Gumaro Lopez Alavez, Jose Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz and are suffering maltreatment at the hands of the directors of the jails.
On 17 September 2004, once the representatives of the community of San Isidro Aloapam had been jailed, logging was authorized to paramilitaries of Anorcha Campesina of San Miguel Aloapam, contravening the law in the sense that where there exist agrarian conflicts logging permits cannot be authorized.
And on 2 February of 2005 at approximately 3:15 Juan Alavez Méndez was stopped arbitrarily by 2 ministerial police and around 30 “preventive” police, municipal police and municipal transit police. His detention took place in the power station, at the river Atoyac, in the parking lot for local buses. In a disorderly manner, they removed Juan Alavez Mendez from the community bus of San Isidro, and with violence placed him in a white pick-up truck and it is not know where he was taken.
In light of such facts and recognizing the justice of our demands, the signatories below are very concerned, because we cannot leave Mexican human rights violated, so we petition from you:
1.Freedom for the indigenous prisoners: Dolores Villalobos Cuamatzi, Daisy Garci'a Garci'a, Gumaro Lopez Alavez, Jose Cruz Cruz, Habacuc Cruz Cruz and Juan Alavez Mendez, as well as guarantees for the life of Raul Gatica and the fulfilment of the preventative measures that the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights demanded on 29 September 2004.
2.Justice is done to the material and intellectual authors of the aggressions in Santa Maria Yaviche, San Isidro Aloapam and Lagunilla, Yosonotú.
3. Dismantling of the paramilitary groups denounced in various penal processes and application of the law to Cesar Toimil Roberts and Jacobo Chávez for their responsibilty for various crimes.
4.Cancellation of the permission of logging illegally granted to San Migue Aloapam and recognition of agrarian rights to the inhabitants of San Isidro Aloapam.
5. Solution for the agrarian conflicts of San Isidro Aloapam, Santa Catarina Yosonotú, Guadalupe Chindua, Cacalotepec and Plan de Zaragoza, and attention to the social demands presented by the member communities of the CIPO-RFM
Finally Senor Governor, we invite you to take up again dialogue as a means to meet the rightful demands of the inhabitants of the CIPO-RFM and to reject state violence as a common response to social injustice. And we ask you for a political solution to repair the injustice committed by the previous government and your own. And to send a message of peace and negotiation to the citizens of this state, as is so much lacking at the present time.
Right now we await your quick intervention on all the issues raised above.
Yours sincerely
(YOUR SIGNATURE GOES HERE)
richarddirecttv