Human rights organisations have warned that the population of nearly 200 Zapatista supporters in the indigenous community of San Marcos Aviles are at very serious risk of violent assault and displacement. The threats made against them have increased sharply since the Mexican elections in July.
The aggressors are government supporters organised in paramilitary style groups who are heavily armed with shotguns, rifles and pistols, and are specifically threatening the women and children. They have already stolen the land, crops and livestock of the community, leaving them without a food supply. Observers report that the situation is one of siege, and that the families are heavily traumatised.
In 2010, 170 men women and children were forced to take refuge in the open on the mountainside during the rainy season for 33 days. The current situation is one where it is feared another such tragedy may occur at any time. The aggressors are threatening to kidnap the community authorities and forcibly displace the rest of the population. Anyone denouncing this harassment, they say, will be locked away.
In the face of this alarming situation, an urgent call for support has been released.
For further information, please see:
http://sanmarcosavilesen.wordpress.com/
For a powerful and moving video message, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY-8CBt3Vkg
The aggressors are government supporters organised in paramilitary style groups who are heavily armed with shotguns, rifles and pistols, and are specifically threatening the women and children. They have already stolen the land, crops and livestock of the community, leaving them without a food supply. Observers report that the situation is one of siege, and that the families are heavily traumatised.
In 2010, 170 men women and children were forced to take refuge in the open on the mountainside during the rainy season for 33 days. The current situation is one where it is feared another such tragedy may occur at any time. The aggressors are threatening to kidnap the community authorities and forcibly displace the rest of the population. Anyone denouncing this harassment, they say, will be locked away.
In the face of this alarming situation, an urgent call for support has been released.
For further information, please see:
http://sanmarcosavilesen.wordpress.com/ For a powerful and moving video message, please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY-8CBt3Vkg