On 5 October, the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Center for Human Rights (CDHFBC) released a public statement denouncing the criminalization of its work following a protest comprised by members of the organization “Vision of Eagles’ Wings 2000” – “Army of God” carried out on 1 October in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. This protest, led by Esdras Alonso González, was held in support of a group of Evangelicals from the community of Mitzitón with the expressed aim of resisting their relocation; it featured the expression of slogans against CDHFBC.
The communiqué claims that “during the protest were distributed flyers [see photo] that defame the work of the members of this Center for Human Rights. Presenting banners on which were inscribed ‘PENAL ACTION PGR AGAINSTDIEGO CADENA’ and others (‘President Calderón, we are with you! Army of God’), the members of the Army of God place at risk the security of the rights-defenders of this Center.
Before the protest, on 16 September 2010, Esdras Alonso González sent a letter to the Secretary of Governance in which he claims that “the conflicts that have been seen lately in the Highlands regions of Chiapas, and particularly in the ejidal zones, find their basis in the presence of national activists and organizations as well as the participation of foreigners associated with the social network that coordiantes the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Center for Human Rights.” The text goes on to make claims without evidence that confuse the reality and actors found in Chiapas.
“This campaign of defamation and criminalization regarding the work carried out by the members of Frayba puts at risk the security of the rights-defenders who, with no political-party affiliation, religious creed, or political militancy, respond to demands of the citizenry and accompany processes to guarantee the respect and defense of human rights in Chiapas, given that it could promote an environment of hostility and even lynching of members of the Center.”
For more information (in Spanish):
Full denunciation of the the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Center for Human Rights (5 October)
Evangelicals reject relocation (Cuarto Poder, 2 October 2010)
Letter sent by the Army of God to the Secretary of Governance (published on the blog “Voice of the Martyrs,” 16 September 2010)
Photos of the protest “Vision of Eagles’ Wings 2000” – “Army of God,” carried out 1 October in San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Para más información de SIPAZ:
Chiapas: Frayba denounces criminalization of human rights work (3 September 2009)
Chiapas: Mitzitón ejidatarios demand relocation of members of the “Army of God” (12 July 2010)
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