Chiapas: End of hunger-strike

Photo @ SIPAZ

39 days after ending the hunger-strike and fast, the participants imprisoned in Prison no. 5 in San Cristóbal de Las casas decided to suspend their action in light of the peril in which their lives found themselves and the absence of response of the Chiapas government to their demands. The sit-in of relatives in the Cathedral Plaza of the same city moved itself to the steps of the CERSS in this municipality.

The reasons of the prisoners were the following: “Due to the complications of our health situation which follow from 39 days of hunger-strike that demand will continue to demand justice, a time in which the government ignored our demands to the people. But this is not reason to end our struggles; on the contrary we will struggle with more forced until we overthrow the bad system. Today we announce publicly that we suspended our hunger-strike yesterday on 6 November at 8pm, due to the gravity of our health situation, before it would be that it would be difficult that we repair our health.”

Those held in said prison have insisted ont eh release of Juan Collazo Jiménez, who continues on hunger strike in Prison 6 in Motozintla until 8 November, and Enrique Gómez Hernández, who could have abandoned his fast in Prison 14 El Amate. They added in their communiqué: “at the same time we demand that the federal government of Felipe Calderón Hinojosa intervene for the immediate release of our comrade Alberto Patishtán Gómez, political prisoner of the Voz del Amate.” Patishtán, having been transferred to federal prison in Guasave Sinaloa, more than 2000 kilometers of distance from his family and comrades, continued his fast until 31 October despite having suffered serious ocular problems.

Beyond this, the Network against Repression denounced the present condition in which Juan Collazo finds himself after having been moved to a punishment area: “he finished his hunger strike yesterday. This notwithstanding, it is probable that comrade Juan willc ontinue to be held in the Area of punishment.”

This same Network announced the support of national and international civil society regarding the end of the hunger strike, given that on Monday 7 November was held the global day of action for the liberation of political prisoners in Chiapas, held via many different solidarity actions.

For more information (in Spanish):

Denuncia de Enrique Gomez, solidario de la voz del amate (Enlace Zapatista, 9 November 2011)

Juan Collazo continúa en área de castigo en la cárcel de Motozintla y levanta la huelga de hambre (Enlace Zapatista, 9 November 2011)

Pronunciamiento la RvsR Chiapas y GT por el fin de la huelga de hambre (Enlace Zapatista, 9 November 2011)

RvsR Chiapas: Pronunciamiento sobre la situación de Juan Collazo Jiménez (Enlace Zapatista, 9 November 2011)

Suspenden huelga de hambre indígenas presos, luego de 39 días(Milenio, 7 November 2011)

Revisarán expedientes de ocho presos de la otra campaña; concluyen huelga de hambre (La Jornada, 7 November 2011)

Suspenden huelga de hambre indígenas presos en Chiapas (La Jornada, 7 November 2011)

Denuncia de los pres@s en Chiapas, anuncian el fin de la huelga de hambre (Enlace Zapatista, 7 November 2011)

Despues de 39 días de huelga y ayuno se levanta por riesgos graves de salud, presos de Chiapas (Chiapas Denuncia Pública, 7 November 2011)

Castigan a Juan Collazo en el penal de Motozintla. 7 de noviembre(CGT Chiapas, 7 November 2011)

Firmas para el Comunicado internacional contra el traslado forzoso de Alberto Patishtán y de solidaridad con los demás ex-huelguistas presos polític@s indígenas en Chiapas (CGT Chiapas, 8 November 2011)