Chiapas: EZLN Sixth Commission Announces Tour Program for Indigenous Council of Government

Photo: @ Letra Roja

On September 15th, the EZLN Sixth Commission convened the start of the Indigenous Council of Government tour in Chiapas for October 14th, 2017. The Council’s spokesperson is Maria de Jesus Patricio, a possible independent candidate for the 2018 presidency. The events will take place

“in the framework of the National Working Assembly between the Indigenous Council of Government and the peoples who make up the National Indigenous Congress (CNI) to be held at CIDECI, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, October 12, 13, and 19, 2017.”

 The communiqué indicates that from October 14th to 19th, 2017, they will visit four caracoles, the town of Guadalupe Tepeyac and the municipality of Palenque for “a series of events to greet the Indigenous Council Of Government—the voice, ear, and heart of the indigenous peoples of the CNI.”

According to the schedule published last Friday the events will be held according to the following order:

“Saturday, October 14th, 2017: Community of Guadalupe Tepeyac, MAREZ (Zapatista Autonomous Municipality in Rebellion) of “San Pedro de Michoacan.” Time undetermined, as it depends on how much time it takes to get from CIDECI to Guadalupe Tepeyac. The CIG delegation will stay there overnight.

Sunday, October 15th, 2017: Caracol of Morelia, MAREZ of “17 de Noviembre,” Tzotz Choj zone.  Time undetermined, as it depends on how much time it takes to get from Guadalupe Tepeyac to the caracol of Morelia. The CIG delegation will stay there overnight.

Monday, October 16th, 2017: Caracol of Garrucha, MAREZ of “Francisco Gómez,” Selva Tzeltal zone. Time undetermined, as it depends on how much time it takes to get from the caracol of Morelia to the caracol of Garrucha. The CIG delegation will stay there overnight.

Tuesday, October 17th, 2017: Caracol of Roberto Barrios, MAREZ of “Trabajo,” northern zone of Chiapas. Time undetermined, as it depends on how much time it takes to get from the caracol of Garrucha to the caracol of Roberto Barrios. The CIG delegation will stay there overnight.

Wednesday, October 18th, 2017: Bad government municipality of Palenque, Chiapas. 10:00am. Travel to CIDECI in San Cristobal de Las Casas. The CIG will stay overnight at CIDECI.

Thursday, October 19, 2017. Caracol of Oventik, MAREZ of “San Andrés Sakamch’en de los Pobres,” Highlands zone of Chiapas. Return to CIDECI where the work of the assembly concludes.”

 For more information in Spanish:

Programa de la gira del Consejo Indígena de Gobierno en Chiapas, del 14 al 19 de Octubre del 2017 (Enlace Zapatista, 15 de septiembre del 2017)

María de Jesús Patricio realizará gira por Chiapas (La Jornada, 16 de septiembre del 2017)

Candidata zapatista prepara gira por Chiapas en octubre (SDPnoticias.com, 16 de septiembre del 2017)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Nacional / Chiapas : El CNI conforma su Concejo Indígena de Gobierno y elige a su vocera (31 de mayo del 2017)

Chiapas/Nacional : Candidata presidencial “no es decisión de una persona” (Subcomandante Moíses) (15 de noviembre del 2017)

Chiapas / Nacional : CNI y EZLN realizarán consulta para nombrar a una candidata indígena hacia las elecciones presidenciales de 2018 (15 de octubre del 2016)

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National/International: Mexico Top Country for Impunity in America

Photo: @plumas libres

In August 2017, the results of the Global Index of Impunity IGI 2017 were published by the University of Las Americas in Puebla UDLAP, UDLAP Jenkins Graduate School, and the Impunity Studies Center (CESIJ) of UDLAP.

It should be noted that the Global Impunity Index measures three dimensions: security, justice and human rights.

Regarding the Global Impunity Index (IGI), Mexico ranks 66th out of 69 countries in impunity, surpassed only by the Philippines, India and Cameroon. This study took into account the statistics presented by the United Nations (UN) countries and delivered to its Office against Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Mexico is the country that occupies first place in America.

In an interview with the rector of the University of the Americas in Puebla, Luis Ernesto Derbez said: “We are the fourth worst,” adding that this “is “terrible” because if impunity in Mexico continues, if we take concrete measures “violence, corruption and insecurity will continue to advance.”

As stated by Animal Politico news website: “The study highlights the increase in the number of police officers in Mexico, 359 per 100,000 inhabitants, nevertheless, assures that this does not represent that those in uniform ones have the adequate preparation to fulfill their duty”. It continued, “the Index recommends that Mexico must take urgent measures to reduce levels of impunity, such as providing a greater budget for security, justice and penitentiary systems, as long as this is reflected in training, infrastructure improvement and the professionalization of the systems mentioned “.

For more information in Spanish:

Incide Global de Impunidad (IGI) 2017. (Agosto 2017)

México, en los últimos lugares del Índice Global de Impunidad 2017. (El Economista, 28 de agosto de 2017)

México en el Índice Global de Impunidad, análisis en Despierta con Loret. (Televisa news, 28 de agosto de 2017)

México, primer lugar de Impunidad en América. (El Universal, 28 de agosto de 2017)

México, el país con mayor impunidad de América Latina, pese al aumento de policías. (Animal Político, 28 de agosto de 2017)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerrero : tres años de impunidad en el caso del asesinato de Rocío Mesino. (SIPAZ, 20 de octubre de 2016)

Oaxaca : 7 años de impunidad en el caso de Bety Cariño y Jyri Jaakkola. (SIPAZ, 28 de abril de 2017)

Nacional: Según pre-audiencia del TPP, simulación e impunidad impiden erradicar violencia contra mujeres. (SIPAZ, 14 de agosto de 2008)

 

Chiapas: Pemex to Provide Resources in Perpetuity to Preserve the Lacandon Jungle

Photo: @Chiapas State Government

On September 31st, from the archaeological zone of Bonampak, the general director of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya, reported that as part of its sustainability program, it will donate 25 million pesos for the conservation of the Lacandon Jungle, in order to promote the productive reconversion of the area and combat climate change.

The announcement was made during the delivery of more than 11 million pesos destined to Lacandon comuneros for 120 productive projects through different programs for environment conservation projects. As well as González Anaya, the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, Jose Antonio Meade Kuribreña; the secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, Rafael Pacchiano Alamán and the governor, Manuel Velasco Coello were present.

“We will continue to work hand in hand with the community of the Lacandon, the Municipal Council and the Government of the Republic to generate concrete actions that benefit the jungle of Chiapas, which is the jungle of Mexico and pride of our entire nation,” Governor Velasco stressed, according to a statement from the Chiapas State Government.

In addition, the same bulletin said that was “the new authorities of Communal Goods that will make up “The Lacandon Community” were sworn into office, among which time three women were elected for the first; this conformation means the union of the three ethnicities of the region: Chol, Tseltal and Maya-Lacandon, who will work for the care of the jungle. “

It is worth mentioning that Pemex’s investments in this area represent 90 million that Enrique Peña Nieto delivered last June during the commemoration of World Environment Day.

For more information in Spanish:

Van 25 mdp para la Selva Lacandona (Diaro de Chiapas, 1 de septiembre de 2017)

Anuncia Pemex aportación de 25 mdp anuales para conservar la Selva Lacandona (Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas, 1 de septiembre de 2017)

Pemex anuncia apoyos para la conservación permanente de la Selva Lacandona (Pemex, 31 de agosto de 2017)

Entregan 11 mdp para la conservación de la Selva Lacandona (MxPolítico, 31 de agosto de 2017)

Recibe Selva Lacandona recursos a perpetuidad para su conservación (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, 31 de agosto de 2017)

Chiapas: Omissions after Declaration of Gender Violence Alert

Photo: @chiapasparalelo

On September 4th, the network of social and civil organizations that compose the “Popular Campaign against Violence against women and Femicide” reported that, nine months after the declaration of the Gender Violence Alert (GVA), the “slow process” to shield women against femicide and other violent actions they suffer daily in the state continues.

In addition, they appealed to the authorities of the Chiapas government with competencies in the matter that while they progress in the measures of the Alert, that they do not make omissions and attend with due diligence cases of gender violence and feminicide that are presented in the state, as in August, the Center for Women’s Rights of Chiapas (CDMCH in its Spanish acronym) closed its monitoring with 27 cases of violence, ranging from threats, assaults, injuries, intentional homicides, suspicious deaths and femicides in various regions of the state.

On the same day at national level, the president of the National Institute of Women (INMUJERES in its Spanish acronym), Lorena Cruz Sanchez said that much progress has been with the Alert at the legislative level, however she recognizes that to eradicate femicides there is still a long way to go.

For more information in Spanish:

Campaña Popular contra la Violencia hacia las mujeres y el feminicio en Chiapas. (4 de septiembre de 2017)

ONG denuncian dilación y omisiones en puesta en marcha de alerta de género en Chiapas. (Proceso 4 de septiembre de 2017)

Alertas de Género no han erradicado feminicidios: titular de INMUJERES. (4 de septiembre de 2017)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Campaña Popular contra la Violencia hacia las Mujeres cuestiona falta de avances de Alerta de Violencia de Género. (SIPAZ, 28 de abril de 2017)

Chiapas: Mujeres decretan alerta de violencia de género. (SIPAZ, 9 de julio de 2013)

Oaxaca: Solicitan activación de Alerta de Violencia de Género ante el aumento de los feminicidios. (SIPAZ, 26 de febrero de 2014)

Guerrero: Third Visit of IACHR Follow-up Mechanism Three Years after Ayotzinapa Case

Photo @: Sipaz

From August 28th to 30th, the third visit of the Follow-up Mechanism of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for the Ayotzinapa case was conducted to monitor compliance with the recommendations of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (IGIE) investigation.

During his visit, the delegation of the IACHR visited the Rural School “Raúl Isidro Burgos”, where it heard the complaints of the parents, who according to Proceso magazine claim the lack of concrete progress in the case.

According to the Tlachinollan Mountain Human Rights Center of the, the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR in its Spanish acronym) informed the delegation that a team of more than 90 people were exclusively assigned to this research, and hopes that this will translate into results that bring the truth about what happened on September 26th and 27th, 2014.

The fathers and mothers summoned the Attorney General of the Republic to detain the municipal police of Huitzuco and Cocula, who could be involved in the arrest of the student teachers, before October. Otherwise, they warned, they will not return to the negotiating table scheduled for October.

The 26th of September 2017 will mark three years since the night of Iguala during which the 43 student teachers were disappeared, six others murdered and about 25 injured. Among the wounded was Aldo Gutierrez Solano, who received a bullet that destroyed 65% of his brain and he remains in a “vegetative” state. For this occasion parents of the victims announced a national march that will take place in Mexico City.

For more information in Spanish:

Claman justicia por normalistas de Ayotzinapa desaparecidos hace 35 meses (Proceso, 26 de agosto de 2017)

La CIDH lamenta que, a casi tres años, paradero de los 43 “sigue desconocido” (Proceso, 30 de agosto de 2017)

Mecanismo de seguimiento del asunto Ayotzinapa realiza tercera visita oficial a México (Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña Tlachinollan, 30 de agosto de 2017)

A 3 años del caso Ayotzinapa, el gobierno sigue sin conocer el paradero de los normalistas: CIDH (Animal Político, 30 de agosto de 2017)

XXXVI ACCIÓN GLOBAL POR AYOTZINAPA Y MÉXICO (Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña Tlachinollan, 01 de septiembre de 2017)

En caso Ayotzinapa “hay avances”, pero falta tener pronto noticias del paradero de los 43: CIDH   (Proceso, 4 de septiembre de 2017)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerrero: a 34 meses de la tragedia de Ayotzinapa familiares convocan a unas jornadas de lucha (31 de julio de 2017)

Guerrero: Sesión de seguimiento de la CIDH del caso Ayotzinapa : avances nulos (10 de julio de 2017)

National: Human Rights Organizations’ Reports Contradict Progress Noted in Government’s Fifth Report

What Peña’s report doesn’t say “speaks volumes” Proceso

On September 1st, the Fifth Report of the Government was presented, boasting progress on poverty, employment, education and respect for human rights.

In contrast, a few days earlier, the sixth report on human rights violations against human rights defenders was published covering the period from June 2016 to May 2017 and documenting that within that time “four human rights violations occurred every day against persons defending human rights in Mexico.” This report reports that “a year and a half after the end of the period of Enrique Peña Nieto, 2426 arbitrary arrests are documented” since the beginning of his term of office. As for extrajudicial execution, it indicates that while during the period of former president Felipe Calderon 67 were documented, “in the period we have with EPN this repressive modality has increased to almost double, totalling 123 executions.” With regard to enforced disappearance, it indicates 11 cases in the period covered by the report. “In general, the report tells us that the use of extrajudicial execution is the most repressive mode used by the State in the period covered by this report compared to previous years, (…) This clearly shows that the State increases the intensity of repression for political reasons when faced with the will of the defenders to keep up their work.”

It also denounced that “the improvement of repressive techniques includes actions such as maintaining impunity for human rights violations committed, implying that the State covers the gaps in the investigations of the most serious cases of HRV to prevent them from reaching international bodies, that is to say, it does not investigate, but only in appearance complies with what the law dictates, without this being reflected in an advance in investigations. At the same time, it accepts the visits of the international bodies of HR, but disqualifies the reports made by these international representatives. It further discredits the defense of human rights in two ways: by allowing a campaign that equates human rights defenders as defenders of criminals and, secondly, weakening the international human rights system by strengthening international humanitarian law, which judges people and not state structures, claiming that HRVs are individual acts, of subjects infiltrated or stressed, but that there has never been an order of state structures to violate human rights.”

On another note, covering the beginning of the term of Enrique Peña Nieto on July 31, 2017, the National Network of Civil Organisms for Human Rights All Rights for All (Red TDT in its Spanish acronym), made up of 84 groups from 23 states in the country, reaches similar conclusions in the report Hope is not Over. Situation of Human Rights Defenders during the Presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto, published in early September. It says that state governments are the ones that most violate human rights with 39% of cases, followed by the federal administration with 32%; municipal and community agents with 20%, and judicial officials with 18%. It also notes that 69% of the cases occurred in seven of the 30 states analyzed: Chiapas, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Guerrero, Veracruz, Puebla and the state of Mexico.

For more information in Spanish:

Desaparecieron 81 activistas y mataron a 106 este sexenio: ONG (6 de septiembre de 2017)

Informe completo « La esperanza no se agota. Situación de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos durante la presidencia de Enrique Peña Nieto » (Red Tdt, septiembre de 2017)

Boletín de prensa e informe completo – Sexto informe de violaciones de derechos humanos contra personas defensoras de los derechos humanos. “Defender los derechos humanos en México: La ejecución extrajudicial como respuesta del Estado. Junio de 2016 a mayo de 2017” (29 de agosto de 2017)

Lo que no dice el Informe de Peña “cuenta, y cuenta mucho (Proceso, 1ero de septiembre de 2017)

¿Qué dice el V Informe de Peña? Estos son los 5 ejes del texto (documento completo) (Animal Político, 1ero de septiembre de 2017)

Peña Nieto en su 5to Informe de Gobierno, ¿mentiras o verdades? (Animal Político, 4 de septiembre de 2017)

Los cinco ejes del informe de Gobierno de EPN (Sdp Noticias, 4 de septiembre de 2017)

For more information from SIPAZ :

Nacional : cuarto informe del gobierno de Peña Nieto(12 de septiembre de 2016)

Nacional: Múltiples críticas a la presentación del Tercer Informe de Gobierno de Peña Nieto (8 de septiembre de 2015)

 

Guerrero: 60-Year Prison Sentence for Murderers of Two Ayotzinapa Student Teachers

Photo @: Desinformemonos

On September 4th, nearly a year after the murder of students from the Raul Isidro Burgos Normal School, Ayotzinapa, Jonathan Morales Hernandez and Filimon Tacuba Castro, during an attack on urban public transport on the Chilpancingo-Tixtla highway, four people accused of the crime were sentenced to 60 years in prison in addition to having agreed reparation for damages for one of the victims.

The Tlachinollan Mountain Human Rights Center called the sentence “an important achievement of justice”. However, they emphasized that the Office of the Prosecutor “has much to do in this case for its total clarification and to be able to offer truth to the victims.” They emphasized that “the murder of the student teachers is a paradigmatic case of the generalized violence that is lived through in Guerrero and the vulnerability in which the ordinary citizens find walking in a street or losing their lives getting onto a means of transport in the wrong place at the wrong time, while the rulers continue to try to hide this reality that lacerates us.”

This year, Jonathan and Filimon would have graduated as teachers.

For more information in Spanish:

Dan 60 años de prisión a asesinos de dos normalistas de Ayotzinapa (Proceso, 5 de septiembre de 2017)

Sentencia firme a un año del asesinato de dos estudiantes normalistas (Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña Tlachinollan, 5 de septiembre de 2017)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerreo: Asesinan a dos normalistas de Ayotzinapa (5 de octubre de 2016)