National/International: Sanchez Cordero Warns Migrant Caravan Will Only Have “Orderly Access” to Mexican Territory

Photo @ Cuartoscuro

On January 7th, the Secretary of the Interior Olga Sanchez Cordero announced that before the entry of a new migrant caravan into Mexican territory, scheduled for the middle of this month, “the necessary measures are being taken for the safe and orderly entry” of the migrants. In the framework of the Meeting of Ambassadors and Consuls, Sanchez Cordero reiterated that migrants must submit an application, declare their reason for admission and provide personal and biometric data. “If they do not want to provide this information, do not submit the application or want to enter illegally, they will be returned to their country of origin,” she said.

The National Migration Institute (INM in its Spanish acronym) will also reinforce its presence on the southern border at 12 official land entry points and will patrol and monitor approximately 370 points of undocumented illegal crossing of people.

The head of the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB in its Spanish acronym), “urged the international organizations – specifically the UN and the OAS – to assist in the care of migrants, and called on the governments of Central America to assume their responsibilities towards their people.”

Sanchez Cordero concluded that the vision of the Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador government “is that migrants are not criminals, much less constitute a threat to the security of Mexico in the United States. They are human beings that seek to escape from a reality of insecurity and deficiencies in their places of origin that ask for access to the most basic, which is the possibility of remaining alive and accessing a job that allows them with to progress dignity.

For more information in Spanish:

Migrantes tendrán acceso ordenado a México: Sánchez Cordero (La Jornada, 8 de enero de 2019)

Segob prevé nueva caravana migrante; “hay líderes que quieren dar portazo” (Proceso, 7 de enerode 2019)

Los migrantes no son delincuentes, pero es necesario poner orden en las fronteras: Gobernación (Animal Político, 7 de enero de 2019)

For more information from SIPAZ:

International/ National: Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets Used Against Migrants at U.S. Mexico Border (November 27th, 2018)

Nacional/Internacional:A un mes de la primera, primeras caravanas migrantes llegan a la frontera con EUA (17 de noviembre de 2018)

National / International: First Migrant Caravan advances in Mexico; a person dies in the second caravan trying to enter; Trump announces operation «Faithful Patriot» to close US border (November 3, 2018)

Chiapas / National / International: Migrant Caravan about to enter Oaxaca (November 3, 2018)

National / International: Caravan of migrants from Honduras arrives in Mexico (October 22, 2018)

 

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National: Public Hearings to Debate the Creation of National Guard Begin

Presentation of the National Guard (@Cuarto Oscuro)

Since January 8th, public hearings or consultation forums were initiated in the Chamber of Deputies in which governors, mayors, legislators, public servants on security and armed forces issues, specialists, representatives of human rights organizations and civil society organizations will participate to discuss the creation of the National Guard. Discussion tables are planned until January 12th, which will address issues such as “citizen security in the states, federalism and the National Guard, municipal strategies for security, human rights, human security and the construction of peace.”

On the same day, the #SeguridadSinGuerra collective, which brings together more than 300 organizations and individuals, published a public stance in which it maintained its critical position towards the formation of the National Guard that continues with the tendency to militarize the country. It also criticized the recent call of the federal government for the recruitment of those who will make up that institution: “If times have really changed and those who today govern and legislate are different, you cannot act in the same way, using the Congress of the Union as a window of procedure,” they stated.

It should be recalled that shortly before, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), launched the call to recruit young people to join the National Guard, which generated controversy as he took this step before the creation of this new institution was approved in Congress. In his defense, AMLO declared that the objective is “not to waste time” but opposition legislators described this initiative as a “lack of respect” for the legislative branch.

For more information in Spanish:

AMLO y Guardia Nacional: ¿cuáles son los requisitos de ingreso? (Político.MX, 4 de enero de 2019)

300 organismos civiles, inconformes con creación de la Guardia Nacional (La Jornada, 7 de enero de 2019)

Colectivo Seguridad Sin Guerra pide que audiencias sobre Guardia Nacional no sean una simulación (Animal Político, 7 de enero de 2019)

Guardia Nacional sí, pero sin llevar a militarización: Conago (La Jornada, 8 de enero de 2019)

El de la Guardia Nacional, “un modelo exactamente equivocado que no hay que aprobar”: Corral (Proceso, 8 de enero de 2019)

Gobernadores del PRI respaldan la Guardia Nacional, pero proponen “modelo híbrido” (Proceso, 8 de enero de 2019)

Gobernadores piden una Guardia Nacional y con mando civil en el inicio de audiencias públicas (Animal Político, 8 de enero de 2019)

For more information from SIPAZ:

National/International: UNHCHR Asks Congress for Civil Controlled National Guard and that it Last Five Years Maximum (January 2nd, 2019)

National: Faced with Rejection of National Guard, AMLO Proposes New Consultation (December 12th, 2018)

National: Supreme Court Invalidates Security Law; AMLO Announces National Peace and Security Plan 2018-2024  (November 27th, 2018)

National: CNDH Asks SCJN to Declare Interior Security Law Unconstitutional (November 7th, 2018)

National: Reactions to Minister for Supreme Court’s Proposal on Interior Security Law (November 7th, 2018)

National: AMLO “The Army and the Navy will continue on the streets in internal public security tasks” (September 15th, 2015)

 

Chiapas: Human Rights Defender Sinar Corzo Esquinca Murdered

On the night of January 3rd, human rights defender Sinar Corzo Esquinca was murdered near his home in the city of Arriaga, Chiapas, which was attributed to hit men on a motorcycle who approached him at close range to shoot him at point-blank.

On his Twitter account, Governor Rutilio Escandon Cadenas expressed his condolences to the family and announced that justice will be done in the case. For its part, the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE in its Spanish acronym) reported that it began investigations into the homicide and sent a Special Group to clarify the facts and determine responsibilities.

Sinar Corzo Equinca was part of the Coloso de Piedra Citizen Committee for the Defense of Human Rights and was actively engaged in defending various causes such as the management of works and roads for indigenous communities, care for the environment, the struggle of tenants and of the Public Market of Coloso de Piedra of to obtain decent spaces for the sale of their products, and had added to the demands for the reconstruction of damages caused by the earthquake of September 7th, 2017. In fact, hours before his death, Corzo Esquinca met with Arriaga municipal authorities to discuss issues related to the construction of La Linea highway and the improvement of fishing communities. He had already reported direct attacks, arbitrary arrest and death threats since 2013.

Following the murder, the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH in its Spanish acronym) expressed its condolences to Sinar’s relatives, to the members of the Coloso de Piedra organization and to his friends. It urged the government of Chiapas and the Prosecutor’s Office to implement precautionary measures to protect the relatives of the defender and those who constitute the organization “El Coloso de Piedra”, as well as to investigate the crime in response to the work that the victim was doing.

More than 150 civil society organizations including the National Network of Civil Human Rights Organizations and SIPAZ condemned the killing of the activist and expressed that they “view with concern this sign of the fragile situation in which human rights defenders find themselves in the state of Chiapas. We call on the Mexican State so that the corresponding authorities conduct a prompt, exhaustive, diligent and effective investigation to bring those responsible to justice and this fact will not be repeated anywhere else.” They recalled that “human rights defenders play a transcendental role for the democracy of our country and their work must be carried out in a safe and autonomous manner.”

For more information in Spanish:

Asesinan a Sinar Corzo Esquinca, activista y defensor de derechos humanos en Chiapas (Proceso, 4 de enero de 2019)

Asesinan al activista Sinar Corzo Esquinca en Chiapas (La Jornada, 4 de enero de 2019)

Asesinan en Chiapas al activista y defensor de pueblos indígenas Sinar Corzo; fiscalía inicia investigación (Animal Político, 4 de enero de 2019)

Activistas condenan asesinato de Sinar Corzo en Chiapas (Heraldo de México, 4 de enero de 2019)

Pronunciamiento conjunto, condenamos el asesinato del activista y defensor de derechos humanos Sinar Corzo Esquinca (OSC, 4 de enero de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: denuncian criminalización de defensores medioambientales en San Cristóbal de Las Casas (28 de diciembre de 2018)

National: 161 Defenders and 40 Journalists Murdered in Last Presidential Term of Office
(December 14th, 2018)

 

Chiapas: Zapatista Mass Meeting in Realidad Caracol 25 Years after Armed Uprising

(@SIPAZ)

On December 31st, within the framework of the 25th anniversary of the armed uprising, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN in its Spanish acronym) announced from the Caracol de La Realidad, in the Lacandon Jungle, border region, that it will oppose several of the plans “of destruction” of the new president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), including the massive planting of trees in several states, including Chiapas, the Maya Train, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Project (Oaxaca) or the National Guard (which would prolong the military presence in public security work as has been pointed out by national and international human rights organizations): “As much as they try to humiliate us with the repressive forces such as the National Guard, we will not rest in defending our Mother Earth because in her we were born, in her we live and in her we will die. We will not surrender, we will not sell out and we will not give up.” “Let us fight. We are going to confront, we are not going to allow (Lopez Obrador) to pass his destruction projects here. We are not afraid of his National Guard, who changed its name, so as not to say Army”, Sub-commander Moises said.

“We tell him that we do not believe him”, he added, describing AMLO as “tricky” and “crafty” for wanting to pretend to be with the original peoples of Mexico when, in fact, he said, he seeks to “destroy them.”

Although during the five days prior to the anniversary, the EZLN held a meeting with members of the National Indigenous Council (CNI in its Spanish acronym), the Indigenous Council of Government and solidarity groups, it said that for 25 years “we have seen that we are alone; what we have achieved has been with our work and effort, with our mistakes. (…) We went to awaken, we went to tell the poor people of Mexico, of the countryside and the city. Many did not pay attention to us, some are organizing themselves, and we hope they continue yo organize. But we see that most did not listen to us. But we did the work, and we have more to do. (…) People come and go from outside. We continue here. Each time they come as tourists, but misery, inequality and injustice are not for tourism. The young people of Mexico will continue to die. What a pity that they pay attention to someone who is there deceiving the people.”

He finished his statement emphasizing: “we are going to defend what we have built. (…) The change we want is that one day the people, women and men are those who have to decide how they want their life, not that a group decides the lives of millions of human beings. We say it only with these words: the people rule, and the government obeys. That is why we say: here we are, we are the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, and here we will continue!”

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador affirmed that he will not fall into “any provocation” from the Zapatista movement: “Even if they want to confront us, there will be no response. (…) I express my respect for their plans, programs and decisions. We live in a free country, there is no repression and there is no censorship,” he said.

For more information in Spanish:

López Obrador responde al EZLN: ‘Amor y paz… no me van a cucar’ (Vanguardia, 2 de enero de 2019)

EZLN y Marcos: ¿cuál es el principal aporte del zapatismo a México a 25 años de su levantamiento armado? (BBC, 1ero de enero de 2019)

EZLN, balance a 25 años (Proceso, 1ero de enero de 2019)

AMLO está engañando a los pueblos; nosotros no le creemos: EZLN (Aristegui Noticias, 1ero de enero de 2019)

EZLN: a 25 años del embeleso mundial que causó el zapatismo (Excelsior, 1ero de enero de 2019)

El EZLN advierte que se opondrá al Tren Maya y a la Guardia Nacional (Animal Político, 1ero de enero de 2019)

El EZLN advierte que se opondrá a los proyectos de AMLO (ADN Político, 1ero de enero de 2019)

En su 25 aniversario el EZLN critica al gobierno de AMLO (La Jornada, 1ero de enero de 2019)

Las victorias del EZLN (La Jornada, 31 de diciembre de 2018)

Los 25 años del EZLN: la vigencia de sus demandas (Proceso, 31 de diciembre de 2018)

EZLN prepara “red de resistencia” contra proyectos de López Obrador (Vanguardia, 30 de diciembre de 2018)

PALABRAS DEL CCRI-CG DEL EZLN A LOS PUEBLOS ZAPATISTAS EN EL 25 ANIVERSARIO DEL INICIO DE LA GUERRA CONTRA EL OLVIDO (EZLN, 31 de diciembre de 2018)

EZLN: veinticinco años (LA Jornada, 24 de diciembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas/National/International: EZLN Invitation to 25th Anniversary of Zapatista Uprising and Meeting of Networks (December 11th, 2018)

Chiapas : segunda y tercera parte del comunicado del EZLN compartido durante el Encuentro de Redes en Morelia, (23/08/2018)

Chiapas: Comunicado EZLN (primera parte) UNA FINCA, UN MUNDO, UNA GUERRA, POCAS PROBABILIDADES, (22/08/2018)

Chiapas: Meeting of CIG Support Networks, COMPARTE 2018 “For Life and Liberty” and 15th Anniversary of the Zapatista Caracoles (August 22nd, 2018)

 

Oaxaca/Guerrero/National: Political Prisoners, Teachers and Activists Freed. Others Awaiting Rulings on their Cases

On December 28th, 12 political prisoners were released, mainly teachers attached to the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE in its Spanish acronym) and activists. The spokesperson for Section 22 of Oaxaca, Wilber Santiago, declared that this act signifies a triumph for the CNTE, since the teachers were fighting for more than five years for their freedom.

The people who were released are: Leonel Manzano, Sara Altamirano, Mario Olivera Osorio, Lauro Atilano Grijalbo Villalobos, Luis Gutierrez Saldivar, David Vargas Araujo, Alejandra Chavez Chavez, Alejandro Sandoval Martinez, Faustino Diego, Alberto Sandoval Rodriguez, Jose Ambrosio Martinez and Enrique Warrior Aviña.

“We thank the members of the new Government who knew how to keep the promise given to the democratic teachers’ movement”, the ex-prisoners said. The secretary general of Section 22 of the CNTE, Eloy Lopez, said for his part that, “today is not a celebration, it is a struggle and protest to demand the release of all political prisoners in the country who are still behind bars as hostages of an authoritarian policy that was implemented by Enrique Peña Nieto.”

His release was celebrated by the senator from Morena, Nestora Salgado, who on December 14th gave the Secretariat of the Interior (SEGOB in its Spanish acronym) a list of 199 cases of detainees that she considers “political prisoners” (180 men and 19 women), and who seek to benefit from an eventual amnesty law.

On December 28th, members of the Movement for the Freedom of Political Prisoners from the state of Guerrero demanded the release of 19 members of the Council of Ejidos and Communities Opposed to the La Parota Dam (CECOP in its Spanish acronym) and the Community Police of the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC in its Spanish acronym), who claim they are imprisoned unjustly, without evidence and imputed fabricated crimes. Kenya Hernandez, a member of the movement, said that in meetings with officials of the Ministry of the Interior (SRGOB) they were informed that the process will be slow, as the amnesty law is in progress.

It should be explained that some people do not want to be released through an amnesty law but to be cleared of the crimes that have been imputed to them.

For more information in Spanish:

Agradecen presos políticos de CNTE libertad a AMLO (El Imparcial de Oaxaca, 30 de diciembre de 2018)

Maestros que fueran presos políticos son liberados por AMLO; “Agradecemos a los integrantes del nuevo Gobierno que supieron cumplir la palabra dada al movimiento democrático magisterial”: Leonel Manzano (Revolución 3.0, 30 de diciembre de 2018)

Liberan a 12 presos políticos ligados a la CNTE; aquí algunos casos que se revisarán para amnistía (Animal Político, 29 de diciembre de 2018)

Exigen liberación de 19 presos políticos de Guerrero (Regeneración, 28 de diciembre de 2018)

AMLO va por la liberación de indígenas y maestros: se da a conocer la primera lista con 25 presos políticos que serán sujetos de amnistía (Revolución 3,0, 27 de diciembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerrero / National: Nestora Salgado announces campaign for the freedom of political prisoners (September 16th, 2018)

 

Oaxaca/National: Federal Government Presents National Program for Indigenous Peoples

On December 21st, in the City of Oaxaca and accompanied by the governor of the state, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented the National Program of Indigenous Peoples 2018-2024, which “has as its general objective to promote and guarantee the development and integral welfare of the indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples as subjects of public law; for the effective exercise of their rights, the sustainable use of their lands, territories and natural resources, as well as the strengthening of their autonomies, cultural institutions and identities.” He announced that social programs for these sectors will be a priority for his government, including that of Youth Building the Future, which will benefit all those who are unemployed, with a support of 3,600 pesos per month; and that of the scholarships, which will give preference to students belonging to these groups. He reiterated that 100 new public universities will be created, most of them in indigenous regions, while assistance for older adults from indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities will be from 65 years of age. He emphasized that these supports will be made directly by card. In addition, he said that a constitutional and diverse legal reform will be continued “to put our national legal framework in line with the progress these rights have made at the international level.”

For his part, the general director of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI in its Spanish acronym), Adelfo Regino Montes, emphasized that the program presented has the fundamental purpose of laying the foundations to build a new relationship between the Mexican State and the indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples. He stressed that the institution under his charge will give direct attention to this population with the creation and strengthening of 133 coordinating centers of indigenous peoples.

For more information in Spanish:

Presentación del Programa Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas (Video: Aristegui Noticias, 21 de diciembre de 2018)

Programa Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas 2018-2024. México (documento completo, Gobierno de México, 21 de diciembre de 2018)

Programas sociales para población indígena, prioridad en mi gobierno: AMLO (El Universal, 21 de diciembre de 2018)

Sobre el Programa Nacional de Pueblos Indígenas (El Sur, 28 de diciembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

National: Consultations on National Institute for Indigenous Peoples to Begin
(November 7th, 2018)

Nacional : AMLO anuncia estructura y responsable de asuntos indígenas en su gobierno (18 de agosto de 2018)

Guerrero/National: Caravan 43 “Hope is Reborn”

(@El Sur)

From December 19th to 26th, fathers and mothers of the 43 students of the Normal Rural School of Ayotzinapa in Iguala, Guerrero, missing since September 2014, caravan 43, Hope is Reborn, within the framework of the 51st Global Action, which began in Tixtla, Guerrero, passed through Morelos, and ended at the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico City.

They denounced that 51 months have elapsed since the forced disappearance of their relatives without any result being achieved. They asked for justice in their case, in the case of political prisoners, the thousands of disappeared in Mexico, and the constant violations of human rights in the country. Several civil and social organizations also joined these protests.

Caravan 43 “Hope is Reborn” was named in this way because of the possibility that the new government led by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) will return the disappeared. “The idea is to continue touring and informing that the former administration of former President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, tried to bury the Ayotzinapa case and impose the historical truth”, said the spokesman of the parents of the 43 missing teachers, Meliton Ortega. He warned that despite the fact that the “new government has signed a decree, we want to say that it is not enough and it is necessary to go beyond the signing of a simple document; we need them to advance each of the lines [of investigation] until we know the truth and the whereabouts of the 43.”

For more information in Spanish:

Finalizan protestas de la 51 Acción Global por los 43 en la Basílica de Guadalupe (La Jornada, 27 de diciembre de 2018)

Padres de los 43 van a la Basílica; el obispo Rangel los recibe y en una misa pide saber la verdad y justicia (El Sur, 27 de diciembre de 2018)

Llega a Iguala la caravana 43 La Esperanza Renace, en el segundo día de actividades (La Jornada Guerrero, 21 de diciembre de 2018)

Llega a Taxco la Caravana 43 La Esperanza Renace, de normalistas (La Jornada Guerrero, 21 de diciembre de 2018)

Llega a Iguala la caravana de lucha por los 43 desaparecidos; demanda castigo a Peña Nieto (El Sur, 21 de diciembre de 2018)

Padres de los 43 inician caravana La Esperanza Renace en Tixtla (Quadratin Guerrero, 19 de diciembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Guerrero/National: Decree Establishes Truth Commission for Ayotzinapa Case
(December 19th, 2018)

Guerrero/National/International: CNDH and IACHR Ayotzinapa Reports (December 14th, 2018)

Guerrero/National: Ayotzinapa, Four Years On… (October 1st, 2018)

Guerrero/National: Incoming Government Confirms Creation of Truth Commission for Ayotzinapa Case (Aug. 13th, 12018)

Guerrero/National: Obstruction in Formation of Truth Commission in Ayotzinapa Case Denounced (Aug. 8th, 2018)

Guerrero: Classmates of Ayotzinapa 43 Graduate (Aug. 2nd, 2018)

Guerrero/National: Federal Court Orders Creation Truth Commission to Reopen Investigation of Ayotzinapa Case (July 12th, 2018)