Chiapas: several members of the VII teachers’ section arrested and subsequently subjected to house arrest

On 16 July in the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez were arrested the teachers Pedro Gómez Bamaca and Carlos Misael Palma López, from the Democratic Teachers’ Block from Chiapas associated with the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) that pertains to the VII Section of the National Union of Educational Workers, as well as the doctor Víctor Hugo Zavaleta, from Section 50 of the Union of Workers of the Health Secretariat, in addition to the director of the Emiliano Zapata Proletarian Organization (OPEZ), Caralampio Gómez Hernández, and six other members of this organization.  In accordance with an Urgent Action released by the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Center for Human Rights, the arrests were made arbitrarily and result from the mobilization of the arrested in the capital of the state of Chiapas in addition to the solidarity these protests received from other organizations.

Among the demands made by the Democratic Block was the call for the release of professor Alberto Mirón Vázquez, arrested on 7 July 2010, on the charges of criminal association during a sit-in and a protest in May and June of this year.  One of the reasons for the mobilizations has been the controversial manner by which the savings account of the magisterium has been managed.  Furthermore, the Democratic Block has denounced the imposition of Rosendo Galíndez Martínez as the new secretary of the VII Section of the SNTE, according to one of its communiques.

To date, Alberto Mirón Vázquez, Pedro Gómez Bamaca, and Carlos Misael Palma López remain under house arrest, while six members of the OPEZ and Víctor Hugo Zavaleta were released.

With regard to Caralampio Gómez Hernández, the OPEZ publicy denounced his arraignment and subsequent transference to CERSS. no. 14 “El Amate,” in Cintalapa de Figueroa; due to a riot in this prison, the security of the director of OPEZ is feared for.

For more information (in Spanish):

• Public denunciation of the OPEZ for the security of Caralampio Gómez Hernández (23/07/2010)
• Cuarto Poder: Release of detained teachers is demanded (21/07/2010)
• La Jornada: In ten days, five social leaders detained in Chiapas (18/07/2010)
• Urgent Action from the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Center for Human Rights (pdf) (17/07/2010)
• La Jornada: Director of the CNTE is arrested in Chiapas (08/07/2010)
• Blog Observatorio Ciudadano: CNTE teachers demand release of professor Alberto Mirón Vásquez