The Peoples’ Permanent Tribunal condemns Mexican State for crimes against humanity

Testimony from a survivor of the Viejo Velasco massacre during the TPP in El Limonar, Chiapas, July 2014. Photo@Sipaz

From 25 to 27 September in the indigenous community of Santa Fe de la Laguna, Quiroga municipality, Michoacán state, there was held the final audience on “The right to life, against violence and State terrorism” contained within the “Dirty War” Axis of the Peoples’ Permanent Tribunal (TPP), Mexico Chapter.  16 cases were presented, covering the year 1960 to present, “by means of which was shown the systematic violation of human rights as a policy of the Mexican State against social movements, the defense of human rights, and the people in general.”  The international jury was lead by Alberto León Gómez Zuluaga (Colombia) and comprised of Marcelo Ferreira (Argentina), Marusia López Cruz (JASS Mexico), Beatriz Torres Abelaira (CaMeNA-UACM), Soila Luna Pineda (Don Sergio Méndez Arceo Foundation), Jtatic Juan Méndez Gutiérrez (Center for Indigenous Rights, CEDIAC AC-Chiapas), and Carlos Núñez Ruiz (Center for Indigenous Rights, CEDIAC AC-Chiapas).

In its ruling, the TPP condemned the Mexican State “for its direct and indirect participation, for action and omission, in the commission of crimes against humanity, as seen in the following: murder; extermination; deportation or forcible transfer of population; incarceration or other grave deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental international human rights law; torture and other cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment; rape and sexual abuse; persecution of groups and collectives for political and ethnic motives; forcible disappearance of persons and attacks against human-rights and environmental defenders.”

Beyond this, the TPP formulated recommendations to the Mexican United States, international organizations, social communication media, Mexican society, social organizations, and victims.  The tribunal closed its ruling by expressing its solidarity with the people’s struggles.

For more information (in Spanish):

Fallo del TPP Audiencia Guerra sucia (29 de septiembre de 2014)

Guerra Sucia como violencia, impunidad y falta de acceso a la justicia(Subversiones – Agencia Autónoma de Comunicación, 25 de septiembre de 2014)

For more information from SIPAZ (in Englsih):

Chiapas: TPP preaudience judges Mexican State for crimes against humanity (27 July 2014)

Chiapas: Invitation to the TPP preaudience, “With justice and peace we will find truth” (19 July 2014)

Chiapas: 7 years since the Viejo Velasco massacre (7 December 2013)

Chiapas: 5 years after the Viejo Velasco massacre (26 November 2011)