@ SDP Noticias
On October 19th, the group Solidarios de la Voz del Amate announced the release of Mariano Perez Velasco, an indigenous Tsotsil unjustly imprisoned for almost 18 years. They reported that he was acquitted and released through an injunction resolution in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas.
They also said that “his freedom is the result of the struggle of the families of the prisoners, of the solidarity organizations, of the communities in resistance, of the collectives that (…) weave freedom every day with that infinite tenderness, which only the peoples can give.”
Mariano, 43, said he was very happy for his release, although he acknowledged that during his confinement he experienced very hard times, especially the death of his 12-year-old daughter who “died of sadness.”
He recalled how he was detained and tortured for alleged crimes of kidnapping and organized crime that he did not commit. Proof of this is that from that moment to date there has not been an accusing party. He was detained without an arrest warrant, his presumption of innocence was violated and he was a victim of torture. In addition, he denounced and highlighted “the serious violations of his human rights and irregularities in the criminal process for 14 years”, wrote Educa Oaxaca.
Mariano’s testimony inspired other detainees to organize and demand justice. For this reason, he asked for justice to be done for another eight of his companions belonging to Solidarios de la Voz del Amate who continue to be imprisoned “unjustly” in the San Cristobal prison.
The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) celebrated this resolution and urged that “other cases be reviewed in light of the highest national and international standards on the matter”, “if not, the Mexican State becomes an accomplice to continue feeding the cycle of impunity that to date has not been eradicated, violating the groups in the most vulnerable situation in our country”, said the body.
For more information in Spanish:
¡Libre! Mariano Pérez Velasco (Solidarios de la Voz del Amate, 19 de octubre de 2021)
Tras 17 años encarcelado “injustamente”, liberan a tsotsil Mariano Pérez (La Jornada, 19 de octubre de 2021)
Liberan en Chiapas al tsotsil Mariano Pérez Velasco, de Solidarios de la Voz de El Amate (La Jornada, 20 de octubre de 2021)
Liberan a Mariano, tras 18 años de reclusión (Chiapas Paralelo, 20 de octubre de 2021)
CNDH aplaude liberación del defensor indígena Mariano Pérez Velasco (Capital México, 21 de octubre de 2021)
For more information from SIPAZ:
sipazen.wordpress.com 