Chiapas: Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center denounces extrajudicial execution of a person from Chiapas in Tabasco

Carlos HUmberto Mendoza de los Santos (@CDHFBC)

In a press conference held in Villahermosa, Tabasco, the Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Human Rights Center (CDHFBC) reported that it documented the “extrajudicial execution” of Carlos Humberto Mendoza de los Santos, originally from Palenque, by soldiers, in an event that occurred on May 16 in Macuspana, Tabasco.

The CDHFBC said that “soldiers commanded by commander Armando Garcia Triana, arbitrarily shot the unarmed civilian Carlos Humberto, who was later criminalized and stigmatized, saying he was a “hit man””.

It indicated as “direct responsible for the extrajudicial execution 22 members of the 18th Motorized Cavalry Regiment, belonging to the detachment of the Mexican Army, located in the Ejido Medellín, municipality of Catazajá, Chiapas, of 38 Military Zone 1, with headquarters in Tenosique, Tabasco”.

It explained that Carlos Humberto was 32 years old, the father of two girls; and, together with his family, he belonged to the organization Autonomous Peoples in Defense of Uses and Customs (PADUC), made up of Ch’ol, Tzeltal and mestizo communities dedicated to the defense of their territory.

Lidia Jiménez Antonio, wife of Mendoza de los Santos, demanded that the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) punish the responsible soldiers, and that the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena), “repair the damage caused to her family” , because the army “said they had murdered a hit man”. She highlighted: “My husband was not a hit man; He was a carpenter. “

The CDHFBC for its part reported that there have been “acts of harassment, intimidation and surveillance against the family of Carlos Humberto, who fear for their life, integrity and personal safety.” In addition, it expressed its “concern because, four months after the extrajudicial execution of Carlos Humberto, the PGR does not have substantive advances to point out so as to punish those responsible.” It also exhorted “to ensure due diligence in the investigation with sufficient and necessary actions to prevent this extrajudicial execution whose responsibility is of the Mexican Army, to remain unpunished.”

For more information (in Spanish):

Ejército mexicano responsable de ejecución extrajudicial en Macuspana, Tabasco (CDHFBC, 17 de septiembre de 2018)

Denuncia Frayba “ejecución” cometida por militares en Chiapas (La Jornada, 18 de septiembre de 2018)

Exigen justicia para civil ejecutado (Cuarto Poder, 19 de septiembre de 2018)

Soldados ejecutan a Carlos, la bala entró por su nariz y le destrozó el cerebro; “mi esposo era carpintero, nunca tuvo un arma en sus manos, salió negativo a plomo pese a ser acusado de disparar primero” (Revolución 3.0, 18 de septiembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Military Spying and Harassment of Indigenous Communities in Palenque, Ocosingo, Chilon and La Libertad Reported April 10, 2018

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Chiapas: Zoque People’s Assembly against extractivism

@Padre Marcelo Pérez Pérez

On September 8, around 400 people from 22 communities held a Zoque People’s Assembly against extractivism in the community of Linda Vista, municipality of Ixtacomitán. The priests of Amatan, Simojovel, Rayón, Tapilula and Sta. Catarina (Solosuchiapa) invited by the Movement of the Zoque People of Faith in Defense of Life and Territory (ZODEVITE) were also present.

In the main decisions that were made are the agreements not to participate with Zoque representatives in the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples that Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) plans to create, a document to protest against the recent elected Deputy Humberto Pedrero, considering that he does not represent the Zoque people and to conduct a march against hydrocarbons on September 16 in Guayabal and on September 22, in Rayón.

For more information (in Spanish) :

Chiapas : Asamblea del pueblo zoque contra el extractivismo (Rebelión, 13 de septiembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Zoque People Mobilizing against Mega-projects in Chiapas July 3, 2017

Chiapas: Ejidos and Communities in the Zoque Area March against Mining Projects May 4, 2017

Chiapas: investigation of resignations of women candidates elected as mayors or deputies whose positions would be occupied by men

@binoticias

In the first days of September, at least 30 women who had been elected as mayors or deputies in the elections of last July 1 submitted their resignation to the Institute of Elections and Citizen Participation (IEPC) of Chiapas. It is feared that they were forced to do so, so as to open the possibility for their positions to be occupied by men.

Although they argued that they did so voluntarily, the IEPC has expressed its concern, fearing that these are cases of political violence against women, so the Provisional Commission for Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination will analyze the situation and the reasons for the mass resignations.

So far, those who have resigned are women from the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM) of the Tuxtla Chico and Mapastepec municipalities; of Nueva Alianza in Frontera Comalapa; and from the local party Podemos Mover a Chiapas in Suchiapa. In the municipality of Frontera Hidalgo, the elected municipal president, Leticia Galindo Gamboa, from the PVEM, resigned as well. Ten women from the Green Party who should be made deputies in the local Congress through proportional representationalso resigned.

The IEPC explained that the electoral law has not been violated since, at the time, all the political parties “complied with the parity when registering their forms both for the local mayorships and the local deputies.” However, he clarified that “registering a woman and then compeling her to resign and replace her with a man ─ what are known as simulated candidacies ─, besides being political violence, could be a possible fraud to the law, and if it so, in no way will it be permited“.

For his part, the presiding counselor of the National Electoral Institute (INE), Lorenzo Cordova, condemned the acts of political violence and stated that they would represent a regression in gender parity. He announced that on September 10, a commission of councilors of the INE will go to Chiapas to verify the situation and establish actions in the defense of women’s political rights.

The governor of Chiapas, Manuel Velasco, instructed the Justice Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the situation: “I strongly condemn that the women elected in the July 1 elections could be renouncing their positions due to pressure or to be victims of political violence in order to resign”, he said.

For more information (in Spanish):

Chiapas investiga si renuncia de candidatas fue por presión (Político.mx, 8 de septiembre de 2018)

¿Violencia política contra mujeres en Chiapas? Fiscalía investiga renuncia de 30 regidoras y diputadas (Animal Política, 8 de septiembre de 2018)

Ganaron pero las sustituiría un hombre: 30 regidoras y diputadas renuncian a sus cargos en Chiapas (Animal Político, 7 de septiembre de 2018)

40 mujeres electas renuncian, varones serán diputados o regidores (Regeneración, 7 de septiembre de 2018)

Condena INE que obliguen a candidatas a renunciar para que varones ocupen sus cargos (Aristegui Noticias, 7 de septiembre de 2018)

En Chiapas, al menos 40 “Juanitas” ceden sus cargos de elección popular (Proceso, 6 de septiembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

National: Historic Elections in Mexico – Historic Record of Political Violence July 17, 2018

National: 94 Candidates Murdered; Over 1,000 Leave Election Campaign June 25, 2018

Oaxaca: 17 Men Pose as Transgender to Register as Candidates May 14, 2018

Chiapas: Civil Observation Mission to the Coast one year after the earthquake of September 7, 2017

Civil Observation MIssion to the Coast (@SIPAZ)

From September 4 to 6, a Civil Observation Mission made a visit to communities of the municipalities of Arriaga, Tonalá and Pijijiapán one year after the earthquake of September 7, 2017. It was organized by the Network All rights for all, the Human Rights Center “Digna Ochoa”, the Human Rights Center “Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas”, the Human Rights Center “Fray Matías de Cordova” as well as Mesoamerican Voices, Action with Migrant Peoples in addition to the Service and Consultancy for Peace (Serapaz); and accompanied by SIPAZ and the Swedish Movement for Reconciliation (SweFOR). It should be remembered that this earthquake left damages in 97 municipalities of Chiapas and that, according to official data, more than 46 thousand families suffered damages to their homes, mainly in rural areas. There were also affectations in more than 800 schools, 184 hospitals, clinics, health centers and public buildings; as well as in 462 churches and historical monuments.

In the main conclusions after this visit, the Mission affirmed that the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatu) left more than 8 thousand victims of the Coast of Chiapas outside the censuses of damages, and without the possibility of receiving any resource for reconstruction. Another 2 thousand 769 families that were registered didn’t receive the resources for the reconstruction that were given via BANSEFI cards. Those who obtained cards only received 70 percent of those resources for reconstruction since the government of Chiapas has not deposited the remaining 30 percent, which it was supposed to contribute. More than 90 percent of the families affected continue to live in adverse conditions, under tents and tarps, renting or living in semi-destroyed houses. Others had to request loans from banks to carry out the reconstruction.

Among the activities realized by the Mission, a meeting was held with the elected governor of Chiapas, Rutilio Escandón Cadenas, in which he was told about the serious damage suffered by the affected people, a situation that was aggravated by the ineffective action of the different levels of government : neither attended to all the people affected, nor made an adequate use of the resources. For this reason, the organizations of the Mission called on him to make changes in public policies as soon as he takes office. Escandón Cadenas reported that one of his first actions on the subject will be to elaborate what he called a “true census”.

The main recommendations of the Mission include: to guarantee the right to a decent life and housing in favor of the thousands of victims in Chiapas due to the earthquake of September 7, 2017; to investigate and sanction all kinds of acts of corruption in the use of public funds for the reconstruction process; to urgently conclude the reconstruction of schools and health centers, as well as water and sanitation services; to create a program that allows the more than 8 thousand families of the coast of Chiapas that have not been considered within the reconstruction programs, to be granted support without any conditioning; and to guarantee the right to defend the human rights of the defenders and defenders in Chiapas.

For more information (in Spanish) :

Misión Civil de Observación inicia visita a un año de los sismos reuniéndose con Gobernador electo Rutilio Escandón (Mco, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

“Afectaciones de los damnificados se agravaron por la ineficacia del Gobierno” Misión Civil de Observación (Chiapas Paralelo, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

La simulación de la reconstrucción en Chiapas (Chiapas Paralelo, 6 de septiembre de 2018)

“Prometer no empobrece, dar es lo que aniquila”. A un año del sismo la costa de Chiapas sigue en emergencia (Regeneración, 7 de septiembre de 2018)

En Chiapas, a un año del terremoto, reconstrucción a cuenta gotas (Chiapas Paralelo, 7 de septiembre de 2018)

A un año del sismo del 7 de Septiembre en Chiapas, persisten violaciones a los Derechos Humanos de las familias damnificadas (CDH Digna Ochoa, 7 de septiembre de 2018)

10 mil damnificados sin ayuda en costa de Chiapas a un año de sismo (Regeneración, 7 de septiembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ :

Oaxaca / National: 8th National Meeting of victims of the earthquakes of September 2017 in Juchitán September 16, 2018

Chiapas: Coastal Civil Observation Mission Ends Two Months after the 8.2 Earthquake November 23, 2017

National: Mexico Shaken by Two Huge Earthquakes Faces the Shock with a Wave of Solidarity September 30, 2017

Oaxaca: NGOs denounce “inadequate and insufficient response from the three levels of government” to earthquake disaster September 21, 2017

Chiapas: Forum in Amparo Agua Tinta rejects the Santo Domingo dam project in the Border Zone

First Forum Against Hydroelectric Dams, Amparo Aguatinta (@SIPAZ)

On September 4, the nearly 800 participants of the First Forum Against Hydroelectric Dams in the Border Zone rejected the completion of the Hydroelectric Project for the Generation of Renewable Energy Santo Domingo that is intended to be built in the communities of Loma Bonita and Las Nubes of the municipality of Maravilla Tenejapa. They considered that if built, “the territories of the original peoples are to be invaded, the ceremonial centers to disappear and the historical memory of our peoples to be buried, causing massive displacements and the rupture of traditional structures and organizational forms”. They also denounced that this project is based “on the interests of a few on the lives of our peoples” and that it “covers a large part of the protected natural reserves of the region.”

For this reason they demanded the definitive cancellation of the Project and “respect for our mother earth and the territory and our peoples” based on the fullfillment of Constitutional Article 2, the San Andrés Accords on Indigenous Rights and Culture, the Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (OIT) and of “all the International Agreements and Treaties signed and ratified by the Mexican Government that protect our territories, native peoples and our cultures”.

They also asked for access to “clear and timely informations from institutions such as the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) regarding the Santo Domingo project. Finally, they demanded to have “a binding consultation that should be clean, transparent, informed and ratified by our peoples and communities ».

For more information (in Spanish) :

En foro rechazan proyecto hidroeléctrico y tren maya (NVI Noticias, 6 de septiembre de 2018)

La “mini represa” Santo Domingo, un proyecto inviable (Otros Mundos, 6 de septiembre de 2018)

Asamblea en Amparo Agua Tinta rechaza proyectos hidroeléctricos (Declaración final, 5 de septiembre de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ :

Chiapas: Hydroelectric Dam Canceled in the Lacandon Jungle September 16, 2018

National/International: Actions for International Day against Dams and in Defense of Rivers and Water March 28, 2018

Chiapas: Meeting of those affected by dams and mining February 4, 2016

Chiapas/Mexico: Invitation to the Second National Assembly of the National Indigenous Congress (CNI) and the Indigenous Governing Council (CIG)

The National Indigenous Congress (CNI) and the Indigenous Governing Council (CIG), convened their second national assembly, to be held from October 11 to 14 in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.

“Our walk continues. And the fundamental difference with the previous stages is that now we are more indigenous peoples walking together, and, most importantly, we are more people, groups, collectives and organizations willing to find in ourselves the solutions that, we know, will never come from above” , they said.

The communiqué continues: “Every day that passes, the capitalist war grows more against the mother earth, our peoples and all those below. From above, the capitalists and their overseers who govern badly Mexico and the world, we don’t receive anything but lies, exploitation, dispossession, contempt and repression”.

In a communiqué signed by the Coordination and Follow-up Commission of the CIG / CNI, they explained that during the meeting they will make a balance and assessment of the last stage of their struggle, of the current situation in Mexico and the world, and from there they will decide “the steps we must take in our struggle as CNI and CIG, together with the Support Networks to the CIG, the national and international supporters of Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, and all those who decided to support the proposal of the CIG“.

For more information (in Spanish) :

CONVOCATORIA A LA SEGUNDA ASAMBLEA NACIONAL ENTRE EL CONCEJO INDÍGENA DE GOBIERNO Y LOS PUEBLOS QUE INTEGRAN EL CONGRESO NACIONAL INDÍGENA. 11 al 14 de octubre, CIDECI-UniTierra, Enlace Zapatista, 6 de septiembre de 2018

Cada día crece el capitalismo que afecta a la madre tierra: CIG, La Jornada, 7 de septiembre de 2018

For more information from SIPAZ :

National: First National Encounter of Women Convened by CNI August 10, 2018

National: CNI Will not Support any Presidential Candidate and Calls on Peoples to Organize May 10, 2018

National: CNI Calls for “the Next Step in the Struggle” March 28, 2018

National: “The Offensive of Those Above against the Movement from Below”, CNI Communiqué Reports Intensification of Repression June 21, 2017

Chiapas: Manuel Velasco Coello, from governor to senator to substitute governor.

Manuel Velasco Coello (@Wikipedia)

Just on August 29, Manuel Velasco had requested a license as governor of Chiapas to be able to take oath as a senator of the Republic, since he was selected as such by the principle of proportional representation for the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), even entering as coordinator of said party in the legislative body, and despite having been integrated at the last moment into the list.

Days before, the Congress of Chiapas modified constitutional articles 45, 52, 55 and 56 opening the possibility for him to return to the government of Chiapas for a few months, until December 8 when the governor-elect in the elections of the past first July, Rutilio Escandón Cadenas, will assume this position. The Constitution of Chiapas before its modification made it clear that the governor could quit only for serious reasons and it prevented that an interim governor, who has been governor in the same period, could return to his position.

On September 4, the Senate endorsed Velasco’s license to leave his position as legislator for an indefinite period. In a first attempt, this possibility had been rejected by the plenary, although after that the Political Coordination Board approved to modify the agenda, to allow a second vote in which 82 votes in favor were registered, 31 against and 4 abstentions. In a discussion that lasted four hours, several senators defended license applications as an inalienable right of any legislator. Gustavo Madero, of the National Action Party (PAN), criticized that the issue of the license was discussed twice in the same session: “Let’s not start the fourth transformation by denting the prestige of the Senate. Although it’s two documents, it’s the same issue. What we are seeing is a license application twice. We are going to be here for six years and we are going to remember that in our first session we voted on the same issue in two directions “. For her part, Senator Blanca Estela Piña Gudiño, from Morena said: “The modifications approved in Chiapas represent a new excess against the citizenship, since these reforms are made as a suit tailored to benefit Manuel Velasco Coello, this is also a sign that the will of the people of Mexico has not been fully understood ».

In previous days, the Coparmex of Chiapas had criticized the possibility that Velasco might return to the State Government and assured that the way of proceeding of the Congress represented an affront to the democratic and institutional life of the state. On the other hand, about a thousand people among activists, human rights defenders, normal students, displaced indigenous people, businessmen and trade unionists protested in front of the local Congress against the constitutional reforms that allowed the governor Manuel Velasco Coello to leave office, go to the Senate and go back to finish his six-year term. The protesters asked for a political trial against Velasco and that he account for the resources handled during his six-year term.

The fact is that the license was granted and Velasco’s place in the Senate will be occupied by Enrique Murat Hinojosa (son of the ex-governor of Oaxaca, José Murat), who was appointed as his substitute.

Several analysts have indicated that the vote in favor of this license was given in exchange for the Green Party to transferred to 5 deputies to Morena, led by the elected president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, allowing this later to consolidate an absolute majority in the Chamber. of Deputies (with 252 legislators). However, Ricardo Monreal, leader of Morena in the Senate, assured that there were no agreements with the Green Party.

Velasco affirmed that “I made the decision to return to Chiapas to face and fulfill my assignment until the last minute of December 8. I made the decision to assume my responsibility as Governor to close well the state administration and to promote a successful and beneficial government transition for my state”.

For more information (in Spanish):

Y a todo esto, ¡por qué le urge a Velasco regresar? En Chiapas dicen que es por los recursos (Sin Embargo, 5 de septiembre de 2018)

Monreal niega intercambio de favores con el Verde y Velasco; Batres pide atender la crítica (Sin Embargo, 5 de septiembre de 2018)

En 5 horas se perdió la esperanza de la “cuarta transformación”en Chiapas (Chiapas Paralelo, 5 de septiembre de 2018)

Morena consumó una dolorosa traición a Chiapas (El Tiempo de Chiapas, 5 de septiembre de 2018)

Tras intenso debate, el Senado aprueba dar licencia a Velasco (La Jornada, 5 de septiembre de 2018)

En Senado, Morena vota por licencia de Velasco; en San Lázaro el PVEM le cede 5 diputados (Animal Político, 4 de septiembre)

Que siempre sí: el Senado aprueba licencia de Manuel Velasco; volverá a Chiapas (Animal Político, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

Manuel Velasco mete en aprietos a Morena: le niega la licencia, se arma un caos y después se la da (Sin Embargo, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

Primero le niegan y luego le dan licencia a Manuel Velasco, para volver como gobernador de Chiapas (Aristegui Noticias, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

El PVEM cede cinco diputados y da a Morena mayoría absoluta en San Lázaro (Proceso, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

Manuel Velasco ya es otra vez Gobernador; lo reciben con protestas en Chiapas (Sin Embargo, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

Protestan ante eventual regreso de Manuel Velasco al gobierno de Chiapas (Chiapas Paralelo, 4 de septiembre de 2018)

Ciudadanos protestan en el Congreso de Chiapas por autorizar la licencia a Velasco (Proceso, 3 de septiembre de 2018)

Manuel Velasco será su propio sustituto como gobernador tras modificar la Constitución de Chiapas (Animal Político, 29 de agosto de 2018)

La farsa de Velasco: pide licencia como gobernador, rinde protesta como senador y se regresa a gobernar (Proceso, 28 de agosto de 2018)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Manuel Velasco Coello Presents Fifth Government Activities Report April 12, 2018

Chiapas: Manuel Velasco presents his first Governmental Report January 1, 2014

Chiapas: accession of Manuel Velasco Coello to governorship December 21, 2012