Chiapas/National: EZLN Postpones CompArte Festival to Support Teachers

Mural in Cuxulj community (Photo:@SIPAZ)

“This is the time of the teachers in resistance. It is necessary and it is urgent to be with them” – so says the communiqué of July 4 of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), signed by Insurgent Sub-commander Moises and Insurgent Sub-commander Galeano. In the communiqué they summarize “the lessons of June.” Those above have been clear and cynical: “in Mexico, capital rules and the government obeys.” Those below: “the teachers in rebellion and the people who support them concluded their free, public and lay seminar this month of June and they gave us a more complete lesson: in Mexico, capital rules and the government obeys…but the people rebel.”

In the document they said, “when as Zapatistas we say that we respect a movement, it means just that: that we respect it. It means that we so not interfere in their way of doing things or schedules, in their organizational structure, in their decisions, strategies and tactics, their alliances, their decisions. All of that corresponds to those who make up [the movement] to evaluate and decide. … We Zapatistas only want the teachers to feel that we respect them, that we admire them and that we are attentive and taking note of the lessons they are giving us. … To put it more clearly, the most important thing now, on this calendar and from the limited geography in which we resist and struggle, is the struggle of the democratic teachers.” Due to this, they decided to postpone their “participation in the CompArte festival, both in Oventik ‘caracol’ and in CIDECI in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, which was to be held from July 17 to 30 […] and to donate the money and food we have saved for our transport to and from Oventik and CIDECI, for our upkeep during the festival, to the teachers in resistance.”

To continue with the idea of CompArte they asked “the ‘compañeroas’ of the Sixth, in so far as their possibilities allow them, to create in their calendars and geographies spaces and conditions for the Arts and their irreverent challenge to imagine other worlds, so that they can celebrate humanity, its pains, its joys, its struggles. Because this, and nothing else, is the objective of CompArte.”

For more information in Spanish:

Comunicado “Las lecciones en Junio” (Enlace Zapatista, 4 de julio de 2016)

EZLN dona dinero y alimentos a maestros de la CNTE (Chiapas Paralelo, 4 de julio de 2016)

 For more information from SIPAZ:

Nacional/Internacional: Aumenta apoyo al magisterio al nivel nacional e internacionalpost magisterio (23 de junio de 2016)

Nacional: Actualización de las protestas magisteriales y comunicado de apoyo del EZLN (1 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas/Oaxaca/Guerrero: Teachers Continue Mobilizations Due to Lack of Agreements over Educational Reform

People crossing blockade on foot in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. Photo: @Oscar León.

In negotiations that lasted about seven hours, the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) and the Government Secretariat (SG) resolved that ‘attaining justice for the people of Nochixtlan, Guerrero, is the priority of the dialogue”, according to La Jornada. The news outlet noted that the government will seek to carry out exhaustive investigations into the events in Nochixtlan on June 19, where nine civilians lost their lives in a confrontation between dissident teachers and state and federal police. The government committed itself to damage reparations for the families of the dead.

At the same time, both parties in the dialogue continue to formulate an agenda for discussion in which the CNTE proposed the repeal of educational reform as a central point. In a statement, Adelfo Alejandro Gomez, of Section 7 of Chiapas, declared that they want to find a “deep” solution, one that “is not passing nor momentary.” He warned that the mobilizations and blockades will not be stopped but they will continue with their plan of action so that the educational reform is reversed. For his part, the Secretary for the Interior, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, reiterated that repeal of the reform is not the competency of his Secretariat: “it is not a theme that we can see to, it is a constitutional mandate, it is a reform made by the legislators, by the Constituent Assembly.” He also emphasized “co-responsibility”, referring to the necessity of both parties to reach an agreement, requesting the teachers to guarantee conditions of calm, stability, passage for supplies and ending the academic year. Meanwhile, blockades continue on ten highways in Oaxaca and 14 in Chiapas, blocked by teachers, families and civil society that sympathizes with the CNTE to reject the police repression in Nochixtlan as well as the repeal of the educational reform. It should be highlighted that the first round of negotiations took place after a month of teachers’ protests against the government refusal to establish communication with the teachers, and that this only happened after the death of nine people in the blockade in Oaxaca. No date has been announced to resume the negotiations for the moment.

On another note, Roberto Paciencia Cruz, unjustly imprisoned in in the State Center for Social Reinsertion for Prisoners (CERSS) No. 5 in San Crsitobal de Las Casas, observed two days of fasting and prayer in solidarity with the CNTE. In a public letter, the adherent to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), wrote that “such a painful event as occurred in Oaxaca that our brothers lost their lives (sic)” motivated him to sympathize with the teachers “who have been fighting against the educational reform for more than a month.” He also demanded that the President of the Republic, Enrique Peña Nieto, “exhort the Governor of Veracruz, Javier Duarte de Ochoa, for the freedom of compañero Alejandro Diaz Santiz”, an organized prisoner who has been imprisoned for 17 years and would have the right to partial remission of his sentence to be paroled.

For more information in Spanish:

Las protestas seguirán, dice la CNTE luego de 7 horas de diálogo en Segob; la reforma se mantiene: Osorio Chong (Sin Embargo, 28 de junio de 2016)

Impasse en diálogo entre CNTE y Segob; agendan encuentro por Nochixtlán (Aristegui Noticias, 28 de junio de 2016)

Atención a Nochixtlán, primer acuerdo Segob-CNTE (La Jornada, 28 de junio de 2016)

Inicia bloqueo carretero permanente en ocho puntos estratégicos de Chiapas (Chiapas Paralelo, 27 de junio de 2016)

La CNTE reanuda bloqueos en carreteras de Oaxaca; en Chiapas protesta en frontera con Guatemala (Sin Embargo, 27 de junio de 2016)

Desde el CERESO No 5 Roberto Paciencia inicia ayuno en solidaridad a la lucha magisterial (Grupo de Trabajo No Estamos Todxs, 24 de junio de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Nacional/Internacional: Aumenta apoyo al magisterio al nivel nacional e internacional (23 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas: Roberto Paciencia escribe a Alejandro Díaz (24 de junio de 2016)

BOLETÍN URGENTE: REPRESIÓN MAGISTERIAL EN OAXACA (22 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas: Roberto Paciencia Writes to Alejandro Diaz

Copy of the letter from Roberto Paciencia to Alejandro Diaz Santiz. Photo: @Koman Ilel.

Unjustly imprisoned Roberto Paciencia Cruz, deprived of his freedom three years ago, wrote a letter to Alejandro Diaz Santiz, who has been imprisoned for 17 years. They met in the State Center for Social Reinsertion for Prisoners (CERSS) No. 5 in San Crsitobal de Las Casas, the prison where they began awareness and denouncement processes against the human rights violations against the prison population. Paciencia Cruz sent greetings to Diaz Santiz, who was sent to the State Prison No. 5 of the Federal Center for Social Re-adaptation (Cefereso) in Villa Comaltitlan, Tapachula, Chiapas. Paciencia wrote, “Compa, we hope that you don’t feel alone remember that your ‘ compañeros’ are on your case, we know that you have suffered a lot these 17 years that injustice has deprived you of your freedom, the authorities have never been able to solve your case (sic).”

 It should be remembered that Roberto Paciencia Cruz was imprisoned in August 2013 and has been in captivity since although he has not been sentenced. Arrested without warrant and tortured in the following hours he recently became an adherent to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). For his part, Alejandro Santiz Diaz was deprived of his freedom in 1999, “at the moment of his arrest he did not have a translator and he was accused of a crime he did not commit”, according to his attorney Lionel Rivero, as well as not having the economic resources for an adequate defense. Alejandro joined the Sixth and organized the prisoners’ collective “Sympathizers of the Voice of Amate” (Solidarios de la Voz del Amate). Nine months later, he was transferred to a maximum security prison even though his crime was not in federal jurisdiction, which was interpreted by the “No Estamos Todxs Workgroup” (GTNET) as “political revenge of the bad government against Alejandro, punished for supporting and raising awareness of the other prisoners and for refusing to be silent about the abuses against detained persons.” According to declarations of Alejandro’s relatives, he is isolated and has limited visits.

The letter from Paciencia for Diaz Santiz ended with an encouraging sentence: “keep your spirits up, compa, we will stay standing until we get our freedom and freedom for all out brother and sister prisoners in the country.”

For more information in Spanish:

Roberto Paciencia le escribe a Alejandro Diaz Santiz, presos políticos de Chiapas (CGT Chiapas, 19 de junio de 2016)

Carta de Roberto Paciencia para romper el aislamiento de Alejandro Diaz Santiz (Espoir Chiapas, 15 de junio de 2016)

#PresosPolíticos Roberto Paciencia le escribe a Alejandro Diaz Santiz (Koman Ilel, 13 de junio de 2016)

La CNDH ha recibido este año 800 quejas contra el sistema penitenciario (La Jornada, 30 de mayo de 2016)

No pueden cerrar la voz: libertad para Alejandro Díaz Santis (Agencia SubVersiones, 10 de abril de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Denuncia Alejandro Díaz Santiz malos tratos hacia los reclusos (8 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas: Roberto Paciencia se asume como Adherente a La Sexta (25 de mayo de 2016)

Chiapas: Alejandro Díaz Santiz ayuna por 17 años de encarcelamiento (13 de mayo de 2016)

Chiapas: Denuncia Roberto Paciencia desatención en su salud visual (24 de febrero de 2016)

Chiapas: Denuncia Roberto Paciencia escasez de alimentos y negación de visitas (27 de enero de 2016)

 

National/International: Growing Support for Teachers At Home and Abroad

Students and teachers support the CNTE in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Photo: @Rafael del Río

In support of the struggle that thousands of members of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) carry on and following the most recent repressive actions against them by federal forces on June 19 last in the Oaxaca State, many civil society organizations expressed their solidarity with the teachers, demanding a peaceful solution to the conflict from the state and federal governments.

In Chiapas, Believing People parishes called a pilgrimage on June 20 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. They showed their support for the teachers and repudiated the violent acts that occurred in Nochixtlán, Oaxaca, which left a toll of at least 11 people dead in altercations with the police. In a statement they explained that, “with such events we cannot remain on the sidelines, as a church we will always be on the side of the oppressed and we will raise our prophetic voice. The reforms are the expression of a new ‘Porfiariato’. We must struggle, we shouldn’t be conformists or slaves.” Father Marcelo from Simojovel parish extended an invitation to a mega-pilgrimage in support of the teachers for July 1 next with around thirteen parishes from the diocese of San Cristobal.

Another show of support and solidarity came from the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). In a communiqué titled “Notes on the War Against the Teachers in Resistance (The Hour of the Police 3)”, they noted that, “There are more and more families helping the teachers, donating support for their trips and marches, becoming anxious when they are attacked, offering food, drink, and refuge.” They also pointed out the lack of educational arguments of the Secretary for Education, Aurelio Nuño Mayer, and the violence employed in repression of the mobilizations. Later, together with the National Indigenous Congress (CNI), they published another communiqué. Titled “FROM THE STORM”, both organizations expressed their repudiation of “the repressive escalation with which they intend to impose throughout the country the neoliberal capitalist reform that they call ‘educational'”. They highlighted that the resistance movement against this reform has become a mirror for more and more people, demanding an end to repression against the teachers in struggle and the immediate and unconditional release of “ALL political prisoners.” Their communiqué closed with an invitation to “all those peoples of the countryside and the cities to be attentive and sympathetic to the teachers’ struggle, to organize ourselves autonomously to be informed and alert facing this storm which falls on all.”

On a national level, Peace Brigades International (PBI) expressed their concern to state and federal authorities and the diplomatic corps over the deterioration of the situation. In a public announcement on June 20, they urged the Mexican authorities to respect the right to protest, to favor dialogue with the teachers and guarantee the integrity of teachers and defenders. On another note, in many states civil society, students, families and health workers are joining the mobilizations. Among others, in Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca State, the artistic community organized a cultural event called “Cultural Barricade”, in which hundreds of artists from Mexico and other parts of the world participated on June 20, raising their voices to repudiate the repression.

On an international level, Amnesty International reminded the authorities that they have an obligation to control public order and take measures to prevent, investigate and sanction those responsible for acts of violence. Due to the events of recent days, the National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) reinforced its presence in Oaxaca as well as in Tabasco, Chiapas, Guerrero and Michoacan, states which have also witnessed similar conflicts. The Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (CIDH) strongly condemned the serious acts of violence reported in Oaxaca State and called on the State to promote a process of dialogue in the framework of educational reform that allows the search for a solution in the context of a democratic society with full respect for human rights. Apart from the organizations mentioned, there were many actions on the part of civil society. Some examples are sit-ins and vigils organized in several cities in France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, among others, in rejection of the repressive events in Mexico.

It is worth mentioning that on July 22 there were negotiations between the CNTE and the Interior Secretary. According to the CNTE, this dialogue, obtained thanks to the broad popular mobilization, did not result in concrete agreements but they were able to table three themes: “repeal of the badly named educational reform; a route for the transformation of education; and measures for the distention and revision of the consequences of the imposition of the administrative labor reform.” A second round of dialogue is expected next week. It is also noteworthy that the 23 people arrested in Nochixtlan have been released.

For more information in Spanish:

Convocan a participar en brigada cultural (El Imparcial, 23 de junio de 2016)

CIDH condena hechos de violencia en Oaxaca, México (CIDH, 22 de junio de 2016)

PBI México, Pronunciamiento público (PBI, 21 de junio de 2016)

Exigen en ciudades del mundo que cese la represión contra los maestros en Oaxaca (Desinformémonos, 21 de junio de 2016)

Pueblo Creyente peregrina de nuevo en respaldo al magisterio (Pye Chiapas, 21 de junio de 2016)

Comunicado Conjunto del Congreso Nacional Indígena y el EZLN (Enlace Zapatista, 20 de junio de 2016)

Apunte sobre la guerra contra el magisterio en resistencia: (La Hora del Policía 3) (Enlace Zapatista, 17 de junio de 2016)

Aún no hay acuerdos concretos con el gobierno: CNTE (La Jornada, 23 de junio de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

BOLETÍN URGENTE: REPRESIÓN MAGISTERIAL EN OAXACA (22 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas/Oaxaca: Actualización de las protestas magisteriales; al menos 6 muertos en Oaxaca (21 de junio de 2016)

Nacional: Actualización de las protestas magisteriales y comunicado de apoyo del EZLN (1 de junio de 2016)

Chiapas: Moving Farewell for Social Activist Bersain Hernandez Zavala

Burial of Bersain Hernandez Zavala, June 3, Tonala, Chiapas. Photo: @Pozol Colectivo

On June 3, hundreds of people bid farewell to Bersain Hernandez Zavala, social activist for the rights of the people of Tonala, Chiapas. Bersain was a member of the Digna Ochoa Human Rights Center and founder of the Regional Autonomous Council of the Coastal Zone, an organization adherent to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), founded in September 2006 to demand fair prices for electricity and the recognition of access to electrical energy as a human right. He was also a teacher at a secondary school in Tonala and an active member of the teachers’ movement against educational reform. In the moving farewell, he was remembered at the school where he worked, paid tribute to at the Tonalteco Civic Front offices, celebrated at a mass, and accompanied to the cemetery by relatives and compañeros in the struggle.

The popular defender died on June 2 in a road accident. Several members of his family were travelling in the same vehicle, as well as Carlos Velazquez Ruiz, all of whom required medical attention. They are therefore requesting financial support and provided bank account details for deposits.

For more information in Spanish:

Petición de apoyo (Facebook de Centro de Derechos Humanos Digna Ochoa AC, 6 de junio de 2016)

Con aplausos y cariño despiden al profesor Bersaín Hernández, en su secundaria de Tonalá Chiapas. (Pozol Colectivo, 3 de junio de 2016)

“Bersaín murió, pero nunca se rindió”, el legado de Bersaín Hernández, maestro y luchador social de Tonalá Chiapas. (Pozol Colectivo, 3 de junio de 2016)

Fallece el luchador social Bersaín Hernández Zavala, en Tonalá Chiapas. (Pozol Colectivo, 2 de junio de 2016)

Carta del Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, 3 de junio de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Agreden a defensor del Comité de Derechos Humanos de Base Digna Ochoa (17 de marzo de 2014)

Chiapas: Denuncia de desalojo y amenazas en Tonalá, CDH Digna Ochoa (31 de octubre de 2012)

Chiapas: Centro de Derechos Humanos Digna Ochoa denuncia hostigamiento de agentes federales a ejidatarios (5 de mayo de 2012)

Chiapas: Alejandro Diaz Santiz Reports Mistreatment of Prisoners

Alejandro Díaz Santiz’s report. Photo: @Chiapas Denuncia.

Unjustly imprisoned Alejandro Diaz Santiz, currently deprived of his liberty in federal prison No. 15 of Villa Comaltitlán, Tapachula, Chiapas, reported threats, abuse of power by the prison guards, as well as verbal and physical humiliation. In a letter, the adherent to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) and member of the “Sympathizers of the Voice of Amate” group, stated that “in the prisons of our country and states prisoners in different prisons or CEFERESOS (Centers for Social reinsertion) suffer ill-treatment by the authorities”, giving the example that “many of my colleagues have been beaten for almost no reason.” In his letter he detailed the physical abuse inflicted on an inmate who is about 60 years old, completely naked, for having disposable cups in his cell. Diaz Santiz’s letter ended asking the President of the Republic to exhort his freedom from the governors of Veracruz, as well as demanding the governor of Chiapas, Manuel Velasco Coello, “to fulfill his promise in which he promised to see my case with the authorities of Veracruz “, which is almost three years without being fulfilled.

It should be remembered that Alexander has spent more than 17 years in confinement for “a murder he did not commit”, and also “at the time of his arrest did not speak Spanish, he was tortured, never had access to a translator and did not have enough money for adequate legal defense”, according to Sympathizers of the Voice of Amate. In September last year he was transferred from a state prison to a maximum security prison, although the crime for which he is serving a sentence does not pertain to the federal jurisdiction, nor is he a high risk prisoner. ‘No Estamos Todos Working Group called this move “political revenge” for “supporting and raising awareness among other prisoners and for not being silent about the abuses of the prison authorities.” The resolution of an injunction that could release Diaz Santiz for partial remission of his sentence is currently impending.

From the beginning of this year until May, the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) received more than 800 complaints about the operation of national prison system and detention centers, according to La Jornada. The same media source said that complaints are over “poor medical care, torture and ill-treatment, poor nutrition, insufficient labor and educational activities, lacking facilities and lack of hygiene.” They shall also noted that Chiapas is among the six states in which 80% of the complaints received are concentrated.

For more information in Spanish:

Malos tratos en el CEFERESO 15 de Villa Comaltitlán (Chiapas Denuncia Pública, 6 de junio de 2016)

“Siempre estamos bajo amenazas, humillaciones físicas y verbales”, preso tsotsil de Chiapas, Alejandro Díaz Santiz. (Pozol Colectivo, 6 de junio de 2016)

Preso indígena denuncia “malos tratos” en penal de Chiapas (La Jornada en línea, 7 de junio de 2016)

La CNDH ha recibido este año 800 quejas contra el sistema penitenciario (La Jornada, 30 de mayo de 2016)

El profundo descuido del sistema penitenciario en México (Animal Político, 15 de febrero de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: Alejandro Díaz Santiz ayuna por 17 años de encarcelamiento (13 de mayo de 2016)

Chiapas: Jornada por la liberación de Alejandro Díaz Santiz y las y los presos políticos (19 de abril de 2016)

Chiapas: Exigen la liberación de Alejandro Díaz Santiz (11 de marzo de 2016)

Chiapas: Trasladan a Alejandro Díaz Sántiz, junto a 386 presos, a penal de alta seguridad (15 de septiembre de 2016)

National/Chiapas/Oaxaca/Guerrero: Teachers’ Protests Update and EZLN Statement of Support

Teachers’ march in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. Photo: @Colectivo del Periódico El Zenzontle.

Since May 15 last, dissident teachers adhering to the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) and several sections of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) began an indefinite national strike to reject educational reform. Since that date, there have been many mobilizations by the opposing teachers in several states of the Mexican Republic.

In Chiapas, after fifteen days of the protests, there have been actions in the 122 municipalities of the state, while the Federal and State Governments have still not established a negotiating table, arguing that there is no going back on educational reform. The most notable actions were taking over 90 city halls to demand channels of dialogue with the government and the departure of the federal state police, according to the CNTE; the attempt to block the road from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Angel Albino Corzo airport, in response to which federal and state police dispersed the protesters with tear gas; the expulsion of the Federal Police from Chiapa de Corzo by its inhabitants or marches in more than 30 municipalities in the state in solidarity with the teachers. Also, there are constant roadblocks, there were takeovers of radio stations and gas stations in Tuxtla by opponents to the reform and several instances of repression with the use of rubber bullets, tear gas and overflights by state and federal forces in the area of the teachers’ picket. On another note, six school directors and supervisors had their heads shaved and were publicly exposed with posters with their names and accusations of “traitors” or “charros” in Comitan de Dominguez. Chiapas Paralelo noted that members of groups such as the Popular Movement of Comitan (MPC), the Regional Democratic Front of Workers and Campesinos (FDROC) and the Emiliano Zapata Proletarian Organization (OPIEZ) were behind the events, motivated by the discovery of lists of teachers who are not joining the protests. One of the shaved teachers reported being pressured by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) to report what is happening in the teachers’ strike: “we are being asked for documentation of colleagues who did not join the strike, who are not picketing.” 1,134 layoffs of teachers and non-teaching staff who participated in the strike have been announced.

In Oaxaca, thousands of parents and teachers participated in a mega-march to reject educational reform. It denounced the smear campaign that the State Public Education Institute of Oaxaca (IEEPO) is promoting against striking teachers. The SEP declared the teachers’ strike is not resonating among teachers, estimating that 97% continue to work, while the striking teachers assure that 90% of federal schools are closed. In that state, the teachers maintain a sit-in in the square of the capital, Oaxaca de Juarez, and also to demand a negotiating table with and the elected leaders, the release of 11 prisoners from the teachers’ movement and the cancellation of outstanding arrest warrants awaiting enforcement. There were also roadblocks, including land access to the state airport, removal of propaganda for the upcoming elections, and takeovers of offices and shopping centers. In that state, 3,360 teachers have been dismissed for not submitting to the teaching evaluation, and their reinstatement is demanded.

There have also been multiple actions in Guerrero. Thousands of people marched repeatedly in different municipalities in solidarity with the teachers, demanding the repeal of educational reform and to guarantee decent working conditions for teachers. In Chilpancingo the city hall was taken over by members of the CNTE and the Guerrero State Coordinator of Education Workers (CETEG), while the Sol Highway was blocked on several occasions. 500 injunctions against the layoffs announced by the SEP were filed, while the Guerrero Ministry of Education (SEG) began applying salary sanctions to the strikers. The prevention of teachers’ protests by government forces near the town Tres Palos where President Enrique Peña Nieto was conducting an event stood out.

There have been many expressions of support and solidarity with the teachers’ struggle. For its part, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) published a statement signed by the Insurgent Sub-Commanders Moses and Galeano. In it they denounced that “the so-called ‘educational reform’ is not educational, it is labor”, which “claims to defend the constitution (educational reform), violating the constitution” and that the media do not show the reality of the situation but report that most of the teachers are working. The EZLN also stated that teachers are not demanding privileges but are fighting basic working conditions, to avoid “the aim of educational reform”, which, they believe, “is to privatize education.” They also denounced the criminalization of the teachers’ struggle, disapproving of teachers being labeled as “slackers” and denying that they “do not want to prepare.” According to reports from a “listener”, “people in the houses shout support for the teachers. And in the street they give them water, fruit. It’s obvious that they love the teachers who struggle.”

For more information in Spanish:

 MAYO: ENTRE EL AUTORITARISMO Y LA RESISTENCIA. (Enlace Zapatista, 30 de mayo de 2016)

Organizaciones sociales agreden a maestros que no participan en el paro laboral (Chiapas Paralelo, 31 de mayo de 2016)

Chiapas, 15 días de rebelión magisterial (Chiapas Paralelo, 29 de mayo de 2016)

Como nunca tras Reforma Educativa, padres y organizaciones se solidarizan con magisterio (videos) (Servicios para una Educación Alternativa, 30 de mayo de 2016)

Organizaciones sociales y familias de Guerrero, contra la reforma educativa (Sistema Integral de Información en Derechos Humanos, 1 de junio de 2016)

Cetegistas protestaron cerca de donde el Presidente hacía una gira de trabajo (La Jornada Guerrero, 31 de mayo de 2016)

Marcha Ceteg en Iguala contra la reforma educativa; rechaza la evaluación docente (La Jornada Guerrero, 25 de mayo de 2016)

Aplicó la SEG descuentos a maestros en paro estatal, denuncia líder de la Ceteg (La Jornada Guerrero, 28 de mayo de 2016)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Nacional: Paro laboral indefinido del magisterio disidente a la reforma laboral (19 de mayo de 2016)

Chiapas/Oaxaca/Guerrero/Nacional: Criminalización de la protesta social (19 de abril de 2016)

Chiapas/Oaxaca/Guerrero: Protestas del magisterio contra la reforma educativa en varios estados (25 de febrero de 2016)

Chiapas: Muere un maestro en los enfrentamientos de oposición a la evaluación magisterial (10 de diciembre de 2015)