Chiapas/Guerrero: Two Police Officers Held for Attacks on Parents of the Ayotzinapa 43 Disapeared; Investigation of Students who Participated in Protest Continue

@Lennyn Flores, El Herlado de Chiapas

At a press conference held on February 22nd in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the head of the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca, reported that two State Police agents were arrested for the violent events that occurred a week before during the eviction of a blockade of students from the Normal Rural Mactumactza School (Chiapas) and relatives of the 43 disappeared student teachers from Ayotzinapa (Guerrero, 2014), and that left a balance of several wounded. Both police officers are accused of attempted murder, inflicting injuries and abuse of authority.

For his part, the Secretary of Health of the state, Jose Manuel Cruz Castellanos, said that of the most seriously injured, a student of the Rural Normal of Ayotzinapa continues with a reserved prognosis, while another is stable (although pending surgery), and another was already discharged.

The FGE also indicated that it continues putting together an investigation file against “the protesters and those who are responsible for the riot crimes, breaches of the peace and bodily and patrimonial integrity of the community and the state and attacks on the communication routes, as well as agrieved injuries of four Chiapas oficers, three men and a woman.”

Present at the press conference, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Gabriela del Socorro Zepeda Soto, said that “all the necessary investigations are carried out so that the police are certain that while they do their job well, justice will be demanded and their rights will be defended because the Secretariat’s commitment is to serve, protect and maintain order, peace and citizen tranquility.”

For more information in Spanish:

Detienen a 2 policías por reprimir a grupo de normalistas en Chiapas (La Jornada, 22 de febrero de 2020)

Detienen a dos policías por agresiones con papás de 43 normalistas de Ayotzinapa (El Universal, 22 de febrero de 2020)

Detienen a policías por agresiones contra papás de los 43 de Ayotzinapa (El Informador, 22 de febrero de 2020)

Informa FGE sobre evolución de caso de conflicto entre normalistas y antimotines (El Heraldo de Chiapas, 22 de febrero de 2020)

Abren dos carpetas de investigación por desalojo de padres de normalistas en Chiapas (El Universal, 19 de febrero de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ :

Chiapas/Guerrero: Parents of Ayotzinapa 43 Attacked with Tear Gas in Tuxtla Gutierrez (February 17, 2020)

Chiapas: Las Abejas Civil Society Denounces Persecution and Murder of Human Rights Defenders and Protectors of Mother Earth and other Violent Situations

@Area de comunicación de Las Abejas

On February 22nd, within the framework of the monthly anniversary of the Acteal massacre (1997), Las Abejas Civil Society issued a statement in which it denounced not only impunity in that case but that “in Mexico of the era of the “Fourth transformation “human rights defenders, protectors of Mother Earth are persecuted and murdered, the truth is still covered up and women and girls are murdered, just as the criminal governments of the PRI and the PAN did.”

It also stated that “if we had a premature conscience, we would swallow the tale of the MORENA president that uncontrollable violence in the country, femicides, kidnapping and murder of girls is the fault of previous governments. It is outrageous that this president does not have the decency to admit that once he assumed power in Mexico, he assumed to serve a rotten system of government that can only persist causing destruction and feeding on blood.”

It outlined several more recent cases, also stating that “every day there is news of murders that make the news of the previous day remain forgotten, taking away from the fact that there is a new woman or girl murdered and raped.” It mentioned the case the repression against the fathers and mothers of the 43 disappeared students of Ayotzinapa, during their visit to the Mactumatza Normal Rural school in Chiapas; the detention of Miguel Lopez Vega, delegate of the National Indigenous Congress, member of the Zacatepec community radio station and member of the Puebla Peoples in Defense of the Land and Water Front, Morelos and Tlaxcala (although he was released through social pressure, Las Abejas believe that it was to intimidate the movement against companies in the Huejotzingo Industrial corridor) and femicides; among others.

For more information in Spanish:

Hoy sólo vamos a poder mencionar algunos casos de violencia, de injusticia y de asesinatos contra hombres y mujeres (Sociedad Civil Las Abejas de Acteal, 22 de febrero de 2020)

Se deslindan Abejas de Acteal de supuesto integrante de su Mesa Directiva (Reporte Ciudadano, 23 de febrero de 2020)

Se deslindan Abejas de Acteal de supuesto integrante de su Mesa Directiva (Noticias Primer Plano, 23 de febrero de 2020)

Se deslindan las Abejas de supuesto integrante (Diario de Chiapas, 24 de febrero de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Chiapas: “This year begins with a lot of violence and it is increasing” – Las Abejas de Acteal Civil Society (January 28, 2020)

Chiapas: Las Abejas de Acteal Hold Commenoration 22 Years after Acteal Masacre (January 13, 2020)

Chiapas: Las Abejas de Acteal Celebrate 27th Anniversary (January 4, 2020)

Chiapas/Guerrero: Parents of Ayotzinapa 43 Attacked with Tear Gas in Tuxtla Gutierrez

Photo @ Padres y Madres de Ayotzinapa

On the morning of February 16th, the “In search of the 43” caravan for the students who were disappeared in Iguala in 2014, and in which the mothers and fathers of the young people who studied at the Rural Normal School Raul Isidro Burgos d Ayotzinapa are participating with others, arrived at the Mactumactza Normal Rural School in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. This is part of the visits they have scheduled in all the normal rural schools of the country.

Different media outlets reported that as a joint protest “they intended to carry out a blockade” in the capital of the state of Chiapas. The organizers of the caravan reported that their arrival had been made public since days ago as part of a national information campaign, and that “they were conducting a “flying campaign” (…) inviting to join the demonstration to be held this Sunday afternoon.”

In response to the mobilization “more than two hundred state policemen with tear gas tanks and bombs were posted at the entrance of the Normal School without any valid explanation. Around 8:30 in the morning the Policemen without any protocol began to launch the tear gas towards the fathers and mothers of the 43 and student teachers, the repression lasted for an hour with a balance of three students, two mothers and their three-year-old granddaughter injured. Two students were hit with a projectile on their heads, one of them from Ayotzinapa”, the Montaña Tlachinollan Human Rights Center reported.

Regarding the events, the Ministry of Citizen Security and Protection (SSyPC) reported that they acted “under the eviction protocol with respect for human rights and restored order.” They accused the students and parents of the missing 43 students from Ayotzinapa of “throwing Molotov cocktails, stones and fireworks at those in uniform.”

The undersecretary of Human Rights, Population and Migration, Alejandro Encinas, asked the state government “for immediate attention for the injured people and an investigation into these unfortunate events, the immediate and specialized medical attention for the young people attacked by the state pólice, Jose Antonio Flores, Javier Lopez Bernal, Alex Alvarez. The investigation and punishment of those responsible for giving the order to repress the caravan of Ayotzinapa is urgent.”

The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) reported that the “State Commission has initiated an ex officio complaint; however, the CNDH will be following closely the investigation of the unfortunate events in which several members of the Caravan were injured. The CNDH, for its part, has requested precautionary and/or protective measures for the students of the Mactumatza Normal Rural School, the relatives of the 43 student taechers from Ayotzinapa and members of the Tlachinollan Human Rights Center.”

Or more information in Spanish:

Policías reprimen a padres y normalistas en Chiapas; hay 4 hospitalizados (Proceso, 16 de febrero de 2020)

Desalojan en Chiapas a padres de los 43 de Ayotzinapa con gases lacrimógenos (El Financiero, 16 de febrero de 2020)

COMUNICADO | Policías Estatales del Estado de Chiapas reprimen la Caravana en Busca de los 43 (Tlachinollan, 16 de febrero de 2020)

CNDH condena actos de violencia en contra de familiares de los 43 normalistas de Ayotzinapa, cometida por elementos policíacos en la Normal Rural de Chiapas (CNDH, 16 de febrero de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

National: “Walk for Truth, Justice and Peace” Ends at Parliament in Mexico City (January 29, 2020)

Nacional: “Caminata por la Paz” se dirige al Palacio Nacional y exige justicia y seguridad (24 de enero de 2020)

International/National: UNHCHR Calls on Mexican State to Increase Efforts to Effectively Implement General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons (January 21, 2020)

Chiapas/Mexico: EZLN, CNI and CIG Convene Actions in Defense of Territory and Mother Earth “We Are All Samir” (January 14, 2020)

Oaxaca/Nacional: Nuevas agresiones a periodistas; se modificará mecanismo de protección, Encinas (9 de diciembre de 2019)

National: Rosario Ibarra de Piedra Sworn in as New President of CNDH (November 15, 2019)

National: One Year of AMLO Presidency (December 5, 2019)

Mexico: March “Steps for Peace” (August 19, 2011)

National/International: Mexico, Fourth Most Dangerous Country for Human Rights Defenders (Frontline Defenders)

On February 12th, the Frontline Defenders (FLD) organization publicly presented its “Global Analysis 2019” report in Mexico City, in which it pointed out that Latin America is the most dangerous region in the world to defend human and environmental rights: in 2019, it recorded more than 200 of the 304 documented murders in 31 countries globally. It also reported that four of the five most dangerous countries for activism are part of the subcontinent (with 68% of cases). FLD explained that the five countries with the highest number of murders of defenders in 2019 were Colombia with 106, the Philippines – the only non-American country on the list – with 43, Honduras with 31, Mexico with 23 and also Brazil with 23.

Mexico is also the most dangerous country for environmental defenders: 75% of the 23 murders documented by FLD in the country were against nature defenders and against extractive or development megaprojects in which “there are powerful corporate interests and of public officials and possible profits at stake.” 20% of the murders were against women (internationally the figure was 13%). In addition, by 2020, “we have already documented at least three murders of defenders (two in Michoacan and one in Ciudad Juarez)”.

FDL regretted that impunity remains the norm. In the case of Mexican, in at least 11 cases investigations were initiated without results so far. Impunity is common even in cases identified as “emblematic”, not only with murdes but also in the “high level of criminalization of environmental defenders, who are exposed to physical aggressions, acts of legal intimidation and threats, in particular women, indigenous people and sexual diversity groups.”

Jesus Peña, deputy representative in Mexico of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, present at the event condemned the unfortunate fourth place and stressed that “the best form of protection is undoubtedly the fight against impunity in which many of the aggressions are.”

For more information in Spanish:

México, el cuarto país más peligroso en el mundo para ambientalistas y defensores, revela ONG (Sin Embargo, 13 de febrero de 2020)

Colocan a México como el 4° país más peligroso para defensores de DH (La Jornada, 12 de febrero de 2020)

Ambientalistas, 70 % de los activistas asesinadas en 2019 : ONG (El Universal, 12 de febrero de 2020)

Análisis global 2019 (Human Rights Defenders, enero de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

National: Red TdT Publishes Human Rights Balance for 2019 (January 13, 2020)

Nacional: 28 activistas asesinados en 2019 por rechazar proyectos del gobierno, según organizaciones civiles.  (December 2, 2019)

National/International: “When Words Are Not Enough” – Amnesty International Report almost One Year after AMLO Takes Office (December 4, 2019)

National: Mexico Sixth Most Dangerous Country for Environmentalists According to Global Witness; 12 Activists Killed in 2019 (October 13, 2019)

National: 21 Environmental Defenders Murdered in 2018 (CEMDA) (April 1, 2019)

Oaxaca: Impunity One Year after Murder of Muxe Activist Oscar Cazorla Denounced

@Diana Manzo

On February 9th, one year after the murder of the muxe activist, Oscar Cazorla, in Juchitan, members of the muxe collective of the “Authentic intrepid seekers of danger” demanded justice and clarification of his death given the total impunity that has prevailed in the case.

Oscar Cazorla was co-founder of this group 44 years ago, which seeks to make visible the inclusion of this vulnerable sector and at the same time eradicate homophobia and discrimination against sexual diversity.

“The justice authorities tell us that they are making progress and everything related to the investigation, but they don’t inform us about anything. We have 365 days since they killed Oscar Cazorla, a person committed to the fight for sexual diversity, always yearning for the well-being of all and seeking support for our events, that’s why we demand that the authorities give results,” said Felina Santiago, one of of the co-founders and friend of the activist. She also stressed that this impunity creates greater vulnerability for other muxes despite the fact that they were given precautionary measures after the murder.

For more information in Spanish:

Impune, asesinato de activista muxe Óscar Cazorla a un año de su muerte (Aristegui Noticias, 10 de febrero de 2020)

Impune asesinato de activista muxe, Oscar Cazorla a un año de su muerte (Página 3, 10 de febrero de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Oaxaca: Muxe Activist Oscar Cazorla Lopez Murdered (February 14, 2019)

Chiapas: alto a la violencia homofóbica (May 17, 2018)

Oaxaca: Mujer transgénero recibe su credencial de elector de una representación del INE (August 8, 2017)

Oaxaca: GesMujer Demands Greater Punishments for Rapists Amidst Rise in Sexual Offenses in the State

@Consorcio

On February 7th, the Rosario Castellanos Women’s Studies Group (GesMujer) called on the Oaxaca Congress to make modifications to the Criminal Code to prevent potential rapists from being released on bail and penalties according to the harm they cause. This is because said Code does not guarantee that the person accused of attempted rape goes to jail: being a crime that does not mark a minimum penalty of six years, it is considered that it does not merit informal preventive detention. It noted that in most sexual assaults, public ministries minimize the impact of aggressions for women: “although it is true, in some cases the objective of rape is not achieved, but damage to emotions is caused, in personal development, in the right to freedom and a life free of violence”, it emphasized.

According to the figures of the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP), in 2019, 1,562 sex crimes were reported while, according to statistics from the Oaxaca Public Prosecutor’s Office, only 502 investigation files were opened in this regard (103 of the cases in the capital Oaxaca de Juarez). Sexual violence occupies second place in the most frequent aggressions against women, only after family violence, according to official figures. In addition, it should be taken into account that “sexual violence is much more frequent than what appears in the statistics and this is because in many cases the victims, whether girls, young or adult women, are silent because of shame, fear or because they are made believe that they provoked it,” Parliamentary Consortium for Dialogue and Equity in its Feminicide Counter platform denounced.

For more information in Spanish:

Pide GesMujer castigo más severo para violadores (NVI Noticias, 7 de febrero de 2020)

Al alza delitos sexuales en Oaxaca (NVI Noticias, 31 de diciembre de 2020)

Registran récord de violación equiparada en 2019 ; Oaxaca tiene 202 casos (El Universal, 26 de diciembre de 2019)

Se denuncian en Oaxaca, 4 delitos sexuales al día (El Imparcial de Oaxaca, 9 de diciembre de 2019)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Oaxaca: Femicide Violence Worsens as Year Begins (February 5, 2020)

Oaxaca: 126 Femicides One Year after Declaration of Gender Violence Alert (September 2, 2019)

Oaxaca: Aprueban la ley contra la violencia digital de género (July 12, 2019)

Oaxaca: Se suman 37 feminicidios en lo que va del año (April 24, 2019)

Oaxaca: Femicide Violence Worsens as Year Begins

@Miguel Dimayuga, El Imparcial de Oaxaca

The first month of 2020 was the most violent for women since the beginning of the administration of Governor Alejandro Murat: according to the Documentation “Rosario Castellanos” Center of the Women’s Studies Group (GES Mujer), 19 women were killed by firearm in the period.

GES Mujer also indicated that, according to the statistics of the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP) from January to November 2019, 132 murders of women were committed, of which “only 27 deaths are investigated as femicides”. It noted that it is worrisome that gender violence has reached municipalities that had not been considered at risk in the Declaration of Alert for Gender Violence in which, at present, only 42 municipalities of the state’s 500 are included.

“Femicide violence is exacerbated for girls and women in Oaxaca. January 2020 has been the most violent month so far of the administration of Alejandro Murat that goes from December 1st, 2016 to February 1st, 2020. So far we have accounted for 402 cases of murdered women, this is quite a figure High, that is why we demand immediate attention, response, and that the Gender Alert be really applied, that real public policies be applied, we cannot say that they are deaths but give them their real name, feminicides,” it concluded.

For its part, in a press release, the National Citizen Observatory of Femicide (OCNF) expressed concern about the increase and exacerbation of femicide violence in the state of Oaxaca by pointing out the prevalence of impunity, the absence of investigations with gender perspective and lack of updating of the Protocol of Ministerial, Police and Expert Investigation of the Crime of Feminicide. ”Through requests for information made by the OCNF to the State Prosecutor’s Office of Oaxaca, we can see that in the last three years the murders have increased, at the same time that femicides are not investigated. Likewise, there is an absence of sentences related to the crime of femicide, since according to the data obtained, there are only two judicial processes and three are under investigation.” It claimed that, although “the Ministry of the Interior, through the National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (CONAVIM) issued the Gender Violence Alert Against Women in 40 municipalities of Oaxaca on August 31st, 2018 , more than a year after the declaration, the results are almost null and contrary to this, the problem of femicide, adds to the increase in the disappearances of women, girls and adolescents”

Against this background, on January 29th, the deputy of District 13 Oaxaca Sur, Hilda Graciela Perez Luis, presented a constitutional reform initiative and another to the Organic Law of the Office of the Attorney General, so that the head of the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor for Investigation Of the Crime of Femicide is appointed by the State Congress and that it falls on a person who has studies in gender and justice, extensive experience in care, investigation, accompaniment or representation in cases of gender violence against women. The MORENA deputy said that “the LXIV Legislature with a majority of women, cannot continue in the omission and allow acts as reprehensible as femicide remain in impunity”; “It is the opportunity for women to make history and leave the mark of a dignified representation,” she said.

For more information in Spanish:

Preocupa a OCNF agudización de violencia feminicida en Oaxaca (La Jornada, 29 de enero de 2019)

Preocupa agudización de violencia feminicida en Oaxaca: OCNF (SemMexico, 29 de enero de 2019)

19 mujeres perdieron la vida en Oaxaca en este primer mes del 2020 (IstmoPress, 1ero de febrero de 2020)

Al menos 19 mujeres fueron asesinadas en Oaxaca durante enero (Aristegui Noticias, 2 de febrero de 2020)

Durante enero, 19 mujeres asesinadas en Oaxaca (NVI Noticias, 3 de febrero de 2020)

En Oaxaca, imparable violencia feminicida : GESMujer (4 de febrero de 2020)

For more information from SIPAZ:

Oaxaca: 126 Femicides One Year after Declaration of Gender Violence Alert (September 2, 2019)

Oaxaca: Aprueban la ley contra la violencia digital de género (July 12, 2019)

Oaxaca: Se suman 37 feminicidios en lo que va del año (April 24, 2019)

National: Over 424,000 on Mexican #Me Too (May 7, 2019)