POSTED BY CENCOS ⋅ AUGUST 23, 2013 ⋅ POST A COMMENT
Dissemination Cencos Mexico City, Friday August 23, 2013
Press Release The Bees
Today August 22, we gathered again in this sacred land where paramilitaries massacred 45 adults and 4 unborn babies that has left an incurable wound on our people. The government violence that led to this horrific event was only stopped when our 49 brothers and sisters shed their blood and when the national and international public demanded justice from government of Mexico.
It was the cry of the martyrs proclaiming the truth and demanding justice and the mobilization of civil society which was able to stop the violence for a few years for a few years until in 2009 the Supreme Court of Injustice Nation began to free the paramilitaries who were responsible for the massacre. The violence began to revive and plant seeds the bitter fruit of which we are seeing in the community of Puebla. The paramilitaries have gradually been released since 2009, the last group was released in April this year and included Jacinto Arias Cruz who returned to Puebla only a matters of days before the violence began.
The Civil Society Las Abejas have reported that the violence taking place in Puebla closely resembles the actions leading up the 1997 massacre in Acteal. Each passing day confirms our complaints and each passing day the authorities refuse to hear us. In 1997 it began with pressure for us to cooperate with paramilitaries to arm ourselves against the Zapatistas. Those who did not accept were threatened, beaten and kidnapped from our homes. For these reasons we also had to leave our homes, displaced, walking at night, in the cold, in the water. They burnt our houses, stole our crops and destroyed our belongings which is exactly what has been happening in the community of Puebla. Families have had their food stolen and the violence has intensified: kidnapping, beatings, threats and coercion against Father Manuel Pérez Gómez parish priest of St. Peter.
On Tuesday, August 20 various communities saw something not seen since the tragic days of 1997: the smoke of the burnt houses by paramilitary violence. We call on civil society and all our friends who listen to us who can read the signs. What has the government done in the meantime? The same as in 1997: instead of enforcing the law and apprehending the criminals and offenders the government does nothing while the paramilitaries continue quietly in their lies and violence.
We repeat what we have said every every month on the 22nd since December 22, 1997: we will not be silenced.
Day August 20. – A group of 4 Catholic families and a Baptist family tried to return to their community, however, a group of young people and children who have been influenced by the commissioner and Presbyterian minister Agustín Gómez Cruz,. The youths began throwing stones at their car where several communities of Chenalhó, the free media, and also a delegate of the government of Chiapas, the trustee Chenalhó municipal and State police van Preventive were looking on. What we want to make clear is that these authorities did absolutely nothing to intervene the onslaught against their car. After this violence many of the families decided it was not safe to return to their homes.
Day August 21. – After these acts of violence, the Parish Council and the pastor Chenalhó Manuel Pérez Gómez, a delegate of the government of Chiapas and the City of Chenalhó, formed a commission to go to see the situation in the community of Puebla and visit the Catholic families. When they reached the community the pastor Manuel Puebla went to speak to the Catholic families to find out what had been happening. The paramilitary youth were very angered that the pastor spoke to to the Catholic families first. These young men kidnapped and beat the pastor and locked him in a latrine for more than 5 hours. The parents of the young people and the community authorities did nothing to intervene.
Realizing the unlawful nature of the acts towards Father Manuel the parish council demanded the mayor and the government of Chiapas to intervene immediately. But no action was taken. That night the pastor Manuel was released but not before forcing him to sign a document that saying he would not speak to the media.
Our conclusions are:
1) Paramilitary action has been revived in the community of Puelba and is likely to lead to more violence.
2) Catholic families are under threat and cannot walk and go to work in their fields safely.
3) Families do not feel safe to return to their homes.
4) The pastor Manuel Pérez Gómez was kidnapped.
5) Evangelical pastor ejido and Augustine Cruz Gomez and municipal agent are
directly responsible for the verbal aggression towards the civilian convoy accompanying the return of the catholic Families to Puebla.
6) The mayor of Chenalhó, Jose Arias Vasquez and municipal trustee could have easily intervened and prevented the escalation of the situation.
8) The negligence and complicity of the government of Chiapas and Mexico, in paramilitarization and conflict in Puebla has been reconfirmed. These types of conflicts are part of its counterinsurgency war, stop acting with impunity to the paramilitaries.
Brothers and sisters in struggle, those working for justice, peace, and those who are building strength and autonomy, we ask are aware is happening in Puebla. We ask you to be spokespersons and to disseminate the serious human rights violations committed in the communities of Chiapas.
We ask all evangelical pastors who disagree with the violent attitude of Pastor Agustin Cruz and his other brothers in Puebla to support justice and peace in Puebla.
Sincerely,
The voice of the Organization of Las Abejas of Acteal
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