** He is considered the emblematic political prisoner and the country’s principal prisoner of conscience

** Festive recognition upon his return to the prison in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

[In an archived image, friends, relatives and a representative of the Frayba Human Rights Center, demand the liberation of Alberto Patishtán, 12 years from his unjust incarceration Photo: María Luisa Severiano]

By: Hermann Bellinghausen, Envoy

San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, July 27, 2012

Since his exit from the federal prison in Guasave, Sinaloa, on Thursday morning, to return to the state prison he was taken out of in October, Alberto Patishtán Gómez has received wide recognition. First, the rest of the prisoners in federal prison number 8 said goodbye to him with shouts of “Viva Chiapas.” Upon his arrival at the San Cristóbal prison he was received festively by his compañeros of the Voice of El Amate and those in Solidarity with the Voice of El Amate.

Considered the emblematic political prisoner and the country’s principal prisoner of conscience, by getting the authorities to comply with the court order conceded by a federal judge against his move, Patishtán won a battle on the path to his freedom.

As he tells in his first testimony since his return, “they took me out of my cell, gave me my things and told me that I was going to return. They took me to the medical area, later to the guards. I waited; the workers had not arrived. Later we waited for breakfast. They delivered my documents and letters from my friends.” Towards 9 “they took me to the airport in an ambulance. Ever since I left the federal prison they shackled my hands and feet. The manner of return was different, because they took me to the airplane. They didn’t take off the shackles.” He remembers: “When I left the cell in Guasave, everyone congratulated me. What joy! When they took me (in October) they took me with pure violence.”

“A person told me that a lawyer and a doctor would come with me,” he relates. “They offered me food and told me not to speak badly of them. One person asked me how the matter is going, they told me they wished me well, that my dispute is political. They searched me like three times and took photos of me when they were searching me, and also when they were giving me food. Later we arrived in Villa Aldama, Veracruz, they dropped a prisoner off and put in two others. Later we went to leave those prisoners in San Luis Potosí and afterwards they brought me to Chiapas”.

At the airport “some doctors got in and examined me. They took off my shackles and I got off of the plane. There would be documents and questions. We arrived at 6:30 PM. They took a lot of photos of me. Later the Lobo Group received me and brought me here. The treatment was different. The director received me when I arrived. The commander and the warden received me, and took me straight ahead.”

His compañeros in solidarity with the Voice of El Amate said that the director “had said to us that you were going to arrive on August 3. When Alberto arrived last night, everyone made a line to greet him.”

The traumatic experience of “punishment” that the move to the north signified and the treatment as a dangerous criminal not only consolidated a vast network of solidarity in the world, but also left new lessons. He pronounces in favor of “improving the prison system with respect to prisoners and their families, health, medications and nutrition.” And he adds: “I met a compañero at the prison. He told me that one must take into account thesis and laws. He had documents from Acteal and Atenco that he was studying to defend himself.”

He also referred to his state of health: “In Guasave they said that they did not have the medical record; that when they got it they were going to buy the (eye) drops for me. They told me that I do not have glaucoma, but later a doctor from the federal prison council told me that I have optical ischemic neuropathy.” And he clarifies: “On February 14 it was mentioned that they gave me a medical examination. It is a lie, they never did it.”

For her part, Gabriela Patishtán, who has followed her father’s case closely to the degree of enrolling in Law School at the state university, today was thankful for the solidarity the professor and his family received: “One part of that ‘justice’ has been attained, that my father returns, and I am very thankful for all those that didn’t leave us and were always with us, although it may be in their different ways. We are witnessing the fruit of the efforts and struggles that have been made. What follows, and what I have longed for during these 12 years and will continue asking for, is my father’s freedom. What has motivated me is his innocence, I know that the truth will win and that at any moment he will be free.”

______________________________________
Originally Published in Spanish by La Jornada
Saturday, July 28, 2012
En español: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2012/07/28/politica/018n1pol

INTERNATIONAL CALL TO ACTION:
“Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas:
Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Sántiz López”

July 27, 2012

To our sisters and brothers, the family members and allies of San Marcos Avilés: To our sisters and brothers, the family members and allies of Francisco Sántiz López: To our Zapatista sisters and brothers: To our compañer@s of The Other Campaign: To our compañer@s of the Zezta Internazional: To our compañer@s, adherents of the International Campaign in Defense of El Barrio and all our allies from around the world: To the Civil Society in Mexico and in the world: The following is an urgent call to action from Movement for Justice in El Barrio, The Other Campaign New York, to carry out the:

“Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas:
Justice and Freedom for San Marcos Avilés and Sántiz López”

SISTERS AND BROTHERS: From the brown heart of El Barrio, New York, receive affectionate greetings and an urgent proposal of struggle on behalf of Movement for Justice in El Barrio, The Other Campaign New York. The following is a new and urgent convocation to carry out the: “Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas:
Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Sántiz López”

First Phase: Walking the True Word
August 2012
To all those who fight for justice, dignity, freedom, and democracy, and against oppression, violence, hatred, scorn, poverty, and terror that are the world of those from above… To those who work to build another world, another communication, another politics, another knowledge, another culture, another history, another future… To those who search for and create our path by looking from below and to the left… who learn about life by listening to the wise words of the ancestors… To those who dream of freedom in all its resplendent colors… To those who reject the injustices that, in every country, are imposed and called “economy” and “government”… To those who find inspiration, hope, resonance and reflection in the Zapatistas… Today, with urgency, we are called upon to mobilize, with our whole being, solidarity and support for our Zapatista sisters and brothers of the community in resistance of San Marcos Avilés and for the Zapatista political prisoner Francisco Sántiz López: Responding to the numerous denouncements and calls issued by the Good Government Council of Oventic and the community of San Marcos Avilés, we stand in solidarity with them and add our echo to their dignified “ENOUGH!” against the recent attacks that the Zapatista support base members, the essence of the Zapatista Movement, are facing.  Particularly, this convocation seeks to anticipate and prevent further violence against San Marcos Avilés at the hands of local political party members who have, during the past few days, made renewed threats. These individuals are the “strong arm” of the region’s dominant political parties. They have of late revealed their plan to displace our sisters and brothers of the Zapatista support base. According to recent threats, these enemies of the people intend to kidnap Zapatista community authorities and, in turn, violently displacing other Zapatistas from their community. They have stated, additionally, that they will incarcerate anyone who continues to denounce these unjust aggressions.

We stress here that these attacks are not isolated incidents, but rather are integral components of the prolonged war of extermination that the bad government of Mexico, together with capitalist interests, has carried out for the past 18 years to wipe out the Zapatista movement and all it has given to the world. The objectives of this war have been and remain to continue the colonial project and destroy at any cost indigenous autonomy and resistance, and take over their ancestral lands, and in this way, exploit for the exclusive benefit of those from above the natural resources with which our Mother Earth provides us. Repression, violence, and death are meted out by the bad government of Mexico to those who resist this, who defend their lands, their identities, their cultures, and autonomy – their very existence. The Zapatista ejido and community of San Marcos Avilés, which is made up of Tzeltal indigenous people, has endured an unending nightmare of terror since 2010, when the community’s autonomous school, “Emiliano Zapata,” was constructed as part of the Zapatista Rebel Education System—constituting a major step forward in the community’s advance towards autonomy. During the past two years, this community has suffered various forms of extreme violence, including death threats, harassment, plunder, sexual aggression (including attempted rapes), forced displacement, and others, at the hands of members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), and the Green Ecological Party (PVEM) of Mexico, and their armed attack groups. Similarly, our compañero Francisco Sántiz López, also an indigenous Tzeltal-speaker and Zapatista from Chiapas, has remained unjustly imprisoned since December 4, 2011, for false crimes that he never committed. His only “crime” is that of being a member of the Zapatista support base. Today he remains a hostage of the bad government of Mexico in its war against all Zapatistas. It is clear that the violence exercised against both San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López stems from that same source. Recently, community members of San Marcos Avilés have reported that the threats against them have spiked at an alarming rate during the past few days. In light of these acts of violence and aggression, we would like to propose the following plan of solidarity and struggle, as part of the “Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas: Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Sántiz López.” This campaign is distinguished for its “two-pronged” strategy, and will consist of two interrelated phases. FIRST PHASE:
Walking the True Word: Promotion and Circulation
Timeframe: Entire month of August The first phase, which is called “Walking the True Word,” will span the entire month of August and has as its principal objective the dissemination of information within our respective communities, neighborhoods, ejidos, networks, and countries regarding the current situation of absolute injustice occurring in San Marcos Avilés and the case of the unjust imprisonment of Francisco Sántiz López. To this end, we propose that around the world, from the smallest community to the largest metropolis, we concentrate our organizing efforts and resources on raising consciousness in our communities and networks by forming Committees of the True Word as a way to effectively disseminate critical information regarding the current situation of San Marcos Avilés and the unjust incarceration of Francisco Sántiz López. ·      These “Committees of the True Word” will serve as seeds that will sprout roots in distinct and common lands to grow consciousness, knowledge, and more than anything, rage and inspiration to take concrete action in support of our sisters and brothers of San Marcos Avilés and Franisco Sántiz López.

·      Each committee will seek to disseminate and promote widely the current situation of San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López, as they are both are Zapatista support base members. Of particular priority is reaching out to people who are unfamiliar with the history of the Zapatistas. Everyone should know this history of profound pain, hope, and inspiration.

·      It is not necessary to belong to an organization or collective. In this campaign, we can all form a committee on our own and be supportive.  Committees can be formed with friends, co-workers, neighbors, or relatives.

·      If you are already a member of an organization, association, collective, labor union, group, team, club, etc., you can form your own committee with your fellow members.

·      During this first phase, to be clear, the Committees of the True Word can organize a wide range of activities to accomplish our goal. Among the numerous options include: public forums, distributing informative fliers and pamphlets, teach-ins, publishing articles, reflections, and denouncements, translations, social media initiatives, artistic works, etc. The possibilities are endless.

·      We invite all those from below to come together to support our Zapatista sisters and brothers of San Marcos Avilés and our brother Francisco Sántiz López who are all fighting for our shared liberation.

·      Form your Committee of the True Word now!   As soon as you have formed your committee, please let us know what activities you intend to carry out and the location of the committee via email at:    laotranuevayork@yahoo.com. We believe that the true word and knowledge are very important for the struggles of those from below—it is not only the task of the independent/alternative media to circulate truth, but rather it is the responsibility of us all to do so. Moreover, we believe that this phase of consciousness-raising is particularly important, especially in light of the fact that our compas from San Marcos Avilés are suffering this violence for being indigenous, for being Zapatistas, and for having opened their autonomous school. Education and knowledge are also tools and weapons in the struggle for justice, dignity, and democracy—they are nothing less than the forms in which we will construct this new world we seek. As such, in this campaign, education on San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López will serve as another way in which we rebel against this system of injustice and oppression, which oppresses at the level of knowledge as well. We shall make use of what those from above seek to repress in order to achieve what we are fighting for: “a dignified justice.” To facilitate the expansion of this phase, we would like to offer a few small tools: 1.    As some of you may know, we have produced a new and moving video message from the compas of San Marcos Avilés, which is available here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY-8CBt3Vkg
Please contact us if you wish to obtain a high quality version of the video suitable for public screenings.

2.    We also put together a new website in English and Spanish with web pages with content in French, Italian, German and Japanese and with updates, reports, and important information, and other educational materials on San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López. The website is available here:   http://sanmarcosavilesen.wordpress.com/ Following the lead of the community of San Marcos Avilés and the Good Government Council, the goal of this phase is to imbue with knowledge the hearts of as many people as possible, and to bring awareness to the world regarding the constant government-backed violence and the resistance of the dignified people. Immediately after this intensive educational phase, there will be a phase of direct action. Alongside our Zapatista sisters and brothers of San Marcos Avilés and of the Good Government Council of Oventic, we echo their just demands: ·      AN END TO THE WAR AGAINST THE ZAPATISTAS OF SAN MARCOS AVILÉS.

·      IMMEDIATE FREEDOM FOR OUR ZAPATISTA COMPAÑERO FRANCISCO SÁNTIZ LÓPEZ. The gravity of these two situations cannot be ignored. As part of the global struggle for justice, dignity, and democracy, we must respond with open hearts. ·      If you accept our proposal and will participate in this campaign, please let us know as soon as possible via email at
laotranuevayork@yahoo.com. Likewise, please write and send us chronicles of each activity that is carried out via your Committee of the True Word. We will circulate all report backs on the activities realized as part of this campaign, so as to expand the scope and reach of our struggle. We will also share these reports with the community of San Marcos Avilés and the Good Government Council, so that they stay updated and know that they are not alone. These chronicles and report backs can be sent to the same e-mail: laotranuevayork@yahoo.com Because their humanizing cry of dignity, their “ENOUGH!”, has affected all of us who fight for justice from around the world, from our respective trenches of struggle, and has connected very distinct and similar struggles alike… Because this very cry has dwelled in our hearts alongside hope and happiness… We shall let it resound in our echo by adding our voice, our countenance, to ensure that it is heard more profoundly… As if it were said in the very language of our being… For the defense of the Zapatista Resistance, we add our echo… Long live the EZLN!

Long live the Zapatistas!

Long live The Other Campaign!
With love and solidarity, Movement for Justice in El Barrio
The Other Campaign New York

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Organización de la Sociedad Civil “Las Abejas”

Tierra Sagrada de los Mártires de Acteal

Acteal, Ch’enalvo’, Chiapas, México.

22 de Julio del 2012.

A la Opinión Pública

A los medios de Comunicación Estatal, Nacional e Internacional

A los medio alternativos

A la Sexta Internacional

A los Adherente de La Otra campaña

A la organizaciones independientes

A los defensores de derechos humanos no Gubernamental O.N.G.

Hermanos y hermanas.

Los más primeros, nuestros abuelos mayas pues, nos habían dejado dicho que en cuando se termine nuestro calendario es un tiempo y espacio en que en la Tierra y el Cielo se nublan de una oscuridad turbulenta, que  impiden que la luz del padre sol ilumine la faz de la Tierra para que los humanos puedan caminar y transitarse sin chocarse unos con los otros. Y que cuando eso sucede, dicen que el dueño del inframundo, el señor de la muerte aprovecha esa oscuridad y se aparece en forma de zopilote para devorar a los hombres y mujeres libres y conscientes que son aquellos que no temen la oscuridad dejando, así en la tierra sangres y muertes. Pero que únicamente cuando las personas se juntan para encender la luz para que se vea claridad pueden vencer la maldad de la oscuridad.

Entonces, conociendo la oscura trayectoria histórica del PRI y su imposición total sobre la sociedad. Nosotros de “Las Abejas” vemos que lo que nos habían dicho nuestros más primeros esta pronto en sucederse, pues justo cuando se concluye el ciclo de nuestro calendario comienza el poder del PRI representado por  Enrique Peña Nieto el presidente electo de Televisa y TV Azteca pues no la eligió el Pueblo ni en la vía democrática pues la democracia en México no existe pues se ha convertido en un negocio jugoso de ricos capitalistas y de trasnacionales, en vez de ser el poder del pueblo como debería de ser.

Sin embargo, como pacifistas y guardianes de la memoria estamos conscientes, bien despiertos y sabemos lo que trae ese gobierno, pues tenemos memorias y no olvidamos que es en el régimen y por orden del PRI que fueron masacrados nuestros 45 hermanos y hermanas en el 1997. También la represión que hubo en San Salvador Atenco en contra de nuestros hermanos del Frente Popular en Defensa de la Tierra (FPDT) en 2006, cuando Peña Nieto era gobernador en el estado de México, mando las policías a reprimir a los campesinos floricultores que estaban protestando por defender su tierra en contra de la construcción de un aeropuerto; y de acuerdo a lo que dijo en su campaña electoral en la visita de la universidad Iberoamericana en el D.F, que lo que hizo en Atenco sobre la represión policiaca es un medio para establecer el orden social; en realidad la pregunta lo que debía de haber hecho no es como controlar a la gente en protesta sino como reparar el daño que había causado y así volver a ganar la confianza del pueblo, pero no lo hizo. Y por eso, para nosotros de “Las Abejas” Peña Nieto  forma parte de nuestra gran lista de asesinos y vende patrias; y él debe ser juzgado en las cortes internacionales al igual que Ernesto Zedillo y  Felipe Calderón, para que responda por sus crímenes que ha cometido, ya que en México no hay justicia, aunque lo haya pero simplemente no funciona, ya se ha caducado o sí no se ha convertido en un negocio del poder.

Sabiendo lo que representa el presidente electo entre los poderes fácticos, no existe garantía de una estabilidad de Paz social ni de una justicia verdadera. Pero lo que si habrá es más concesiones mineras, más presas hidroeléctricas, y más violaciones a los derechos humanos que se escribirá en asesinatos, represiones, amenazas, intimidaciones, encarcelamiento injusto, desplazamientos forzados. Pues se continuará dando más derrame de sangre, y más con lo que había comenzado calderón debido que en él circula y esta los intereses del narcotráfico y de las trasnacionales de seguir con el modelo económico neoliberal.

Por otra parte, sabemos también que el gobierno estadounidense tiene “bajo activa consideración” el reclamo de inmunidad que ha solicitado el ex mandatario Mexicano en relación por la masacre de Acteal y que a más tardar el 23 de este mes se definirá dicho asunto. En este caso, confirmamos nuevamente lo que hemos dicho en varios de nuestros comunicados, que la demanda interpuesta en el corte de Connecticut en contra del ex mandatario mexicano Ernesto Zedillo no existe voluntad en la búsqueda de justicia ni el reconocimiento sobre la verdad de la masacre sino únicamente es una pugna política en la pre-electoral para un mejor posicionamiento en el poder actual en México. Eso esta mas que claro, pues ahora que ya pasó las elecciones, buscan otorgarle inmunidad a Zedillo; lo que significa dejar en total impunidad el crimen de estado que cometió durante su gobierno porque la inmunidad es igual a impunidad.

Así mismo, como defensores de derechos humanos, sabemos que Zedillo en cuanto estaba en su periodo de trabajo tenia la total inmunidad, pero en el momento en que dejo de ser presidente se volvió como cualquier ciudadano. Entonces, no puede alegar que no se puede juzgar por el hecho de ser ex mandatario, eso no justifica, pues ahora no es intocable, y la constitución mexicana y los sistemas de derechos internacional establecen que nadie esta por encima de la ley, por ello mismo, se tiene que usar el mismo criterio con Zedillo a como se le aplico a Augusto Pinochet por su crimen. Por eso Zedillo tiene que responder y ser juzgados por sus crímenes que cometió durante su mandato ya que es responsable ética, moral, profesional y jurídicamente para “Las Abejas” y los Sobrevivientes. Pero cabe mencionar que no solo a él sino a toda su cadena de mando en aquel entonces.

Y aunque Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, el actual mandatario mexicano, haya concedido la inmunidad a Zedillo a través de la Secretaria de Relaciones Exterior, que inclusive le ha solicitado al corte de Connecticut que concedan la petición de Zedillo sobre la inmunidad. Pero precisamos aquí, y lo decimos claramente que esto lo hace por fines personales, pues él dejando la presidencia tiene que responder por su crimen organizado y por eso lo hace para protegerse de su  responsabilidad de más de  60 mil muertos que permitió durante su gobierno por la supuesta guerra contra el narcotráfico. Pues sabe que una vez que Zedillo le sea concedido la inmunidad para él esta mas que garantizado también la suya para que sus crímenes quede en total impunidad, y de ser así, se tendrá la apertura de una cadena de crímenes de lesa humanidad que cometerán los gobiernos como consecuencia de mala administración de justicia y por las impunidades en que se dejan los crímenes ya cometidas.

Para hacer nacer otro mundo con una sociedad más justa y más humano en donde reine la paz y la justicia para todos y todas, exigimos:

• Justicia a los autores materiales e intelectuales de la masacre.
• No a la inmunidad de Zedillo.
• Fin de las violaciones a los derechos humanos e indígenas.
• Libertad inmediata e incondicional a los presos políticos: Alberto Pathistan y Francisco Sántiz López

Sí a la protesta civil, a la libre expresión y la libre determinación

No a la militarización, paramilitarización y al estado de derecho.

Viva la lucha, viva la resistencia, viva la autonomía, y  viva “Las Abejas”!!

ATENTAMENTE.

Voz de la Organización Sociedad Civil “Las Abejas”

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Garrett Wright, Estados Unidos
Lefranc Yues, Francia
Raul Zibechi, Uruguay
Pedro Zorrilla Miras, Estado Español

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Siguen necesitando donadores de sangre (tres) en la Ciudad de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.

Se trata de un niño de Las Abejas que está hospitalizado en el Hospital Pediátrico de la capital de Chiapas. Su estado de salud es muy delicado.
Contactar con Juan Pérez Pérez papá del niño. Pueden comunicarse con el compañero Juan al teléfono celular: 961 105 5287

Les agradeceríamos mucho su valiosa cooperación y solidaridad.

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Iniciada en 1922, la lucha por la tierra lleva 90 años y en ella han intervenido al menos cinco generaciones de indígenas Ch’oles. Esto hace que los actuales ejidatarios sientan un compromiso histórico con ellos, sus ancestros y sus hijos. La defensa de su territorio ha sido atravesada por diferentes políticas gubernamentales: agrarias, comerciales, desarrollistas, indigenistas, así como por la presencia de diversos intereses económicoskaxlanes . Estas intromisiones han provocado diferencias al interior de los ejidatarios, así como pugnas con las autoridades municipales y estatales. Las propias las han resuelto por medio de sus asambleas o recurriendo a las autoridades agrarias. Las relacionadas con agentes externos, las han llevado a las instancias oficiales correspondientes. Algunas, como la que actualmente libran por la defensa de 130 hectáreas, fueron ocasionadas por procedimientos u omisiones por parte de las autoridades correspondientes, por arbitrariedades cometidas por los gobiernos municipales y estatales, o por falta de conocimiento y entendimiento de las leyes.