May 15 – May 20, 2012

May 18, 2012

• United Kingdom: Solidarity initiative circulating from the UK Zapatista Network: “JOIN! WRITE! RAISE YOUR VOICES!”

• Spain: General Confederation of Labor (CGT) releases petition demanding freedom for Sántiz López and an end to anti-zapatista repression

• France and Germany add their voice to the global demand for the liberation of Patishtán and Sántiz López

To our sisters and brothers, the family members and allies of Alberto Patishtán Gómez:
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:

Compañeras and compañeros:

Receive warm greetings and embraces from El Barrio, New York. On this fourth day of our borderless campaign, we wish to share with you here the sixth update on the “Week of Worldwide Struggle for the Liberation of Patishtán and Sántiz López: Bringing Down the Prison Walls.”

In solidarity with the struggle to free Alberto and Francisco, a new letter-writing initiative is being circulated by our comrades at the UK Zapatista Network. The Network is comprised of the Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group, London Mexico Solidarity Group, Dorset Chiapas Solidarity Group, Manchester Zapatista Solidarity Group, and the West Yorkshire Chiapas Solidarity Group. Designed especially for government officials at nearby installations, such as local offices, embassies, and consulates, the UK Zapatista Network has written a “boilerplate” letter as a strategy or form of protest to take place during the Week of Worldwide Struggle. The complete letter is available below and can be modified as appropriate. At present, letters are being or will be delivered in various cities in Canada, New Zealand, England, and the U.S. Our comrades from the UK hope that the letter may be of use to all of us.

Similarly, the General Confederation of Labor from Spain has released a petition, amongst other campaigns, to demand freedom for Francisco Sántiz López and an end to the Mexican government’s repression against the autonomous Zapatista communities. Here is a section of the petition, which is currently available in only Spanish:

“we demand the immediate and unconditional release of our compañero Francisco Sántiz López, member of the support base of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation; absolute freedom for Lorenzo López Girón; comprehensive resolution in the case of Banavil, as well as the definitive cessation of the political persecution and harassment against the Zapatista communities.”

The petition may be signed here:

http://oiga.me/campaigns/libertad-para-francisco-santiz-base-de-apoyo-zapatista-baz

During the past few days we have continued to receive confirmation from more collectives and groups from other countries that have responded to our call to action for the Week of Worldwide Struggle. We now add two more countries to the list: France and Germany will now join dignified peoples from Mexico, South Africa, Canada, Brazil, Spain, England, Scotland, the U.S., Argentina, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

As an organization of predominantly Mexican immigrants, we have experienced first-hand the inhumane reality of the border and social walls imposed upon us by those from above. We have lived and challenged the many injustices that are like bricks in these walls; we have also lived and seen them crumble. Once all of us unite, combine our forces, and organize, we can accomplish this. For this reason, we view international solidarity as deeply important. United and together, we shall win.

Once again, compas, we would like to send you the link to our video, “Bringing Down the Prison Walls!: The Fight for the Liberation of Patishtán and Sántiz López.” As you may know, this film contains the dignified words of the Junta de Buen Gobierno (Good Government Council) of Oventic and relatives of Francisco Sántiz López, concerning his case and the national and international struggle to free our two comrades. Additionally, the Junta de Buen Gobierno and Francisco’s relatives send us warm greetings.

We hope that you can circulate this film and the dignified words of our compas from the Junta de Buen Gobierno and the Sántiz López Family. Here is the link:

We continue.

That is all for now, comrades.

WE ARE ALL ALBERTO!
WE ARE ALL FRANCISCO!

With love and solidarity,

Movement for Justice in El Barrio
The Other Campaign York

Here is the letter in both English and Spanish to be sent by the UK Network. Please feel free to send this letter, adapt it or write your own. Please send a copy to movementforjusticeinelbarrio@yahoo.com so that all our actions can be fully publicized and so the prisoners can know they have our support. Make sure a copy goes to your nearest Mexican Embassy or Consulate. If you can deliver it by hand, that would be even better. There are some useful addresses below.

English version
HE Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza Mexican Ambassador to UK

Embassy of Mexico
16 St George Street
London
W1S 1FD
Dear Ambassador,
We the undersigned, from the United Kingdom, view with deep concern and anger how people in Mexico who are organizing to struggle for and defend their rights are punished with imprisonment.
Governments lock them away trying to condemn them to oblivion, silence and submission. But their voices and their example reach us loudly and clearly from the prisons – through the voices of our brothers Alberto Patishtán and Francisco Sántiz Lopez.
We know that they are not guilty because they are committed social activists whose innocence has been documented by human rights centres and defenders.
Alberto Patishtan has been imprisoned since 2000.Prison has become his base of struggle, where he has not only borne his punishment with dignity, but also organized many other political prisoners to attain their freedom. As a result, he has been sent to different prisons. He was transferred to his current location, in Guasave, Sinaloa, as punishment for his participation in the latest hunger strike, which was undertaken in Chiapas in 2011. We know that Alberto Patishtan has become a symbolic figure for social movements in Chiapas, Mexico and the world. We also know that because of his dignified rebellion the Mexican state affords him an especial brutality.
Francisco Lopez Sántiz has committed the crime of being a Base of Support of the EZLN. This is the reason that he is in prison, not for the crime he is alleged to have committed in December 2011 in Banavil, Tenejapa. This is proven by the fact that Francisco was not even at the scene of the crime, as has been amply demonstrated.
For these reasons we demand immediate and unconditional liberty for Alberto Patishtan, Francisco Sántiz and all political prisoners in Chiapas and Mexico. Prison, repression and impunity cannot and must not continue to rule in Mexico.

Yours faithfully
UK Zapatista Solidarity Network
Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group
London Mexico Solidarity Group
Dorset Chiapas Solidarity Group
Manchester Zapatista Solidarity Group
West Yorkshire Chiapas Solidarity Group

SIGUE LA CARTA DE LA RED ZAPATISTA DEL REINO UNIDO:
Aquí va la carta que será enviada por la Red del Reino Unido. Pueden modificar esta carta ó escribir su propia. Favor de enviar una copia a:
Movimientoporjusticiadelbarrio@yahoo.com

para que todas nuestras acciones puedan ser publicadas y cubiertas por completo y para que los presos sepan que tienen nuestro apoyo.

Asegúrense de que una copia llegue a una oficina, Embajada, o Consulado del mal gobierno de México. Si es posible entregarla en mano, aún mejor. Abajo hay algunas direcciones útiles.

Aquí esta la carta:
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa
Presidente de la República
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos, Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF

Estimado Sr Presidente

Desde el Reino Unido, los abajo firmantes, vemos con preocupación y rabia cómo en México, a las personas que se organizan para luchar y defender sus derechos son castigadas con la cárcel.

En la cárcel se les quiere condenar al olvido, al silencio, a la sumisión. Y desde ahí su voz y su ejemplo nos llegan fuerte y claramente. Es la voz de nuestros hermanos Alberto Patishtán y Francisco Sántiz López.

Sabemos de su inocencia no sólo porque son luchadores sociales comprometidos, sino también porque ha sido documentada por centros y defensores de derechos humanos.
Alberto Patishtan ha estado encarcelado desde el año 2000. Ha hecho de la cárcel su trinchera de lucha y con dignidad no sólo ha sobrellevado su castigo, sino que ha organizado a muchos otros presos políticos para alcanzar su libertad. Por esto se le ha mandado muchas veces a distintas prisiones. Su morada actual, en Guasave Sinaloa, le fue dada precisamente como castigo por participar en la última huelga de hambre emprendida en Chiapas en el 2011. Sabemos que Alberto Patishtan se ha convertido en una figura emblemática para los movimientos sociales en Chiapas, en México y en el mundo. También sabemos que es por su digna rebeldía que el Estado mexicano le tiene particular saña.

Francisco Sántiz López ha cometido el delito de ser Base de Apoyo del EZLN. Es por esto que está en la cárcel y no por el supuesto delito que cometió en Diciembre de 2011 en Banavil, Tenejapa. Prueba de ello, es que Francisco ni siquiera estaba en el lugar del crimen, como ha sido ampliamente demostrado.

Es por esto que exigimos la libertad inmediata e incondicional de Alberto Patishtan, Francisco Sántiz y de todos los presos políticos de Chiapas y de México. La cárcel, la represión y la impunidad no pueden, no deben continuar reinando en México.

Atentamente

UK Zapatista Solidarity Network
Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group
London Mexico Solidarity Group
Dorset Chiapas Solidarity Group
Manchester Zapatista Solidarity Group
West Yorkshire Chiapas Solidarity Group

Algunas direcciones que pueden ser útiles:

Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa
Presidente de la República
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos, Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, México DF
Tel: (52.55) 2789.1100 Fax: (52.55) 5277.2376
Correo: felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx
Cuenta deTwitter:@FelipeCalderony@GobFed

Juan José Sabines Guerrero
Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas, 1er Piso
Av. Central y Primera Oriente, Colonia Centro, C.P. 29009
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
Fax: +52 961 61 88088 – + 52 961 6188056; Extensión 21120. 21122;
Correo: secparticular@chiapas.gob.mx
Cuenta deTwitter:@Juansabinesgy@gubernaturachis

Alejandro Poiré Romero
Secretario de Gobernación
Bucareli 99, 1er. Piso, Col. Juárez, Del. Cuauhtémoc,
C.P. 06600 México D.F. Fax: (52.55) 50933414;
Correo: secretario@segob.gob.mx , contacto@segob.gob.mx
Cuenta de Twitter: @SEGOB_mx

Noé Castañón León
Secretario General de Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas, 2do Piso
Av. Central y Primera Oriente, Colonia Centro, C.P. 29009
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
Conmutador: + 52 (961) 61 2-90-47, 61 8-74-60. Extensión: 20003;
Correo: secretario@secgobierno.chiapas.gob.mx
Cuenta de Twitter: @gobiernochiapasRaciel López Salazar

Raciel López Salazar
Procuraduría General de Justicia de Chiapas
Libramiento Norte Y Rosa Del Oriente, No. 2010, Col. El Bosque
C.P. 29049 Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
Conmutador: 01 (961) 6-17-23-00.
Teléfono: + 52 (961) 61 6-53-74, 61 6-53-76, 61 6-57-24, 61 6-34-50.
Correo: raciel.lopez@pgje.chiapas.gob.mx
Cuenta de Twitter: @pgjechiapas

Juan Gabriel Coutiño Gómez
Magistrado Presidente del Tribunal Superior de Justicia y
del Consejo de la Judicatura del Poder Judicial del Estado de Chiapas
Palacio de Justicia, Libramiento Norte Oriente No. 2100
Fracc. El Bosque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
Teléfono: + 52 (961) 61 787 00 ext. 86 01
Teléfono directo: + 52 (961) 616 53 54

Francisco Javier Plaza Ruíz
Juez del Ramo Penal
Carretera San Cristóbal – Ocosingo Km. 20
CERSS No. 5, C.P 29200
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México
Tel: 967 6743021; Fax: 967 6743022