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San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas

20 septiembre 2012

Boletín No. 20

Pierde la vista Alberto Patishtán por la ineficiente actuación del Estado Mexicano

Este Centro de Derechos Humanos manifiesta su indignación por la ineficiente actuación del Estado mexicano en la atención médica al preso político Alberto Patishtán Gómez (en adelante Patishtán), que desde hace varios años venía denunciando su situación de salud, la falta de interés del Estado mexicano para atenderlo provocó que Patishtán pierda la vista de manera gradual.

El día 10 de septiembre 2012, el médico oftalmólogo de confianza de Patishtán, informó sobre el resultado de los nuevos estudios de campos visuales y valoró la pérdida progresiva de la agudeza visual de Patishtán, concluyendo que su situación es de grave discapacidad visual ya que ha perdido el noventa por ciento de la vista.

El 19 de septiembre 2012, el médico de confianza informó que el padecimiento de Patishtán no es de origen oftalmológico, sino es un problema que tiene que ser atendido de forma urgente por un neurocirujano.

Es importante hacer mención que debido al avance del grave deterioro visual de Patishtán, ya no puede realizar sus actividades cotidianas en la prisión como leer, escribir, caminar con seguridad, entre otras. Como su testimonio lo indica:

“Desde el día 6 de septiembre de este año, no sólo he sentido que se me cierra la visión por los lados, siento como si se estuvieran fundiendo las luces.” “En el desarrollo de mis actividades como ministro de la Eucaristía, la semana anterior, ya no pude leer la biblia y tampoco pude ver el teclado con el cual acompaño los cantos de las celebraciones, por lo mismo, ya tampoco puedo escribir”.

Cabe recordar que el Estado mexicano en el 2010, le diagnosticó erróneamente glaucoma y que en ese mismo año estuvo internado en el Hospital Vida Mejor en Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, durante los seis meses que estuvo hospitalizado, no fue atendido de manera profesional ni eficaz para determinar el diagnóstico y el tratamiento adecuado.¹

Así también, el 12 de mayo del 2011, el Estado Mexicano sabía que a través de un estudio de campos visuales que “el patrón de pérdida campimétrica orientaba más hacia una atrofia óptica descendente que al diagnóstico de Glaucoma”; Patishtán recuerda que se le realizó una tomografía y que en ningún momento se hicieron llegar los resultados de dicho estudio al médico que lo atendía, evitando con ello, lograr un diagnóstico acertado, y en consecuencia un tratamiento médico adecuado.

Posteriormente con motivo de su traslado forzado y arbitrario a un CEFERESO² en Guasave, Sinaloa, no le dieron seguimiento a la atención médica iniciada. Ante las denuncias de desatención por parte de Patishtán, se le realizaron estudios en Guasave y se le diagnosticó neuropatía óptica isquémica, ese resultado resultó ser también erróneo.

El Estado, ha obstruido en todo momento otorgar a Patishtán, atención médica pertinente, adecuada y eficaz. Por lo que este Centro de Derechos Humanos, exige al Estado Mexicano, que cumpla con la medidas cautelares (MC 77-12) otorgadas este año por la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH)³ y que adopte sin dilación las medidas necesarias para garantizar, la salud e integridad personal de Alberto Patishtán.

En el caso de Patishtan, el Estado mexicano, ha incumplido con su responsabilidad internacional de garantizar los derechos de las personas que se encuentran bajo su custodia, así como la de no proveer la atención médica adecuada a las personas privadas de su libertad, como lo marcan los instrumentos internacionales en la materia y de manera específica la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos y los Principios y Buenas Prácticas sobre la Protección de las Personas Privadas de Libertad en las Américas.

Este Centro de Derechos Humanos considera que solamente la libertad puede detener la sistemática violación a los derechos humanos a Alberto Patishtán por parte del Estado mexicano.

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Cuarto Informe ¡A TUMBAR LAS PAREDES DEL CALABOZO!
Campaña Mundial por la Libertad de Patishtán y Sántiz López

Cuarta Etapa: “A 9 meses: 9 días de Acción Global para
Tumbar Las Paredes del Calabozo”

27 de agosto – 4 de septiembre

Compañeras y compañeros:

Desde nuestro Barrio de migrantes, l@s saludamos con mucho cariño de parte de Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio. Por la presente nos dirigimos a ustedes con este informe muy importante.

En la Cuarta Etapa de la Campaña Mundial por la Libertad de Patishtán y Sántiz López “¡A Tumbar Las Paredes del Calabozo!”, actualmente está en difusión una carta nueva en apoyo a la nueva estrategia jurídica en el caso del Profe Patishtán. Dirigida al Presidente de la Suprema Corte de Justicia y al Presidente de la Primera Sala de la Suprema Corte de Justicia, esta carta busca mobilizar el apoyo y respaldo, tanto nacional como mundialmente, para esta nueva estrategia, la cual aportará a la lucha por su liberación.

Nosotr@s invitamos a tod@s a que apoyen esta carta y por tanto la dicha estrategia firmandola y difundiéndola ampliamente. De esta forma, tod@s junt@s y unid@s, podemos seguir haciendo grietas en las paredes que encierran a nuestros dos presos.

Aquí está el enlace a la carta donde pueden firmar la carta y abajo el texto completo:

http://www.redtdt.org.mx/d_acciones/d_visual.php?id_accion=224

Muchas gracias, compas.

Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio
La Otra Campaña Nueva York:

12 años de injusticias, ¡Liberen a Alberto Patishtán!

C. MINISTRO JUAN N. SILVA MEZA, PRESIDENTE DE LA SUPREMA CORTE DE JUSTICIA DE LA NACIÓN

C. MINISTRO ARTURO ZALDÍVAR LELO DE LARREA, PRESIDENTE DE LA PRIMERA SALA DE LA SUPREMA CORTE DE JUSTICIA DE LA NACIÓN

PRESENTES

Las organizaciones de derechos humanos nacionales e internacionales, sociales y personas que suscribimos la presente petición; señalando como domicilio para recibir notificaciones los despachos 509 y 510 del edificio México, ubicado en Palma Norte 308, esquina Tacuba, Colonia Centro Histórico, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, Código Postal 06010, México, Distrito Federal; por este conducto nos dirigimos a ustedes para expresarles:

Que con motivo de la sentencia de sesenta años de prisión impuesta al profesor indígena ALBERTO PATISHTÁN GÓMEZ, por los delitos de Homicidio y Lesiones calificados; Robo calificado; Daños y; Portación de Arma de Fuego de Uso Exclusivo del Ejercito, Armada o Fuerza Aérea, derivada de los hechos suscitados el 12 de junio de 2000, en el tramo Laguna – El Bosque, que une los municipios de Simojovel y el Bosque, en el Estado de Chiapas, solicitamos al Máximo Tribunal que ustedes representan, que ante la interposición del Incidente de Reconocimiento de Inocencia presentado por la defensa legal del sentenciado, La H. Primera Sala reasuma la competencia originaria que le confiere el artículo 561 del Código Federal de Procedimientos Penales para conocer de ese Incidente.

No obviamos que mediante el Acuerdo General número 05/2001, de veintiuno de junio de dos mil uno, del Tribunal Pleno de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación, relativo a la determinación de los asuntos que conservara para su resolución y el envío de los de su competencia originaria a las Salas y a los Tribunales Colegiados de Circuito, el Máximo Tribunal ordenó que en los casos de Reconocimientos de Inocencia correspondería resolverlos a los Tribunales Colegiados de Circuito; sin embargo, los suscritos consideramos que por el interés que ha irradiado este asunto a nivel nacional como internacional se pueden fijar criterios trascendentes e innovadores en esos casos a partir de las interpretaciones recientes sobre el alcance y protección de los derechos humanos plasmados en la Carta Magna y en los Tratados Internacionales ratificados por el Estado mexicano, que ha venido desarrollando el Poder Judicial de la Federación a la luz del paradigma de la reforma constitucional en materia de derechos humanos.

ATENTAMENTE

Importante:

Al envíar esta información, Autorizo a -Red TDT- comunicar en mi nombre estas solicitudes. Esta información no será distribuida a terceras partes.

From prison, Alberto Patisthán denounces that he has felt strong pains in the chest and fears for his life; although they took him to the hospital, the lack of good medical attention and all he has suffered with his eyesight leads him to fear something may happen to him.

In this audio, another intern reads the denunciation, since Alberto has lost his eyesight, he is now blind:

See also:

Urgent request by Alberto Patisthán

Compañeras and compañeros,

We would like to share with you a request made by Alberto Patishtán (see Patishtán’s letter below), the political prisoner from Chiapas. This proposal came about after the meeting that was held with his children Gaby and Hector, his legal representative, the El Bosque community and other civil organizations, this past weekend at Penitentiary No. 5 regarding the latest developments in his case.

On Wednesday, September 12, the motion of Recognition of Innocence was presented before the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation and this Wednesday, September 26, 2012 the Supreme Court will make its final decision as to whether it will accept the Recognition of Innocence of Alberto Patishtán.

For this reason, Alberto Patishtán, Movement for Justice in El Barrio, and the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center call for:

Actions to be held at the embassies of Mexico throughout the world, this Monday, September 24. To those who are in Mexico, we ask that you deliver letters to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation or e-mail them to scjn_presidencia@scjn.gob.mx; azalvidarl@scjn.gob.mx.

What we are proposing is that you deliver a letter (a sample letter is below) addressed to the Ambassador to request that he or she forward the delivered letter to the following Justices of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation:

C. Ministro Juan N. Silva Meza, President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation,
C. Ministro Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea, President of the First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation
C. Ministro José Ramón Cossío Díaz,
C. Ministro Guillermo I. Ortíz Mayagoitia,
C. Ministro Jorge Mario Pardo Rebolledo,
C. Ministra Olga María del Carmen Sánchez Cordero de García Villegas

In the sample letter below it is requested that the First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation assumes the original competency that the current article 561 of the Federal Code of Penal Proceedings confers upon it in order to accept the motion of Recognition of Innocence advanced by Alberto Patishtán Gómez’s defense. Due to the fact that is seems unlikely that another tribunal will resolve the case in favor of Patisthán, we find it important to pressure the Supreme Court to do so.

We ask you to inform us by e-mail as soon as possible of your actions so that we may send out a press bulletin on September 24 regarding all the actions that will take place on that day. Please send e-mails to:

solidaridad@frayba.org.mx and movimientoporjusticiadelbarrio@yahoo.com

Likewise, we ask that you please send in materials from your action (photos, confirmation of receipt [of the letter], etc.) so that we may publish them and show support to Alberto.

Lastly, as noted above, we are attaching the letter template, which is only available in Spanish.

Sincerely,

Alberto Patishtán
Movement for Justice in El Barrio
Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center

NEW LETTER FROM ALBERTO PATISHTÁN

Prison No. 5 San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas

September 19, 2012

To State, National, International and World organizations:

Compañeros y compañeras, first of all I send you a fraternal embrace and at the same time my combative greetings through this letter; I send you words of encouragement, fortitude and strength, and above all words of the love of life, for if we love life then we also love our neighbor.

This is the reason why I am sending you today an urgent request to join in making an action, which is that letters are to be sent addressed to the ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, and letters delivered to the embassies of Mexico in your countries, among others, before the 26th day of this month of September; since in previous months my defense lawyer Leonel Rivero Rodríguez, in coordination with the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center, SERAPAZ, SIPAZ, and other groups of defenders have submitted a motion of recognition of innocence before the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, with the objective that the ministers resume and thoroughly review my situation, in order to secure my early release.

That is why, compañeros y compañeras, I trust that there are no limits to your unconditional support for the defense of human rights, therefore I say to you to continue to press onwards and to have much encouragement to keep on struggling for truth and justice.

May God bless you!

To live or die for truth and justice!

Attentively

Minister Catechist and Political Prisoner,
Alberto Patishtán Gómez
The Voice of el Amate
Adherent to the Other Campaign of the EZLN

SAMPLE LETTER TO DELIVER ON MONDAY

C. Ministro Juan N. Silva Meza, Presidente de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación
C. Ministro Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea, Presidente de la primera sala de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación
C. Ministro José Ramón Cossío Díaz
C. Ministro Guillermo I. Ortíz Mayagoitia
C. Ministro Jorge Mario Pardo Rebolledo
C. Ministra Olga María del Carmen Sánchez Cordero de García Villegas

Al Presidente de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación y a la Honorable Primera Sala de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación, en relación a la petición de Reasunción de Competencia, radicado con el número 9/2012 por conducto de esta Embajada que usted representa.

Las y los que firmamos el presente documento, hemos seguido de cerca las acciones por la libertad del Sr. Alberto Patishtán Gómez, indígena tsotsil y profesor de educación básica, originario del municipio de El Bosque, Chiapas, quien se encuentra detenido actualmente en el Centro Estatal para la Reinserción Social para los Sentenciados No 5, (Cerss No. 5), en San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México.

El Sr. Alberto Patishtán, está sentenciado a 60 años de prisión, por los delitos de homicidio, lesiones calificadas, robo calificado, daños y portación de arma de fuego de uso exclusivo del Ejército mexicano; de hechos ocurridos el 12 de junio de 2000, en el municipio de El Bosque, Chiapas.

Según información de organizaciones de derechos humanos y abogados expertos en la materia, la sentencia conferida al profesor tsotsil, es el culmen de una serie de violaciones a las garantías judiciales y proceso judicial, que se dieron durante el proceso de procuración y administración de justicia. Lamentablemente el caso de Alberto Patishtán, ilustra la situación en la que se encuentran muchas y muchos presos en México.

En ese orden de ideas, nos dirigimos ante esta Embajada con el fin que remita la presente a la H. Primera Sala de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación, mediante la cual acompañamos la solicitud de numerosas organizaciones, solicitándole que reasuma la competencia originaria que le confiere el artículo 561 del Código Federal de Procedimientos Penales vigente para conocer el Incidente de Reconocimiento de Inocencia promovido por la defensa de Alberto Patishtán Gómez.

Consideramos que la reasunción de competencia resulta trascendente por tratarse de un asunto que ha concitado la atención y el apoyo de un amplio sector de la sociedad civil.

Estimamos además que la reasunción, permitirá a la H. Primera Sala de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación, establecer nuevos criterios sobre la protección de Derechos Humanos, tomando en cuenta las reformas constitucionales, las reformas judiciales y el principio pro persona consagrado en la Constitución política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

Las y los suscritos, para efectos de recibir cualquier clase de notificaciones señalamos el domicilio ubicado en Patricio Sanz 449, Col. del Valle, CP. 03100, México, Distrito Federal.

Sin más por el momento nos despedimos de Usted, reiterándole nuestra petición, así como nuestra más alta consideración.

Atentamente.

12 YEARS OF INJUSTICE

Sign the letter for the liberation of Alberto Patishtán here:

http://www.redtdt.org.mx/d_acciones/d_visual.php?id_accion=224

El Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, el Movimiento de El Bosque por la Libertad de Alberto  Patishtán, Defensa Estratégica en Derechos Humanos, en coordinación con los familiares de Alberto Patishtán Gómez (en adelante Alberto Patishtán) anunciamos el inicio de una estrategia jurídica en la que se solicitará a la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN), que asuma, de acuerdo a su competencia, un incidente de reconocimiento de inocencia a favor del profesor tsotsil Alberto Patishtán.

Con esta nueva acción jurídica, la SCJN tendrá una oportunidad única de hacer justicia a Alberto Patishtán, preso político desde hace 12 años, quien actualmente se encuentra detenido en el Centro Estatal para la Reinserción Social de Sentenciados No. 5, en San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.

Desde hace cuatro meses, desde el comienzo de la campaña por su libertad, miles de organizaciones, colectivos, comunidades y personas se han solidarizado con el profesor tsotsil en más de 30 países alrededor del mundo. En ese marco, el día de hoy 27 de agosto, se inicia la Cuarta Etapa: de Acción Global para Tumbar Las Paredes del Calabozo, Campaña Mundial, convocada por el Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio de La Otra Campaña de Nueva York, que en los próximos días dará a conocer las acciones internacionales a favor de la libertad de Alberto Patishtán.

En Chiapas, dentro esta Campaña Mundial, este viernes 31 de agosto, se realizará un día de ayuno y oración por varias parroquias de la Diócesis de San Cristóbal de Las Casas y el día 4 de septiembre próximo, el Pueblo Creyente ha convocado a una peregrinación de la zona tsotsil, la cual culminará con una celebración en la Catedral de San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

La familia de Alberto Patishtán, la comunidad de El Bosque y las organizaciones firmantes, hacemos un llamado a la sociedad civil nacional e internacional, organizaciones, colectivos, comunidades e individuos a unirse a las diferentes iniciativas por la libertad de Alberto Patishtán, comenzando por enviar cartas al Ministro Presidente de la SCJN, para que dentro de sus facultades, ésta asuma el recurso a favor del profesor tsotsil.

Consideramos que es de suma importancia hacer visibles las acciones a favor de la libertad de Alberto Patishtán, ya que es una oportunidad para que, a través del Máximo Tribunal del País, se obtenga su libertad.

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Eco Mundial en Apoyo a l@s Zapatistas:
Justicia y Libertad para San Marcos Avilés y Francisco Sántiz López” http://sanmarcosaviles.wordpress.com

OTRO “COMITÉ DE LA PALABRA VERDADERA” SE FORMA EN ALEMANIA. ESTA VEZ EN MüNSTER.

Desde Alemania: En Münster se forma nuevo comité de la palabra verdadera para realizar actividades en apoyo a las comunidades zapatistas

Estimad@s compas,

Como colectivo Gruppe B.A.S.T.A. de Münster, Alemania, hemos formado un nuevo comité de la palabra verdadera para realizar actvidades en apoyo solidario a las comunidades zapatistas.

Con muchísima preocupación observamos la represión, el despojo y la violencia en contra de nuestr@s herman@s zapatistas en Chiapas, México.Protestamos enérgicamente contra estos crimenes de parte de los tres niveles de gobierno en México y seguimos informando al público.

Vamos a organizar tres eventos informativos (el 27 de septiembre, el 2 de octubre y el 16 de octubre) en diferentes lugares de nuestra ciudad, con volantes, fotos y videos sobre las amenazas y ataques en contra de l@s compas zapatistas de las comunidades San Marcos Áviles y Comandante Abel. También vamos a explicar la situación del hermano zapatista Francisco Sántiz López, quien fue injustamente encarcelado en diciembre de 2011. ¡Exigimos su liberación inmediata!

Un compa observador de derechos humanos de nuestra ciudad, que estuvó en la comunidad de San Marcos Áviles, va a hablar sobre la situación de este pueblo rebelde. También vamos a presentar las denuncias de las Juntas de Buen Gobierno zapatistas sobre la represión en contra de la lucha zapatista. Además vamos a informar sobre los grandes avances emancipatorias que ha logrado el digno y justo movimiento zapatista.

¡ALTO A LA REPRESIÓN CONTRA EL MOVIMIENTO ZAPATISTA!
¡CHIAPAS NO ES CUARTEL – FUERA EJÉRCITO FEDERAL DE EL!
¡DESARME DE LOS GRUPOS PARAMILITARES Y OFICIALISTAS!
¡PRES@S POLÍTIC@S – LIBERTAD!
¡VIVA EL EZLN!
¡VIVAN L@S ZAPATISTAS!
¡VIVA LA OTRA CAMPAÑA!
¡VIVA LA AUTONOMíA!
¡LA LUCHA SIGUE!

Muchos saludos rebeldes al movimiento zapatista, al EZLN, al Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio / La Otra Campaña Nueva York y a todos los colectivos, comunidades, barrios y personas de La Otra Campaña y de la Zezta Internacional,

atentamente,

Gruppe B.A.S.T.A., Münster, Alemania

http://www.gruppe-basta.de

“Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas:
Freedom and Justice for
San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López”
http://sanmarcosavilesen.wordpress.com/

“THE TIME FOR RESISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY”:
GUSTAVO ESTEVA SENDS NEW LETTER
SUPPORTING SAN MARCOS AVILÉS AND FRANCISCO SÁNTIZ LÓPEZ

“It is urgent to show ourselves at the side of our compañeros in San Marcos Avilés. The threat is immediate. The Committees of the True Word must make ourselves known in every way we can, to show clearly the strength of our solidarity.”

– Gustavo Esteva

Compañeras and compañeros:

From Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of the first phase of the “Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas: Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López” Campaign, the long-time Mexican intellectual and activist Gustavo Esteva sends us a critical and poetic reflection that lays bare the reasons we must support and stand in solidarity with the Zapatista resistance. In his moving piece, titled “The Time for Resistance and Solidarity,” which incorporates quotes from the Zapatistas themselves, our compa Gustavo gives language to what we know instinctively, as a feeling. The dignified resistance of the Zapatistas is not some isolated or distant thing, as Gustavo explains, but rather a movement of dignified people that unites us. It is directly relevant to all of us. Therefore, we must defend it; we must defend ourselves.

With great pride, we share here this beautiful letter in its entirety:

THE TIME FOR RESISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY
Gustavo Esteva

“Struggling together, the colour of our skin is not important, what matters is the content of our hearts,” they told us in the Good Government Council, somewhere in the Mexican southeast, in the month of September 2012, as the true word continues walking for our compañero Francisco Sántiz López and for the compañeros of San Marcos Avilés.

Struggling together, because that is the only way we are able to confront those who are doing everything in their power to disrupt our initiatives, our livelihoods, our organization, our autonomy.

It is more than ten years now since our Zapatista compañeros told us this clearly, but it seems that at that time we could not hear them. We did not see then with the clarity we have now that we are in World War IV. It is not a war between countries. It is a war of those from above against those from below. Because we, those from below, are now walking in rebellion; because we have been saying “enough!” ever since the first of January 1994, when the Zapatista uprising awoke us. Because we are no longer willing to let them continue to destroy our Mother Earth, and to continue to kill and imprison us. Because we have organized ourselves now, and we are building alternatives. For these and many other reasons they have unleashed a continuous war against us, from outside and inside, making it more and more difficult for us to live. They want to turn the whole world into a prison. The market has already got used to the new situation. It operates within a war scenario and trades everything on the stock market, leading to uncertainty. But the people do not get used to it. And we resist.

“Resistance is no longer just a word,” they said to us at the Junta. “Before, we thought it was easy, we thought it was no more than just enduring. Now we know that it is the only way, the way to show that life is not made with money, but with the resistance with which we live and work. Now we do not often speak of resistance in our communities, because we have become accustomed to it. But we see resistance where the bad government comes to beat us, with attacks by paramilitaries, here yes we see resistance because we have to care for what is ours, because if we give up the resistance even a little we will give a space to the bad government to take away what we have, and we are not going to go back on what we have built. We know that some people do not like us to organize, and for this reason many things happen, they attack us, but never mind, each of us is still here, safe and happy, if something happens to us there are other compas waiting behind us. Despite this, there we see that we are living a quiet life with our brothers and sisters, and that is where we see the resistance. Resistance is the place where we do what we want without asking permission from anyone, and so we say that there are many resistances. We do not have a timetable for the resistance or a set time. We will never come to an end, we know that we will not give up, even if they kill us, because our word will continue.”

“We are finding that there are many like us, for nobody teaches us what we are going to do, and so what matters most is unity, the best way to build the world where many worlds fit is through unity, to be and to want to be together, although we are different. It gives us great pleasure when we hear of the struggles of other countries and places. To be fighters we have to be ready and willing, not only for prison but also for death. But if this is what we want, then let us continue. This is the only way we can go, there is no other way.”

Both Francisco Sántiz López and San Marcos Avilés are frontlines in this great war that escalates daily in the Zapatista communities, because their resistance is walking onwards, because every day they affirm themselves in their autonomy, consolidate their achievements and take them even further. The bad government watches how the Zapatista resistance is enriched, how they extend their own ways of learning and justice and health and all their modes of living and how, despite everything that is done against them, the new social reality, which is the foundation for a different mode of existence, spreads and is strengthened. The attacks are not directed against weakness, or against something sad or dead. They attack all that flourishes, all that is robust, and all that serves as an example and is a source of inspiration.

You might think that these attacks are very distant, that they occur over there in some small community in the highlands of Chiapas, where they think no one will ever witness the horror of this attack unleashed against those who just want to continue to live in their own way, in the construction of their autonomy, and to extend the activities so that their children may learn to participate in this autonomy. But Sántiz speaks well from his prison: “If I’m here, I’m there; if I’m there, I’m here.”

The demons are on the loose. The war is everywhere. But so too is solidarity—that decision to be together in this common struggle that no longer respects territories. In each place it is different. But everywhere the same phenomenon is reproduced: the people affirm their dignity and say ‘enough!’, and they take their path, and the response from above is intimidation, aggression, corruption, continuous war…

It is urgent to show ourselves on the side of our compañeros in San Marcos Avilés. The threat is immediate. We, the Committees of the True Word, must make ourselves known in every way that we can, so that the strength of our solidarity may be seen.

It is the time for resistance. And to resist is to struggle in common, together, in the embrace of solidarity.

Gustavo Esteva
San Pablo Etla, September 2012

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

http://sanmarcosavilesen.wordpress.com/

“Those from above have declared war on the Zapatista communities, a war which these days is focused on the community in resistance of San Marcos Avilés and the Zapatista political prisoner Francisco Sántiz López.” – Raúl Zibechi

Compañeras and compañeros:

Another letter in support of our Zapatista sisters and brothers is born amidst the global consciousness raising activities which form a strategic part of the first phase of the “Worldwide Echo in support of the Zapatistas: Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López” campaign.

This time the words of solidarity come to us from Uruguayan lands by way of the pen of the thinker and activist Raúl Zibechi. Like in the previous letters, these words are full of truth, anger, and dignity. Our compa Raul sums up for us the true goal of those from above in their war against the Zapatista communities–“to defeat a dream made ​​reality, one which we can see in the Good Government Junta of Oventic, and in so many other places.”

That dream is ours as well.

Here is Raúl Zibechi’s letter in full:

The information sent to us by the compañeros and compañeras of the Movement for Justice in El Barrio shows us the nature of this offensive: it is aimed at eliminating all resistance at a time when capital is unleashing hunger and misery upon those from below in order to increase and protect its gigantic profits. To safeguard their continued accumulation of wealth, it is necessary to wipe from the face of the earth all obstacles, every kind of resistance.

What the media and the “experts” call crisis, is actually part of this offensive to remove from the scene the peoples and the individuals who refuse to give way. Those from above are not in crisis. It is we, our strategies to survive and change the world, who have entered a crisis after decades of being anaesthetized with electoral illusions which promote the idea that it is possible to build an Other World without struggling, without addressing the hatred and the crimes of those from above.

It is not a coincidence that the Zapatista communities are being repressed. They have shown millions, throughout the whole world, a path of resistance and construction that is multiplying in the most remote places. For those from above, destroying the Zapatista movement would be a double victory: against the peoples and communities of Chiapas and against all those in the world who find inspiration in their example. It would mean bringing down a dream made flesh, like the one we can see in the Good Government Junta of Oventic, and in so many other places.

For all these reasons, solidarity with San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López is as essential as it is urgent.

Raúl Zibechi

Sorry, this entry is only available in Mexican Spanish. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.

Colectivos y Adherentes a la Otra Campaña en San Luis Potosí Invitan:

A LA INAUGURACIÓN DE LA EXPOSICIÓN DE PINTURA “CAMINANDO LA PALABRA VERDADERA” ESTE 8 DE SEPTIEMBRE DEL 2012 A LAS 19 HRS. EN EL CAFÉ 8 AVO ÁRTE

Obra de: Jesús Aranda

Nos unimos así a la campaña “Eco Mundial en Apoyo a l@s Zapatistas: Justicia y
Libertad para San Marcos Avilés y Francisco Sántiz López” .

Denunciaremos las agresiones a las Comunidades Autónomas Zapatistas , además de la Resistencia de las Comunidades Agua Señora y Cerrito de Maravillas de Mexquitic de Carmona, S.L.P., abriendo una mesa redonda para hablar sobre estos temas.

¡¡¡VIVAN LAS COMUNIDADES AUTÓNOMAS ZAPATISTAS!!!
¡¡¡ALTO A LAS AGRESIONES A BASES DE APOYO ZAPATISTAS!!!
¡¡¡LIBERTAD A PRESOS POLÍTICOS!!!

http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXuVyJ5YdfA&feature=plcp

http://sanmarcosaviles.wordpress.com/

FACE: Carlos Marx

CALL TO ACTION
“Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas:
Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López”
http://sanmarcosaviles.wordpress.com/

Second Phase:
From Truth to Action, Stopping the Repression
October 12th until November 17th

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 to the International Campaign in Defense of El Barrio and all our allies from around the world:
To 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:

Second Phase:
From Truth to Action, Stopping the Repression
“Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas:
Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Sántiz López”

Sisters and brothers:

Receive an affectionate embrace from the Mexican migrants of Movement for Justice in El Barrio, The Other Campaign New York. We hope that you are well, and ready to continue the struggle.

In order to expand the reach of the ongoing activities taking place as part of the current First Phase of our Campaign: “Walking the True Word”, which will continue until October 11, we are writing to you to propose that we join forces once more to carry out the Second Phase: “From Truth to Action, Stopping the Repression.”

This new phase will be different from the current first one – which aims to raise awareness in our communities about the dire situation that our Zapatista compas of San Marcos Avilés and the Zapatista political prisoner, Sántiz López, are facing – this second phase will be a period of direct action and protest from October 12 to November 17. As you will understand, these dates were chosen for their great significance in the history of indigenous struggles throughout the world: the Day of Indigenous Resistance and the anniversary of the Birth of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN).

If you would like to join our efforts and accept our proposal, please let us know as soon as possible, by sending an e-mail to:

laotranuevayork@yahoo.com.

For further background and to keep up-to-date with the phases and developments in this campaign, we invite everyone to read the first call to action, released on July 25, which is available here:

http://sanmarcosavilesen.wordpress.com/1st-call-to-action/

SECOND CALL TO ACTION:
“FROM TRUTH TO ACTION, STOPPING THE REPRESSION”

First and foremost, we would like to thank all the people who are continuing to give light and breath to this worldwide campaign, which for over a month now we have been creating and shaping together. Thank you for sharing this path with us and for continuing to walk alongside us.

Since its beginning at the end of July, when the first call to action was released, the “Worldwide Echo in Support of the Zapatistas: Freedom and Justice for San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López” International Campaign has been a meeting point for thousands of people of good heart who have responded to call of the Zapatistas for support and solidarity.

In addition, in many countries, solidarity cells called “Committees of the True Word” have been organized around this meeting point, and are continuing to build support networks and raise public awareness about the repression currently being faced by the Zapatista community of San Marcos Avilés and the Zapatista political prisoner Sántiz López.

More of these “Committees” continue to be set up every day, as more groups and people of good conscience join the campaign.

Together, we have all started the work of, to borrow a phrase from the wise Old Antonio, “walking the true word” by organizing in our respective communities, ejidos, towns, neighborhoods, and countries to sow the words of San Marcos Avilés and Francisco Sántiz López like seeds which will grow, in their turn, into the struggle in their support.

More and more people are finding each other every day, seeking and meeting in the darkness and obscurity of lies and indifference which those from above have constructed in order to keep us divided. Fumbling in the dark, we continue to meet each other, and searching, day after day, for a way to break through into the light. As our ancestors say, our collective words contain the essence of life on this planet: memory – and, once spoken and shared, our words become fire.

We remember that this darkness was both born in and gave rise to, that time the EZLN describe as “the long night of those 500 years.” While the political, economic, cultural, and social systems of those from above continue to move our lives and Mother Earth closer towards total extinction, the resistances of those from below continue to build other exits to escape this obscurity.

To prevent us from joining hands and rising from this darkness, those from above have committed to douse all the lights radiating from dignified people. This is why they are deploying their strategies of violence and destruction, and are attacking, imprisoning, repressing, assaulting, violating, robbing, silencing, and lying to us.

This is also why those from above, those who have created this long night, have chosen as their main target the indigenous peoples of the world, who have made such significant contributions to the struggle against the darkness.

Faced with this threat of planetary extinction, we must mobilize urgently to defend each and every light that illuminates our path towards the construction of another possible world. And as the True Word was and is the first form of light, it is vital that we defend those words which Old Antonio tells us were the first three in every language: “democracy, freedom, justice.”

It is no coincidence that these three words cannot be found in the governments, jails, schools, mass media, or the other institutions serving the privileges of those from above. Nor is it a coincidence that these same three words are alive, in many different ways, among the dignified people from below, especially the indigenous people of Mexico and the world. While those from above continue to attack and destroy these lights, we will continue to defend and create more lights, more exits, more worlds.

Even though those from above are using the lies which give the night its darkness to keep us divided, in our hearts we carry that which makes the light shine…This is called truth.

In order to actively support the defense of the light that shines from the Zapatistas, an exemplary indigenous movement, whose struggle has always been for and with both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples alike, we call on and invite everyone once again to join this campaign, and to carry out its second phase, which will consist of a month of strategic and direct actions.

Beginning on October 12, the Day of Indigenous Resistance, and lasting until November 17, the anniversary of the birth of the EZLN, we invite everyone to organize actions – according to our own ways and abilities – in our respective communities and countries during this period, so as to echo the call of the indigenous Zapatista community of San Marcos Avilés and the indigenous Zapatista political prisoner Francisco Sántiz López.

As our compas from San Marcos Avilés explain in their video-message, available below, they have endured a constant nightmare at the hands of a local attack group, backed by political party members, for having opened their own autonomous school “Emiliano Zapata” in 2010. From forced displacement to sexual assault, these compas have suffered numerous forms of violence and repression solely for wanting to live with dignity and freedom as indigenous peoples.it

Their video-message, which has already had over 30,000 views! It can be watched here:

At the same time, our compañero Francisco Sántiz López, a Zapatisa support base member and indigenous Tzeltal, has been imprisoned since December 2011 for crimes that he did not commit. His only offense, as has been stated over and over again, is that of being a Zapatista Support Base member. For this reason, he is being held as a hostage of the Mexican State.

For background on this, please consult the video-message from the Zapatistas about Francisco Sántiz López here:

For those who wish to learn more about the background and progress of this campaign, please visit the San Marcos Avilés website here:

http://sanmarcosavilesen.wordpress.com/

We hope that the videos and website continue to be useful tools in this struggle, which is already spoken in 10 languages and is seen in dozens of countries in our world. Hopefully it will continue to grow, reaching new places and peoples.

Lastly, if you accept this proposal and will participate in the Second Phase, we ask that you please let us know as soon as possible by sending an email to:

laotranuevayork@yahoo.com

From our brown and dignified heart, from this Barrio of migrants, we send you our warmest greetings and embraces.

FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR SAN MARCOS AVILÉS & FRANCISCO SÁNTIZ LÓPEZ!
LONG LIVE THE ZAPATISTAS!
LONG LIVE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES!