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Situation in Atenco (English)
posteado por comitecerezo en may 04, 2006 [15:18]

May 4, 2006: SITUATION IN ATENCO CONTINUES ON RED ALERT: POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST THE PEOPLE

The situation in Atenco, Mexico, continues on red alert. Since last night, when we accompanied the people of Atenco in their just and dignified struggle for land and in solidarity with other struggles, there were riot police from the PFP (Mexican Federal Preventive Police) that were prepared to enter and repress the people.

At 2 AM there was information that the PFP riot police were closing in, so the community went into high alert. It turned out that the PFP riot police did not come into Atenco until 6:30 AM, but when they did come in, they did so with the utmost brutality and lack of regard for the well-being of the people of Atenco and neighbouring communities who are part of the People´s Front in Defense of the Land (FPDT). It is important to mention that the PFP are a militarily-trained police, so they act much as would the army, brutal repressors of the people´s struggles. There were over 3000 elements of the PFP that entered into the community of Atenco, beating and detaining people as they went, and conducting searches house by house. There were 4-6 helicopters circling overhead, harrassing and searching for people that had fled.

As we fled the pursuit of the PFP, we passed neighbouring communities where the PFP riot police were advancing in order to also harass, beat, detain and search the homes of the people living there, who are also in resistance. These people opened their homes to us as we tried to flee from the brutality of the PFP; it is remarkable how a people under siege, under a state of war, will open their homes and hearts. This is the people of the FPDT; these are the people who actions and warm hearts are an example to the people of all of Mexico and all the world. Even while mourning the death of Javier, a 14-year old youth killed by police on May 3, 2006, and having sustained over 217 detainees as of afternoon May 4, 2006, the people of Atenco and neighbouring communities show us what solidarity is.

We ask that people around the world and in Mexico continue to exert pressure on the Mexican government, as well as their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs. The Mexican government at the national, state and regional levels must be held responsible for this death and the detentions and beatings and harassment of thousands of brave comrades in the struggle.

We ask that you demand that all of the political prisoners be released. There are over 217 detainees from the last two days. Among them are Ignacio del Valle and Heriberto Salas, two of the leaders of Atenco. We also ask that you demand justice for the death of the youth, Javier.

Please keep tuned to what is happening. This is repression not only against the people of Atenco and the FPDT, but all of us who are involved in the Other Campaign and the construction of another Mexico, that is from below and to the left. Let us support each other in our struggles!!

With much love, in the struggle,

Erika Del Carmen Fuchs, from Mexico, DF (having just returned from Atenco in order to spread the word of the repression there)

Free all Political Prisoners!
Land, Liberty and Dignity!
Viva the Other Campaign!