END THE STATE AGGRESSION AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF ATENCO, MEXICO!

Subject: MSN News and Analysis
Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 10:44:14 -0400
From: "Mexico Solidarity Network"

DETAILS OF POLICE ABUSE IN ATENCO SLOWLY REVEALED, CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

Details slowly began to emerge this week of police violence in San Salvador Atenco, site of a police-initiated riot last week that left one 14-year-old dead, at least 50 seriously injured and more than 200 arrested. On Wednesday, the Miguel Augstin Pro Human Rights Center released video testimony from three state police officers confirming responsibility for the death of the 14-year-old.

“The youth saw an officer who was trying to hide. He shouted that there was a state police officer and (the officer) took out his gun and shot him,“ said the officers. The three policemen, whose identities were protected during filming, revealed that state police arrived in Atenco armed with R-15 caliber rifles and .38 and 9 millimeter pistols.

“We were under orders to beat anything that moved, but only out of sight of the media,“ said the police.

More than 3,500 state police participated in the operation in addition to Federal Preventative Police. Of the 47 women arrested in Atenco, 30 reported sexual abuse - having been violated with penetration of the penis, fingers or other objects - in formal complaints taken by the federal Attorney General and the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH). Police used prophylactics during the abuse, a strong indication that they came to Atenco with the intention of committing rape.

Public education and non-violent civil pressure are central themes in the developing movement in support of Atenco. On Saturday, Marcos called the movement “an ethical and moral commitment, and we are not going to stop until all the prisoners are set free.

The mainstream media, both in Mexico and internationally, hastened to discredit the residents of Atenco and Zapatista supporters, with a particularly negative focus on Marcos. This effort to hide the truth of massive and unrestrained police repression is slowly being reversed by a broadly based education campaign. The battle over freedom for Atenco political prisoners is turning into a decisive political battle, pitting the strength and resources of the Mexican government against the moral authority of the Other Campaign and the capacity of civil society organized as an anti-capitalist left to unite and defend itself. The participation of international civil society is crucial.

The Mexico Solidarity Network calls for banner drops in public places, especially near Mexican consulates. Banners reading “End Mexican Police Repression” “Free Atenco Prisoners” or “Mexican Police Rape Women” “Free Atenco Prisoners” or something similar would be particularly effective.

Banners can be fashioned from sheets or heavy paper and secured to buildings or other highly visible public spaces. Take digital photos of the banners and send them to the local media and the Mexican consulate in your area along with a description of the action and a series of demands, including:

- End police repression in Mexico
- Release Atenco political prisoners
- Prosecute police and political leaders responsible for the Atenco repression

Mexico Solidarity Network Link:
http://www.mexicosolidarity.org

Delegations
Submitted by civicadmin on Tue, 2006-04-25 09:12.
Delegations to Mexico, 2006

Dates to be posted soon.

The Mexico Solidarity Network can organize specialized delegations for your campus groups, church groups, or activist collectives. View photos and a report from the American University Center for Human Rights Alternative Spring Break delegation to Mexico with the MSN: http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/springbreak.cfm
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