Tag Archives: Guerrero

Committee for Revolutionary International Regroupment (CRIR) Statement

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The following statement is issued by Committee for Revolutionary International Regroupment (CRIR) on the International Protests scheduled for August 21.

Statement on August 21, 2014

International Day of Protest to Free Political Prisoners in Mexico

Free Nestora Salgado, Dr. Mireles and All Political Prisoners

Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, has filled his country’s jails with political prisoners. Over the last few months, around 300 armed self-defense forces in Michoacán have been imprisoned. Thirteen community police from the state of Guerrero have been jailed. Four community leaders have been apprehended for opposing the construction of a dam in La Parota. In Puebla, activists who oppose the construction of a thermoelectric plant have been detained. In México City, there are many activists in jail, along with others in Quitana Roo and other states in Mexico.

There have also been assassinations like that of Galeano, a Zapatista leader in Chiapas. Peasant leader Rocío Mesino was murdered in Guerrero, and a number of journalists, mostly in Veracruz, have been murdered as well.

The Peña Nieto government has unleashed a wave of repression against self-defense forces, community police and all those in the country that take to the streets in protest. The goal here is to discourage the necessary and effective arming of the citizenry and to send the message to foreign and domestic investors that they will benefit from the recent legislation that allows for the looting of mining, energy and hydraulic resources of Mexico.

Now is the time to act. Mexico is full of political prisoners. We will not stand silent as those who fight to preserve their rights are treated like criminals while the Peña Nieto government turns a blind eye to drug-trafficking cartel leaders who perpetuate countless crimes with the complicity of high government officials.

The Committee for Revolutionary International Regroupment (CRIR) calls on all movements and individuals to organize protests at Mexican consulates and embassies on Thursday, June 21, the International Day of Protest to Free Nestora Salgado, José Manuel Mireles and all political prisoners in Mexico. Today we protest for the political prisoners in Mexico. Tomorrow, CRIR continue the fight for justice for political activists and against state repression wherever it may be.

On August 21, protesters will gather in six U.S. cities and in Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Argentina. In Mexico, the community police from the Casa de Justicia are organizing protests in Guerrero state and sending representatives to Mexico City.  There also will be demonstrations called by the Coordinated Land and Community Opposition Organizations [Coordinadora de Ejidos, Comunidades y Organizaciones Opositoras] from La Parota, Guerrero, as well as protests in Michoacán and Mexico City by organizations defending political prisoners. There will be at least 10 different protest actions in Mexico from Chihuahua to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Puebla and other locations.

Committee for Revolutionary International Regroupment (CRIR)
Freedom Socialist Party (FSP), U.S. and Australia; Núcleo por un Partido Revolucionario Internacionalista (NUPORI), Dominican Republic; Partido Obrero Socialista (POS), Mexico; and Partido Revolucionario de Las y Los Trabajadores (PRT), Costa Rica.

For more information, contact U.S. Freedom Socialist Party
National Office, 206-985-4621 Fax  206-985-8965
Email  fspnatl@igc.org

Declaración del Comité por la Reagrupación Internacional Revolucionaria (CRIR)

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Esta declaración es emitida por Comité por la Reagrupación Internacional Revolucionaria (CRIR):

21 de acto: Jornada internacional por los presos políticos mexicanos

¡Libertad a Nestora, Mireles y a todos los presos políticos!

En México, el presidente Enrique Peña Nieto ha llenado las cárceles de presos políticos. De unos meses para acá, han sido encarcelados unos 300 autodefensas en Michoacán; ya había 13 policías comunitarios presos en Guerrero y ahora están en prisión cuatro dirigentes populares que en este estado se oponen a la construcción de la presa La Parota; en Puebla están recluidos aquellos que no desean la edificación de una termoeléctrica. En la capital del país hay presos políticos. Y hay otros presos de este tipo en Quintana Roo y otros estados.

También ha habido asesinatos políticos, como el de Galeano, un dirigente zapatista chiapaneco; y antes Rocío Mesino, dirigente campesina de Guerrero, y de numerosos periodistas, señaladamente en Veracruz.

El gobierno ha lanzado una fuerte represión contra los autodefensas, comunitarios y contra todos aquellos que en el país se movilizan y luchan. Su objetivo es desalentar la necesaria y eficaz organización armada del pueblo y dar una señal a los inversionistas nacionales y extranjeros para que aprovechen las nuevas leyes que les permitirán saquear los recursos energéticos, mineros y hidráulicos en su provecho.

Es el momento de actuar. No podemos permitir un país con presos políticos. No podemos aceptar que los que luchan por sus derechos sean tratados como criminales. En cambio, el gobierno mexicano tolera a jefes de los cárteles que trafican droga y que cometen innumerables delitos, y altos funcionarios gubernamentales son cómplices de las bandas criminales.

El CRIR exhorta a las organizaciones, colectivos, personas y movimientos para llevar a cabo actos de protesta frente a las embajadas o consulados mexicanos este jueves 21 de agosto, día internacional por la libertad de Nestora Salgado, José Manuel  Mireles y todos los presos políticos mexicanos. Esta vez es por México y sus presos; el CRIR mañana convocará a campañas contra la criminalización de los que protestan en otras latitudes, pues la represión es aplicada por los gobiernos en todos los países. Tanto el imperio norteamericano como los gobiernos que lo obedecen deben saber que el CRIR será un valladar a sus intentos de reprimir a l@s luchadores sociales.

Ya se preparan protestas el 21 de agosto en seis ciudades de EU, en Australia, Brasil, Costa Rica, Dominicana, Argentina, etcétera. En México, las  policías comunitarias organizadas en la Casa de Justicia, “La Patria es Primero”, están organizando protestas en ese estado y en el Distrito Federal. Lo mismo la Coordinadora de Ejidos, Comunidades y Organizaciones Opositoras a La Parota, así como autodefensas de Michoacán, las organizaciones defensoras de los presos en la capital del país. Habrá al menos diez actos de protesta en México, desde Chihuahua al Istmo de Tehuantepec, en Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Puebla y otros.

____________________________________________________________

Comité por la Reagrupación InternacionalRevolucionaria (CRIR)
Partido Obrero Socialista (POS), México; Freedom Socialist Party (FSP), EE.UU. y Australia; Núcleo por un Partido Revolucionario Internacionalista (NUPORI), Republica Dominicana; y Partido Revolucionario de Las y Los Trabajadores (PRT), Costa Rica.
Más información: POS-México, cuateruizortiz@hotmail.com; NUPORI—Republica Dominicana, hco2245@gmail.com; PRT-Costa Rica, damohe@costarricense.cr; FSP-EE.UU., fspnatl@igc.org

Legisladores de México y Estados Unidos piden por la libertad de Nestora y Suástegui

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The following post originally appeared in an article in the publication El Sur:

agosto 11, 2014
Declaración de Smith sobre llamada telefónica con el Embajador de E.U. sobre el caso de Nestora Salgado
 Washington, D.C. – El día de hoy, el diputado Adam Smith habló con el embajador de Estados Unidos en México, Earl Anthony Wayne, sobre el caso de Nestora Salgado. La señora Salgado es residente de Renton, Washington, quien fue arrestada por su liderazgo en un grupo de policía comunitaria en su natal Olinalá en el estado de Guerrero, el cual tiene una larga tradición de grupos de defensa comunitaria legalmente reconocidos. Nestora fue injustamente arrestada por ejercer los derechos garantizados a su comunidad indígena por la constitución mexicana, dijo el diputado Adam Smith. Esto no sólo ha sido reconocido por cortes federales, sino que un juez federal ha ordenado su liberación inmediata de la prisión de máxima seguridad donde se encuentra debido a que los cargos por crímenes federales le han sido retirados. A pesar de esta orden, ella permanece detenida en condiciones inaceptables y no ha se le ha otorgado un proceso legal adecuado. Estados Unidos debe hacer más por presionar a las cortes del estado de

Guerrero para que agenden un juicio inmediatamente o que la liberen de acuerdo a la decisión de las cortes federales. El 18 de abril, el diputado Smith mandó una carta al secretario [de asuntos exteriores] Kerry donde le apremia a garantizar que Nestora reciba el debido proceso y que llame la atención sobre sus deplorables condiciones en prisión. Smith también ha acompañado a la familia de Nestora y a su representación legal en una conferencia de prensa en la Universidad de Seattle para llamar la atención sobre su caso y abogar por su libertad.

La diputada federal Rosario Merlin García, clamó por los presos
 La diputada federal perredista, Rosario Merlin García, demandó al gobierno estatal y federal la libertad del promotor de las autodefensas y vocero del Cecop, Marco Antonio Suastegui Muñoz. “Estamos aquí con la finalidad de rechazar y exigir no a la criminalización de los luchadores sociales, defensores de derechos humanos y por la libertad de Marco Antonio Suástegui Muñoz, además del esclarecimiento de los homicidios de nuestros compañeros luchadores sociales. “Como el caso de nuestra compañera Rocío Mesino (líder de la Organización Campesina de la Sierra del Sur) cuyo asesinato no se ha esclarecido, por eso exigimos al gobierno de (Enrique) Peña Nieto, que lo haga. Acompañada por colonos, organizaciones sociales, representantes de las comunidades y de la OCSS, el ex diputado Rómulo Reza Hurtado, transportistas agrupados en la CETIG, la diputada federal, exigieron al Secretario de Gobernación Miguel Ángel Osorio, la libertad inmediata del líder del CECOP y al mismo tiempo de la coordinadora de la CRAC en Olinalá Nestora Salgado García.
El SUR, 7 enero 2012

August 21: International Day of Protest to Free Nestora and all political prisoners!

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nestora-anniversary-protest-social

August 21, 2014 will be the one year anniversary of Nestora’s arrest and imprisonment. For 12 months, she has been denied the right to see her lawyers. Orders to free her by a federal judge have been ignored. Kept in isolation without medical attention, she represents hundreds of people in self defense groups who have been jailed for defending their communities against powerful, politically connected criminal cartels.

In June, the Mexican government expanded its occupation and repression in Michoacán, arresting Dr. José Mireles and nearly 100 of his followers. They were on their way to regain public control of Lázaro Cárdenas port, the largest seaport in Mexico, from a drug cartel known as the Knights Templar. This criminal syndicate used the port to export goods and resources stolen from the people of the region. Today Nestora Salgado and Dr. José Mireles are powerful symbols of popular resistance against Mexican government corruption and unbridled crime. As U.S. military aid to Mexico increases, the violence continues.

August 21 will be a day of International protest calling for the release of Nestora, Dr. Mireles, and all political prisoners. Join a location near you in international solidarity!

Free Nestora Salgado!
Free Dr. José Mireles!
Free all political prisoners!
Stop the government repression of self-defense forces and indigenous leaders!
End U.S. military aid to Mexico!

Protest Locations:

Seattle
Thursday, August 21, 4 PM
Federal Building Plaza, 915 Second Ave, Seattle (Downtown, between Madison & Marion)
206-722-2453; FreeNestora.Seattle@gmail.com

Portland
Thursday, August 21, 12 PM
Mexican Consulate, 1305 SW 12th Avenue, Portland (Corner of SW 12th Ave and SW Morrison St)
503-516-2151; jsardo60@hotmail.com

San Francisco
Thursday, August 21, 7:30 AM
Mexican Consulate, 532 Folsom Street (between 1st and 2nd), San Francisco
415-864-1278; freenestora.sanfrancisco@earthlink.net

Los Angeles
Thursday, August 21, 4 PM
Federal Building, Downtown LA (300 N. Los Angeles St)
323-732-6416; freenestora.la@gmail.com

New York City
Thursday, August 21, 1 PM
Mexican Consulate, 27 E 39th St, Manhattan (between Madison Ave and Park Ave)
917-714-6453; FreeNestora.NYC@gmail.com

Melbourne, Australia
Saturday, August 23, 1 PM
The old GPO, corner of Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
03 9388-0062; freedom.socialist.party@ozemail.com.au

For information about protests in these countries:
Costa Rica: infoprtcr@gmail.com
Dominican Republic: hco2245@gmail.com
Mexico: pos.org.mx@gmail.com
For information about actions elsewhere, contact fspnatl@igc.org.

Guerrero: Community Police Leader Nestora Salgado Still in Federal Prison

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dorsetchiapassolidarity's avatardorset chiapas solidarity

Guerrero: Community Police Leader Nestora Salgado Still in Federal Prison

Proceso: Marta Lamas*

0-391x293More than four months ago, I wrote about Nestora Salgado, a regional coordinator of the Community Police of Olinalá [Guerrero], who was illegally detained in retaliation for her courageous work against organized crime and municipal corruption; specifically, she was arrested for committing the crime of cattle rustling (stealing animals/livestock) and for presumably being involved in the murders of two ranchers. Accomplices of the official filed a complaint against her for “kidnapping.”

Nestora was arrested in August 2013 during an impressive combined operation by military, state and municipal forces. She was taken first to Acapulco, where she spent six hours incommunicado, then moved a thousand kilometers [622 miles] away, to a maximum security prison in Nayarit. Initially, they ordered ‘preventive prison’ [remanded to prison] thanks to two lawsuits of ordinary…

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Gunmen kill a woman traveling with them. Members are asking for protection for Nestora Salgado’s daughter and sister

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Originally appeared in La Jornada, June 3, 2014. Translated for posting on this website.

Members from the PRD and PT reported that they will request precautionary measures on behalf of the sister and daughter of Nestora Salgado. Yesterday, while traveling to Mexico City to give a press conference, the bus they were traveling on was stopped by armed men who took a passenger who resembled both women, and shot her four times.

Rep. Roberto Lopez (PRD) confirmed that this is not an isolated incident because Nestora Salgado’s family has to make the trip from Olinalá, Guerrero to Mexico City and then take another bus to Tepic, Nayarit, in order to visit her in the maximum security prison in which she is located.

Legislators explained that the Interior Ministry should ensure the safety of Salgado’s family, and they indicated that they will demand her transfer to a prison in Mexico City, in order to ensure that it has appropriate measures for her imprisonment.

On her part, Rep. Loretta Ortiz Ahlf (PT) considered it “incredible”  that nine months after her arrest, without a warrant , Nestora Salgado still does not have legal counsel, because authorities from the Northeast Women’s Center in Tepic, have not allowed contact with Emiliano Gomez Mont, who was hired by an NGO and a U.S. university.

”No one was present when the statement was made, a key moment in which the consul (U.S.) and the lawyers should have been,” she said, referring to the fact that Nestora Salgado has U.S. citizenship and yet the U.S government has not aided.

She said that during the visit, the former coordinator of the Community Police from Olinalá confided that she “does not believe in justice within the Mexican government and requests the U.S. governments exercise of diplomatic protection action, because judicial authorities here are not reliable and fears for her life.”

She also added that ”Salgado’s arrest was made without notice to the consul. Not only is consular assistance a right, but so is notification of when liberty is deprived. It doesn’t matter where it is, it needs to be done immediately.”

Translated by Nathaly Fernandez

Freedom for Nestora News Bulletin

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The Freedom For Nestora Committee – Seattle has prepared a newsletter for April, highlighting the progress of Nestora’s case such as a Mexican federal court dismissing federal charges of “organized crime” against Nestora, bringing her closer to freedom.

To read about this and other updates on the case, click here.

U.S. Citizen Nestora Salgado closer to freedom in Mexico

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Seattle, WA–Nestora Salgado-García of Renton, who has been illegally detained by Mexican authorities since August 2013, won an important victory in her struggle for freedom when a Mexican federal judge dismissed significant criminal charges against her.

“This decision represents a breakthrough for Nestora,” said Professor Thomas Antkowiak, Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Seattle University School of Law, which has led international litigation on her behalf. “The judge recognizes that she is not guilty of any crime, because she was acting legally as an authorized leader of her indigenous community.”

State kidnapping charges are still pending against Salgado. However, “this important federal precedent may well lead to the dismissal of the state charges and her release,” states Alejandra Gonza, co-counsel. Accordingly to the federal ruling, law enforcement actions by community police leaders such as Salgado could not be considered illegal.

Salgado was arrested for her courageous community work in the small indigenous village of Olinalá in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Guerrero law and the Mexican Constitution guarantee the rights of indigenous communities to form their own justice and security institutions. Salgado was a leader of a community-policing group that legally forms part of state law enforcement, and had the express approval of Guerrero’s Governor.

Corrupt authorities abruptly changed position, however, when the group arrested a local official for committing a crime. Salgado was immediately seized by military forces and flown nearly 1,000 kilometers away to the maximum-security prison of El Rincon, in Nayarit.  She was denied visits from her elected attorney and family members.  Among many other deplorable detention conditions, she has been refused clean water and medical treatment. Supporters hope she will be transferred to a safer facility closer to her family in Mexico.

A naturalized U.S. citizen, Salgado moved to the United States in 1991 at the age of 20. More recently, she divided her time between Olinalá and the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband, José Luis Avila, her daughters, and grandchildren.

Her daughter, Grisel Rodriguez of Renton, expressed hope after many months of despair over and advocacy for her mother. “This shows she is innocent and must be released. She cannot survive much longer in that terrible prison.”

A broad coalition of national and international supporters has demanded Salgado’s release. The Freedom for Nestora Committee – led by Fred Hyde, a retired Administrative Law Judge, and Su Docekal – has obtained the endorsement of many thousands of individuals and organizations. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and several U.S and Mexican political leaders are closely monitoring the case.

Contact: Katherine Hedland-Hansen
hedlandk@seattleu.edu
+1(206) 793-3487
Seattle University School of Law

The uphill fight to free Nestora Salgado

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By Fred Hyde

Nestora Salgado is both a naturalized U.S. citizen and an indigenous leader in her Mexican hometown of Olinalá, Guerrero. Last summer, Mexican authorities jailed her on trumped-up charges related to her role as the elected leader of Olinalá’s community police, which defends people against violent drug cartels and corrupt officials.

The grass-roots campaign to liberate Nestora is part of the hard-fought battle against neoliberalism. Over the past decades, the U.S. has joined many plans, treaties and alliances with Mexico aimed at opening up markets for the U.S., securing its oil supplies, and, ostensibly, combating narco traffic. In reality, Washington’s “War on Drugs” has been about protecting the profits of transnational corporations and foreign banks, including billions from laundering drug money.

Read more at socialism.com >>

Mexico: the right of civilian self-defense

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By Cuauhtémoc Ruiz

The emergence of community police and self-defense groups (las autodefensas) in thirteen of Mexico’s states is a major political event nationally, but also internationally. It is not every day that a sector of the population arms itself. Even more remarkable is what is happening in Michoacán: over a period of months, thousands of armed people pursuing groups of criminals and releasing territories from the control of mafias and drug traffickers. This armed organization is a great feat of the Mexican people, who have shown that their organization and will are stronger than the capitalist state.

The national and state governments together have been powerless to fight the criminals and bring security. (Nationally, the parties heading these governments have been the Partido Acción Nacional, or PAN, of Felipe Calderón, followed by thePartido Revolucionario Institucional, or PRI, of Enrique Peña Nieto; in Michoacán, the Partido de la Revolución Democrática, or PRD, followed by the PRI; and in Guerrero, the PRD.) However, the brave and organized masses have been able to accomplish this, while risking their lives every day.

Read more at socialism.com >>