Fred Hyde’s letter to Seattle Times regarding Kenneth Bae and Nestora

An editorial was posted to Seattle Times after North Korea released a U.S. prisoner. The Seattle Times Editorial Board asked for the release of Kenneth Bae, who has been imprisoned in North Korea for over 2 years. Here, Fred Hyde writes a letter to the editors to also consider asking for Nestora’s release.

Dear Editor,

Regarding your Friday, September 24 editorial on Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in North Korea, there is another U.S. citizen who is suffering harsh prison conditions in another country and deserves to be released.

Nestora Salgado, a resident of Renton, is a political prisoner in Mexico. In 2013, residents of her home town of Olinalá, Guerrero, elected her coordinator of their legally authorized community police force. Local and state officials conspired to jail this brave indigenous leader for carrying out her duties in an honest, principled manner that exposed their corruption. They have kept her locked up for over a year despite a March federal court ruling declaring her innocent and ordering her release. The international campaign to free her has the support of eight members of the Washington congressional delegation and many groups and individuals.

Mass protests over the disappearance and probable murder of 43 activist college students by police and drug cartel thugs in Guerrero drove the state’s Governor out of office last week­the same person responsible for Salgado’s arrest and ongoing detention.

The time is now for President Obama to call Mexican President Peña Nieto and insist he free Salgado immediately–before she too is disappeared.

Fred Hyde
2940 36th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98144
206-854-9057

Outrage in Mexico as Disappeared Students’ Bodies are Found

Swelling outrage over a police massacre and the forced disappearance of scores of students swept Mexico and the world [last] week.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators demanded justice for six people killed September 26 and 27 by municipal police officers and paramilitary gunmen in Iguala, Guerrero, as well as the safe return of 43 Mexican students from the Raul Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers College of Ayotzinapa reported kidnapped and disappeared by the same aggressors.

Read More…

Leftist Groups in New York Protest Student Killings in Mexico

DSC_0109From Latin American News Dispatch:

NEW YORK — Dozens of activists congregated outside the Mexican consulate to protest the Sept. 26 attack in Mexico’s Guerrero state that left six dead, 25 injured and at least 43 students missing. Authorities have detained at least 22 police officers suspected of involvement in the attack.

Activists in Mexico held similar protests in at least 63 cities. Cities as far away as Buenos Aires and Berlin also saw demonstrations in solidarity with the students. In New York, a handful of leftist and student organizations voiced their anger towards the Mexican government’s handling of the situation. The demonstrators also criticized recent cuts to education funding in Mexico, echoing the original protests by the students attacked in Iguala.

Keep reading…

Libertad para Nestora /Freedom for Nestora – U.S. Campaign statement on Ayotzinapa, Guerrero student killings

October 8, 2014

To the students of Ayotzinapa, Guerrero:

The Libertad para Nestora campaign in the U.S. stands in solidarity with you and your families today against the brutal repression and violence you have suffered at the hands of corrupt Guerrero political leaders and their criminal accomplices. We are incredibly saddened by the massacre of almost 50 students whose only “crime” was to struggle for a just society. What a callous waste of the precious lives of dedicated young people!

We raise our voices to join the chorus demanding that Sr. Ángel Aguirre, governor of Guerrero, resign immediately and that all those with blood on their hands be brought to justice. We have worked in the U.S. for a year to free Comandanta Nestora Salgado. There is only one reason she is still in prison: Governor Águirre refuses to release her despite an order by a federal judge. We have also fought for the freedom of other community police incarcerated under Águirre’s rule. Now he and the PRD have presided over the worst act of political violence in Mexico in decades. We join you in demanding an end to this reign of terror and lawlessness in Guerrero!

FREE NESTORA SALGADO AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
PROSECUTE THE ASSASSINS OF THE STUDENTS OF GUERRERO!
END THE REIGN OF TERROR AND CORRUPTION IN GUERRERO, MICHOACÁN AND PUEBLA!

In solidarity,

Libertad para Nestora /Freedom for Nestora –U.S. Campaign
freenestora.org

Declaración de Nestora Salgado en los asesinatos de estudiantes en Ayotzinapa, Guerrero

jueves, 2 de octubre 2014

Desde el penal de de máxima seguridad en Tepic, Nayarit

Qué tal compañeros, estoy aquí, desde esta prisión, soy Nestora Salgado García.

Mandándoles un saludo muy cordial y, me uno aunque sea con el corazón y el pensamiento a ustedes compañeros de Ayotzinapa por todo lo que pasó, pero les quiero pedir que no se desanimen y que al contrario, se unan más, porque debemos estar unidos en los tiempos difíciles siempre. Muchas veces nos unimos en los tiempos difíciles, pero debemos estar unidos siempre, por favor. Por eso es importante, compañeros, que siempre estemos en constante comunicación por que un día es por unos, y al otro día es por otros.

Sabemos perfectamente que el gobierno de Guerrero es muy represor, es un abusivo. En la autoridad abusan de su poder, el gobernador y todo el gobierno están abusando. Y la prueba bien clara soy yo, que han estado abusando aquí conmigo lo máximo, lo que más pueden, hasta para darme aquí un maltrato. Yo he denunciado que el gobernador está empeñado en tenerme aquí sabiendo que soy inocente y violando la constitución.

Yo no hice las leyes, como la ley 701; sin embargo, no la han respetado. Nosotros solamente nos avalamos por la ley, más aparte por el artículo 2 constitucional, pero le voy a pedir a todo el pueblo de Guerrero algo: jóvenes, por favor, es la lucha ahora, debemos de alzar nuestra voz ahora, nos deben de escuchar ahorita, porque si no es ahora, no es nunca.

Èchenle ganas muchachos, sigan estudiando, síganse preparando, porque sabemos perfectamente que al gobierno le conviene que seamos unos ignorantes, unos retrasados, por eso ellos avalan y protegen a los delincuentes, por eso protegen a los vendedores de drogas. ¿Por qué? Porque quieren a los muchachos tontos, durmiendo, drogados. No muchachos, pónganse las pilas, vamos a demostrar que nosotros somos inteligentes y que nosotros podemos.

Por favor muchachos estudien, vamos a luchar y vamos a defender a nuestro estado, no lo vamos a dejar en manos de buitres como es esta gente que tiene el poder y que ha hecho de nosotros lo que ha querido, con asesinatos. Mírenme a mí, fabricándome unos delitos que ellos saben perfectamente que no es verdad. Ellos tienen un testigo que dice que fui secuestradora, sin embargo no aceptan mis testigos que son miles, que yo no fui ninguna secuestradora, ninguna delincuente. ¿Por qué no aceptan mis testigos? Un pueblo completo es testigo de que yo no soy una delincuente y que ha luchado por mí y sin embargo, al gobernador no le interesa esto, no le interesa lo que el pueblo dice, simplemente se aferra a que yo soy una delincuente y eso es mentira; y ese es el abuso de poder. Ese es el abuso de autoridad, porque han abusado, gente corrupta. Jueces que ni siquiera han contestado a los papeles que ha metido mi abogado, ni siquiera me han contestado nada, no me han dado resoluciones, simplemente se han callado, ¿por qué? Porque todos están mezclados en lo mismo, porque todos son iguales de corruptos, porque yo no debería de estar aquí, yo ya debería de estar afuera, sin embargo, por su poder, aquí me tienen.

Pero compañeros un abrazo y estoy con ustedes en oración. Al pueblo entero le pido: únanse a los muchachos de Ayotzinapa. No los dejen solos en estos momentos, que no hagan lo que quieren hacer con ellos. Ellos siempre han sido pacíficos, nunca han metido armas como para que los maten así y los desaparezcan ¡no se vale!

Pero bueno compañeros, estoy con ustedes y siempre voy a estar con ustedes en mi pensamiento. Quisiera estar allá para esta lucha, para ir al frente y defendernos todos juntos, pero bueno, con mis oraciones los ayudo desde aquí.

El día que me detuvieron era porque iba en ayuda de los compañeros de Tlatauquitepec, pero buen, esa era la suerte y lo que tenía el gobierno preparado para mí, pero aquí estoy con ustedes y por favor no se achicopalen, no se asusten. La lucha es esta y vamos para adelante.

Compañeros del Politécnico, un saludo desde aquí de Nestora Salgado. Muchísimas gracias por el apoyo que les han dado a los compañeros de Ayotzinapa. Les mando un saludo, a lo mejor saben de mí, pero bueno, aquí estoy, algún día a lo mejor estaremos en alguna lucha juntos.

Muchísimas gracias por este apoyo y sigan apoyándolos, no los dejen solos. Y para darles ánimos, que sigan preparándose, que sigan estudiando. Y bueno compañeros muchísimas gracias, que dios los bendiga. Desde aquí de donde estoy un abrazo muy fuerte.

Nestora Salgado García, presa política.

Miembro de la Coordinadora Regional de Autoridades Comunitarias-Policía Comunitaria.

Nestora Salgado’s message to the compañeros of Ayotzinapa, Guerrero on the September 2014 assassination of at least 28 teacher’s college students

Thursday, October 2, 2014

From the maximum security prison en Tepic, Nayarit

What’s up, compañeros. Here I am in this prison. This is Nestora Salgado García

I send warm greetings, although for now only with my heart and in my thoughts I join you compañeros de Ayotzinapa in all that has taken place. I want to ask you not to be discouraged but instead ask you to join together stronger because we must always be united in difficult times. Oftentimes we become united only in difficult times but we must please always be united. This is why, compañeros, we must always be in constant communication because on some days we come together for some and other days we join together for others.

We know well that the government of Guerrero is very abusive and repressive. In power, they abuse authority. The governor and the whole government is abusive. Clear proof of this is my case. They have been abusing me as much as possible, even mistreating me in this prison. I have declared that the governor of Guerrero has determined to keep me here, knowing full well that I am innocent and that he is violating the constitution of Mexico.

We did not make the laws, like the 701 law which the Guerrero government does not respect. We ask only that this law be upheld along with Article 2 of the Mexican Constitution. But I ask only that you, young people of Guerrero, please know that now is the time that we must raise our voices and we must be heard now because if not now, then never.

Do your best, muchachos, continue studying and preparing yourselves because we all know that the government wants us to remain ignorant and backward. That is why they promote and protect the criminals. That is why they harbor the drug dealers. Why? They want to keep los muchachos drugged and powerless. No muchachos recharge your batteries and let’s show them that we are intelligent and that we can overcome.

Please, muchachos, keep studying and let’s struggle together and defend our state and show that we will not remain in the hands of vultures like those in power now who have done as they desired with us, including carrying out assassinations.

Look what they have done to me in fabricating charges that they know perfectly well are false. They have someone who says that I am a kidnapper, but they do not listen to my witnesses which number in the thousands—witnesses who testify that I am not a kidnapper and no criminal. Why don’t they listen to my witnesses? An entire town is witness that I am not a criminal and have fought for me, and yet the governor of Guerrero is not interested in this. He is not interested in what the people say. He just continues to lie that I am a criminal in a clear abuse of power. This is the abuse of corrupt officials. Court judges haven’t even responded to the legal filings of my lawyers, not even responded, nothing. No response–just complete silence. Why? Because all these people are mixed up in the same outfit; because they are equally corrupt; because I should not be here in prison. I should be free, but those in power keep me here.

But, compañeros, you I embrace and I am with you in prayer. To all of you I plead: stand in unity with the muchachos de Ayotzinapa. Do not leave them alone at this time and don’t let them do as they wish with them. They have always been peaceful. They never took up arms. There is no justification for them to be killed and missing. No reason at all!

I stand with you compañeros. I am with you and will always be in spirit. I would love to be there with you in this fight, to join you on the front lines, all of you together. For now, though, I join you with my prayers from this prison.

The day they arrested me I was on my way to help the compañeros in Tlatauquitepec, This unfortunately was my luck, given what the government had prepared from me. So, I am here. I stand in solidarity with you. Please don’t lose faith or be afraid. This is the struggle and we will go forward.

Compañeros of the Politécnico, I, Nestora Salgado, send you greetings. You have my deep appreciation for the support you have given the Ayotzinapa compañeros. I send you greeting, hoping you know about me. Here I am and someday we will be in the same struggle together.

Thanks so much for your continued support for the Ayotzinapa compañeros. Don’t leave them alone. To gather strength, please continue preparing yourselves and studying.

So compañeros, thanks a lot and may God bless you.

From here I send you a warm embrace.

Nestora Salgado García, political prisoner

Member of Coordinadora Regional de Autoridades Comunitarias-Policía Comunitaria.

Podrían trasladar a cárcel del DF a Nestora y Suástegui

This article originally posted at La Jornada:

Enrique Méndez
Periódico La Jornada
Lunes 25 de agosto de 2014, p. 15

El gobierno de Guerrero aceptó abrir una ruta distinta de negociación para lograr el traslado de Nestora Salgado, coordinadora de la policía comunitaria de Olinalá, y Marco Antonio Suástegui Muñoz, vocero del Consejo de Ejidos y Comunidades Opositores a la presa La Parota, del penal de máxima de seguridad de Nayarit, con la intermediación de Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz (Serapaz) y del Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD) en la Cámara de Diputados

El diputado Roberto López (PRD) informó que mañana se instalará una nueva mesa de trabajo en la ciudad de México con la participación de Miguel Álvarez, presidente de Serapaz, y legisladores de ese partido, así como una representación del gobierno del estado.

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AFSCME Nestora Resolution

The following was posted to AFSCME’s Resolution Page:

Nestora Salgado

WHEREAS:

Nestora Salgado is a resident of Renton, Washington, a naturalized U.S. citizen, and an indigenous leader imprisoned in Tepic, in the Mexican state of Nayarit; and

WHEREAS:

Ms. Salgado and the citizens of her hometown, Olinalá, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, organized an indigenous community police force to defend their community. Ms. Salgado was elected leader. There is an established tradition of legally recognizing such groups in Guerrero; and

WHEREAS:

Ms. Salgado’s duties included working to reduce domestic violence and child abuse and engaging in conflict resolution and community building; and

WHEREAS:

Ms. Salgado was arrested on August 21, 2013, charged with aggravated kidnapping and immediately transferred to a maximum security federal prison in the state of Nayarit, where she has remained for more than a year without trial.  In April, a Mexican federal judge dismissed the criminal charges against her and confirmed her actions were legal as an authorized leader of the community police force. He ordered her immediate release; and

WHEREAS:

Ms. Salgado remains in prison.  The judge’s order has been ignored and she has been charged with new crimes based on facts already dismissed by the federal courts. The state courts refuse to consider motions by her defense team. Until recently she was denied access to her lawyer. All legal deadlines have passed long ago; and

WHEREAS:

There is growing concern about Ms. Salgado’s health.  She is being held in solitary confinement and denied needed medicine and medical attention to treat neuropathy.  Her incarceration is also taking a toll on her mental health; and

WHEREAS:

On August 29, a letter was sent to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to use the resources of the State Department to secure Ms. Salgado’s release.  The letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, as well as seven members of Congress:  Adam Smith, Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Jim McDermott, Denny Heck and Juan Vargas; and

WHEREAS:

More than 120 organizations and individuals have endorsed the campaign to free Nestora, including the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28 and Council 28 locals 304, 843, 1488; AFSCME District Council 57 and Council 57 Local 2019; the Librarians’ Guild of the Los Angeles Public Library/AFSCME Local 2626; AFSCME Local 3299 at the University of California, and AFSCME Retiree Chapter 36 in Los Angeles.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

AFSCME is alarmed by the abuse of Ms. Salgado’s human rights and due process rights; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

AFSCME urges the U.S. State Department to take immediate and rigorous action to secure Ms. Salgado’s release.

SUBMITTED BY:
Ty Pethe, President and Delegate
Betsy McConnell Gutierrez, Secretary
AFSCME Local 304, Council 28
Washington
Roy Stone, President and Delegate
Ruth Seid, Recording Secretary
AFSCME Local 2626, Council 36
California

International Executive Board