Great News! Javier Elorriaga and Sebastien Entzin have been released. This is a great victory for the forces for peace and justice in Mexico and internationally. Global Exchange wants to express profound gratitude to all who wrote letters, marched in picket lines, took over consulates, and otherwise showed the Mexican government that injustice would not be tolerated. We want to also thank all the human rights delegates who visited Cerro Hueco Prison where sixteen alleged Zapatistas continue to be held. Special thanks and praise go to Margaret O'Shea who has regularly visited the prisoners and conducted a continuous campaign on their behalf since they were imprisoned in early 1995.
The following is a report by Margaret who joined those celebrating the release last night in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
Report by: Margaret O'Shea
When the lawyer called with the news of the release of two Mexican political prisoners, we hurried to Cerro Hueco Prison to be part of the welcoming party.
What a joyful occasion for family, solidarity workers, and the legal defense team. Not to mention a palpable sense of relief for the nation that the crisis point reached in Chiapas, with the postponement of peace talks between the government and the rebels due to the sentencing of two presumed Zapatistas last month, could be steered away from with the magistrate's measured decision to release the prisoners. It is hoped the parties will now set a new date for peace talks to resume. And,in the eyes of the world, the Mexican judicial system is seen to work somewhat fairly in the appeals process.
Last night I stood outside the prison waiting for a released prisoner. No negotiations with the guards or prison authorities to permit me a visit, no searching of my bag. No lugging down of food, sandals, soap for the prisoners. Instead, on a warm evening in Tuxtla Gutierrez, I stood with two other supporters from Global Exchange, the lawyers, and a few local reporters in anticipation of the emergence from the gates of 20 year-old political prisoner Sebastian Entzin. Earlier, at 6:00 p.m., Jorge Javier Elorriaga, 36 years old, walked out the prison gates, a free man. Elorriaga talked briefly to the crowd of 25 journalists assembled and then left with his lawyers and some supporters from his support committee to an undisclosed location where he and Entzin could safely stay the night. Supporters held banners to greet him along the route. Waiting for Entzin's release paperwork to be concluded, we painted two welcome banners and listened to a Mercedes Sosa music tape in the prison parking lot.
At 10:00 p.m., Sebastian Entzin ambled up the hill, the door opened, and he was greeted with music, lights, and applause. He smiled and confidently told a reporter: "I have a lot of work to do. I will go back to doing my work, in the fields." Entzin and Elorriaga were two of eighteen political prisoners since 1995 accused of terrorism, sedition, and rebellion by the Federal Attorney General Office (PGR) of Mexico as alleged membersof the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). They were arrested in January 1995 and February 1995, respectively, and have been serving time in Cerro Hueco Prison in TuxtlaGutierrez, the state capital of Chiapas. (At this time, 16 remain imprisoned, only one sentenced, which is under appeal.)
Yesterday afternoon, in Tuxtla, magistrate Enrique Duran Martinez overturned a lower court's ruling and declared unconditional liberty for Entzin and Elorriaga, revoking an earlier sentencing of six and thirteen years' imprisonment, respectively. Elorriaga leaves this morning in an airplane to Mexico City to be reunited with his family. Entzin will go by road to his home in a village in eastern Chiapas.
Elorriaga wrote to us in March 1996 from his prison cell: "Believe me that we know how to respond to your efforts and your solidarity."
Javier and Sebastian: You gave us the best response last night. Walking out into the night air with us, heads up, freedom tasted and never lost.