Rogelio Velasco Gomez was on his way to the nearby town of Altamirano to buy supplies for the community, when he was stopped at a military checkpoint. Agents of the National Institute of Migration were also present. His whereabouts are now unknown and the community is concerned for his physical and psychological safety.
Harrassment of indigenous opposition groups is common in Chiapas, where a huge military presence (70,000 troops) has been maintained since 1994. There are over a hundred political prisoners in the state, most of whom are held on remand while their trials are delayed indefinitely. Two former inhabitants of Diez de Abril were arrested last year, held for seven months and finally released without charge.
Please send letters/faxes to:
President of the Republic of Mexico: Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon Fax: Email: webadmon@oppresidencia.gob.mx Governor of the State of Chiapas Lic. Roberto Albores Guillen Tel/Fax: 5296120917 or 5296112418 Email: comsocgo@correo.chiapas.com National Commission for Human Rights (Mexico) Fax: 5256312633 Email: cndh@laneta.apc.org Senator Luis H. Alvarez (Head of Vicente Fox's Transition Team for Peace in Chiapas) halvarez.pan@senado.gob.mx