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On the afternoon of April 13th, the Seguridad Publica (state police)and the army drove down the dirt road that leads to San Miguel Chiptic, region of Altamirano. Just before getting to the entrance to the community of Diez de Abril, they arrived at a roadblock set up by several Zapatista base communities in that canyon. People were nervous because police and soldiers had entered several times the week before, as well as in January 1998. The community members were accompanied by 3 Norwegian human rights observers. The communities had requested the presence of the international observers, fearing for their safety. The lesson of the Acteal massacre has not been forgotten in Chiapas.
The police and soldiers were accompanied by two hooded men, who pointed out community leaders and alleged "Zapatistas," who were then photographed by the security forces. The Norwegians were photographed and had their names taken down by the Seguridad Publica, who threatened to return with immigration officers. Community members at the roadblock finally pushed the security forces back to the main highway.
The Seguridad Publica and Army returned the next day, April 14th, but the soldiers stayed stationed at the entrance of the community of 10 de Abril. The Seguridad Publica entered with immigration officers on the pretext of looking for the foreigners.
When police arrived, three Norwegian human rights observers went up to ask them what they were doing entering the community without permission and the immigration agents then grabbed them. A 16-year-old member of the community tried to stand up for the rights of the observers but was grabbed my the police and beaten. They then stripped him naked and viciously beat him again. He was last seen on the main road and his whereabouts are still unknown.
While the incident with the foreigners was transpiring, community members arrived to defend their homes with sticks. Police fired twelve tear gas bombs impeding the community's efforts to respond to the invasion. The police then took the sticks away and began to use them against the people. Many of the women and children of Diez de Abril fled across the river.
The police entered the peace camp and sacked it. They entered houses and destroyed people's belongings - -- took or broke tools, broke kitchen items, burned plastic dishes, stole the community VCR, and contaminated food. They destroyed the local clinic and may have seized the paperwork of the municipality.
At some point, the Seguridad Publica withdrew to reunite with the army.
Another Norwegian observer was present but was able to flee. The other three have already been deported.
A more detailed report will be filed when we are able to contact them and a Mexican human rights observer who visited the community yesterday.