THREE DEPORTED FROM IRISH PEACE CAMP
One Mexican and three Norwegian human rights observers were detained by Mexican authorities outside an Irish-run peace camp in Chiapas on Tuesday. The Norwegians were moved to Tuxtla, the state capital late Tuesday night and flown to Mexico City to be deported.
The three were aprehended by Mexican authorities on a road outside of community of Diez de Abril. The peace camp, set up by the Irish Mexico Group, featured in a recent TnaG documentary and has been staffed by observers from several European states over the last 16 months.
A spokesperson for the IMG said: "Tension in Chiapas has been rising since the massacre of 45 peasants last December. The government has turned its back on the peace talks and wants to get rid of all independent observers. The low intensity war is heating up."
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PRESS RELEASE DATE: 16/4/98 SUBJECT: Threat to Irish development workers in Mexico EMBARGO: For immediate use CONTACT: Irish Mexico Group 01-6760435
The Mexican state of Chiapas has seen further violence in recent days, with large-scale military invasions into indigenous communities synpathising with the Zapatista rebels. In particular, the army and police have focussed on removing foreign human rights observers from the region. 15 people have been deported from Mexico in the last week, including 9 Europeans and 5 North Americans. Three of them were taken from an Irish-run peace camp.
Speaking from Chiapas, Mexico, on RTE radio today (5-7 Live), Mr D of the Irish Mexico Group said: "Military activity in Chiapas has increased dramatically this week, with 800 police and soldiers invading the indigenous community of Diez de Abril, where the Irish Mexico Group runs a peace camp". Mr D also denounced the disappearance of José Alfredo López Méndez, a 17-year-old from the community, after being beaten by police. He affirmed that the continuing presence of Irish human rights observers in the area is now seriously at risk.
The Irish Mexico Group has run a peace camp in Diez de Abril since January 1997, after the community requested foreign accompaniment to document human rights abuses by the military and the police. Paramilitary manoeuvres in the surrounding hills have also recently been commenced by a local "death squad" similar to that reponsible for the massacre of 46 people last Christmas, in the community of Acteal.
Interviews with Mr D. in Chiapas can be arranged through the Irish Mexico Group (contact number above). Espen Lauritzen, one of those deported from the Irish-run peace camp, can be contacted for interviews on 00-47-92033659.
PRESS RELEASE DATE: 17/04/98 SUBJECT: Protest at Mexican Embassy EMBARGO: For Immediate Use CONTACT: Irish Mexico Group at 6760435
MEXICAN EMBASSY PROTEST
The Mexican Embassy in Dublin will be picketed at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday, by protesters calling for an end to government attacks on indigenous communities in the troubled state of Chiapas. The Irish Mexico Group is calling the protest in response to an army and police attack on the community of Diez de Abril, in which a 17 year old, José Alfredo López Méndez was arrested and beaten, a child fell into the river and is still missing, and three human rights observers from the Irish-run peace camp were arrested, physically and verbally abused and deported.
A spokesperson for the group said: "The Mexican government is trying to get rid of the witnesses in order to step up attacks on Zapatista rebel communities. There is a very real fear that a massacre could happen, like the one in December when 45 people were killed. We must continue to protest and to send observers to Chiapas."
Interviews with Irish people in Chiapas can be arranged through the Irish Mexico Group.
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