- To Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon
- To the National and International Human Rights Commission
- To the People of México
- To the Norwegian Government
The inhabitants of the community 10 de Abril, municipality of Altamirano, Chiapas, address ourselves to you to publicly denounce the aggressions that wounded our community, located 12 kilometres from the municipal head on the 14th of April at approximately 5:00 in the evening. A convoy of approximately 300 members of the State Police, 400 members of the Mexican Army, the PGR, and the Public Ministry penetrated our community shooting tear gas, shouting. "Here is your peace--war. the government wants us here. We are finished with you. There is no doubt that we want war." There was no response on our part of provocation. They went into our houses, beating men, women and children, throwing out our personal belongings, our food and our clothes. they burned a house. They seemed drunk and on drugs.
We declare that our community had invited four people of Norwegian origin that were found with us to our traditional celebration of Holy Week and these were taken from our community on April 18th. The State Police detained 3--two women and one man that were severely beaten and man-handled. Even though we heard their cries for help and decided to defend them, the response we received was tear gas and the detention of our comrade Alfredo Lopez Mendez, who in order to be detained, was beaten, stripped of his clothes and given a gun. They took photographs of him to make it seem as if he was the aggressor. to this we say that we never use arms.
For these actions commended by you Mr. President of the Mexican Republic and executed by your repressive forces, we ask you as Mexicans that you give us the true guarantees that are granted us in the Constitution of the United States of Mexico. As indigenous people we deserve respect. Those who attack us today are also Mexicans ordered by another Mexican who claims to be the President of the Mexicans and the executioner of the indigenous people.
To the international organisations who are entrusted with human rights and in particular the Norwegian Government, we demand that you investigate the mistreatment of the citizens of your country, as demand that the Mexican Government clarify the drug use and sexual harassment of the two women whose crime was visiting indigenous Mexicans and sharing with us our traditions. With this act, the government has demonstrated that in this region it is persecuting people of foreign nationality who share in our poverty.
We are hoping to count on the solidarity of the national and international organisations and the intervention of the [illegible] described above, so that these action are not repeated against our guests and ourselves as Mexicans.
Respectfully,
Municipal Agent for 10 de Abril