ACTION ALERT: Police Invade Autonomous Community.
Article written by Alex Rocklin and Rachel Wallis
In their autonomous municipalities and all over Mexico, the Zapatistas
celebrate the 10th anniversary of their official appearance of the
world scene. In declaring their autonomy, the Zapatistas have
established a grammar for autonomous self-rule, which is being taken up
by oppressed communities all over Mexico. In the state of Morelos this
past week, the town of Tlalnepantla declared their autonomy. Their
declaration was followed by the arrival of fully armed state and
municipal police and resulting in the death of one person and the
injury of unknown number of others. Tlalnepantla is in Morelos, in the south of Mexico, and is a major producer of nopal cactus. The Mexican electoral commission had rejected Tlalnepantla's traditional mode of electing leaders, through a town council of the entire the adult population. The man who was officially elected, with only 10%, had been accused of corruption in previously held offices. The people of Tlalnepantla called for the man elected to step down and a traditional ruling council to be put in place. This course of action was not recognized by the state and so autonomy was declared. Morelos Governor Sergio Estraida Cajigal called repeatedly for the dismemberment of the council, although at the same time, promising not to use police force against them.
Nonetheless, on January 14th, the police, armed with riot gear, entered the town after midnight and a confrontation took place. Many were injured and a number of people are missing. This past week NGO workers, human rights observers and students came to Tlalnepantla to show their support for the people there, trapped in their own village by a police cordon, with little access to food, water and medical attention. They were met with police in riot gear and tear gas and some were arrested.
Please e-mail the Governor of the state of Morelos ( gobernador@morelos.gob.mx ) to let him know that the world is watching! And call your local Mexican consulate to demand the immediate withdrawal of the state police from Tlalnepantla, Morelos! For more information see www.mexicosolidarity.org.
In their autonomous municipalities and all over Mexico, the Zapatistas
celebrate the 10th anniversary of their official appearance of the
world scene. In declaring their autonomy, the Zapatistas have
established a grammar for autonomous self-rule, which is being taken up
by oppressed communities all over Mexico. In the state of Morelos this
past week, the town of Tlalnepantla declared their autonomy. Their
declaration was followed by the arrival of fully armed state and
municipal police and resulting in the death of one person and the
injury of unknown number of others. Tlalnepantla is in Morelos, in the south of Mexico, and is a major producer of nopal cactus. The Mexican electoral commission had rejected Tlalnepantla's traditional mode of electing leaders, through a town council of the entire the adult population. The man who was officially elected, with only 10%, had been accused of corruption in previously held offices. The people of Tlalnepantla called for the man elected to step down and a traditional ruling council to be put in place. This course of action was not recognized by the state and so autonomy was declared. Morelos Governor Sergio Estraida Cajigal called repeatedly for the dismemberment of the council, although at the same time, promising not to use police force against them.
Nonetheless, on January 14th, the police, armed with riot gear, entered the town after midnight and a confrontation took place. Many were injured and a number of people are missing. This past week NGO workers, human rights observers and students came to Tlalnepantla to show their support for the people there, trapped in their own village by a police cordon, with little access to food, water and medical attention. They were met with police in riot gear and tear gas and some were arrested.
Please e-mail the Governor of the state of Morelos ( gobernador@morelos.gob.mx ) to let him know that the world is watching! And call your local Mexican consulate to demand the immediate withdrawal of the state police from Tlalnepantla, Morelos! For more information see www.mexicosolidarity.org.
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