PHOTOS: Misión Civil de Observación
Editors’ Note: On Feb. 23, 2015, 17 Tojolabales families were forcibly displaced from their homes, their belongings and their lands. The forced displacement was by the authorities, 50 of them, amongst whom 15 were carrying high-powered fire arms.
Friends, comrades, brothers and sisters
Today we continue to denounce the forced displacement of the 17 Tojolabales (Mayan Indian) families caused by the authority of the local property owners from “el ejido” (community) Miguel Hidalgo which pertains to the historical CIOAC organization directed by Luis Hernandez Cruz.
On the morning of June 23, 2015, just like the last 4 months, we are awakened by the raindrops on the plastic that covers us each night. We awaken wet and cold.
Our problem remains without solution due to our bad government. But we continue fighting for our land because it is the only heritage that we have. We will continue to struggle for our land.
The face of the bad government is this forced displacement, and of the thousands of past displacements of the indigenous people of our country. Come and see where we are after being displaced, and you shall see the face of impunity and the reality of the indigenous communities.
We shall never tire of our cause. We will continue until the different levels of government make good on their word. We shall never tire of putting forth our legitimate accusations. We will continue until we have justice. We are in favor of life and of peace. As we say as citizens in our indigenous language “tsomanotikb’ask’kulajeljsak’analitik” meaning, together we shall all build our lives.
We demand an end to the threats and harassments. We demand that the following people: the federal government of Enrique Peña Nieto, the state government of Manuel Velasco Coello, the municipal president of Las Margaritas Manuel Culebro Gordillo energetically comply with the agreement signed Feb. 25, 2015 where they promised to distribute the land in equal parts.
We demand the swift return to our original settlements as forest dwellers. We demand the immediate application of the law upon those who are responsible because they continue to freely walk the streets as if they had committed no crime at all. We demand reparations of the destruction that took place on May 9, 2014; Dec. 17, 2014, and Feb. 23, 2015.
We demand that those who took our land, give it back to us, the forest dwellers.
Attentively
First of August Settlement
Las Margaitas Chiapas, Mexico
