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Mexican political prisoners freed

Freed political prisoners

A deal brokered with Mexico's government has freed 145 prisoners after campaigning by thousands worldwide - including CAFOD - about their unlawful imprisonment

The Catholic Church has successfully helped broker a deal with Mexico's Chiapas state government to freee 145 political prisoners.

The prisoners – 43 of whom spent more than a month on hunger strike in protest against their detention – had been accused of being linked to the Zapatista revolutionary movement.

Earlier this week the Chiapas Minister of Justice, Amador Rodriguez Lozano, publically acknowledged the inmates’ innocence and said they had not had adequate legal representation.

He also promised to prosecute those responsible for unlawfully imprisoning them.

Prominent bishops and The Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human Rights Centre, which works in partnership with CAFOD, campaigned for the release of the hunger-strike prisoners, which in turn led to almost 300 cases being reviewed.

Zacario Hernandez, the person who started the hunger strike and the first one to be released

At the beginning of March, the Chiapas state governor, congress and judiciary, set up a Reconciliation Commission.

Some 100 lawyers were brought in to study cases from 1994-2006 and discovered the systematic use of torture and sexual abuse and the fabrication of evidence.

On March 18, Zacario Hernandez - who began the hunger-strike - was freed, followed by the remaining 143 men and one woman on March 31 and April 1.

More to be released

However, 17 political prisoners who are supported by the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Centre are still being held in Chiapas jails and continue to fast.

Please remember these innocent people in your prayers as they struggle for justice over the coming weeks.

You can also send them a message of solidarity and support in English, which will be translated.

Please email the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human Rights Centre at frayba@frayba.org.mx or medios@frayba.org.mx

In 1994 the Zapatistas led an armed uprising – which gained massive public support – protesting against the poverty and deprivation of the indigenous communities and calling for greater political autonomy in Chiapas.

Since then, successive Mexican governments have stationed large numbers of soldiers in the region to repress any further unrest.

Sarah Smith-Pearse, CAFOD Latin America and Caribbean, says: “This is a real breakthrough in the long-standing political conflict in Chiapas.

"The Mexican authorities haven’t just freed a few prisoners; they are saying that torture and false imprisonment are unacceptable and that they are going to address the issue.

"It’s a complete turn-around and a gesture of peace and reconciliation after so many years of military repression.”

Mexico

Corruption, poor human rights and unfair trade are rife and, despite promises of social justice and reform, many have become disappointed at the slow pace of change

Few elderly people manage reach the relative safety of camps when they flee their homes because of fighting. "This is the grandmother of our village," says a group of women and girls who have fled their village out of fear that it would be attacked, following a spate of attacks in their region [Charlotte Brudenell, ACT/Caritas]

Prisoners in their own villages

Many communities in West Darfur find themselves trapped by armed groups who prevent them from leaving their homes to go to safer areas

Computer animation on workers rights in Mexico

Play "The Computer Game"

A simulation game based around conditions endured by factory workers in Mexico. Participants encounter injustice in a recruitment agency, a computer factory and a shop and are encouraged to reflect on their experiences

Published on 09/04/2008, last updated on 09/04/2008

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