Following is an abridged version of a leaflet handed out by the Loxicha People's Union Against Repression (LPUAR) at a demonstration in Oaxaca City Square in August against the arbitrary arrest of 68 people. Oaxaca is the capital of Oaxaca State in southern Mexico.
The LPUAR has spoken out repeatedly against the repression of struggling people and political organisations working for social justice.
Following the results of the July 6 elections, both federal and state governments have been parading the success of the civil democratic process throughout the country, for which it claims credit. However, we believe that the great majority of people believe in the need for real change, as demonstrated by the success of the Party of the Democratic Revolution in Mexico City and elsewhere.
The LPUAR believes that a genuinely democratic and representative electoral system must be based on: government social and economic programs that are not tied to any commercial interests; votes that are neither bought nor a product of intimidation and fear of the party of the ruling elite; and elections that do not take place while there are political prisoners, assassinations and the "disappeared".
For these reasons we proclaim our strong opposition to a legal system so corrupt and removed from the rule of law that 68 prisoners from the Loxicha region can be held without evidence and, when released, can be immediately rearrested on trumped-up charges. Another six detainees face bail charges set at 100,000 pesos, an amount way beyond their lifetime earnings.
At the same time we are facing the total militarisation of our region, the continual violent attacks on our people by police organisations which have resulted in assassinations.
A permanent state of siege exists in Oaxaca for the families of political prisoners; their homes are kept under police surveillance and raided without warrant. One young person, Pedro Antonio Almaraz, was kidnapped on July 17 and when released on July 25 had suffered beatings and had not eaten throughout his detention. Three other young people have also been "disappeared".
We, the indigenous Zapoteco people of the southern Sierra, still have no answers as to why the government seems determined to crush our people.
We will not stand by and see our people destroyed. We are proud to be indigenous.
We want the government to let us live in peace! We demand recognition of our human and indigenous rights!
Stop the harassment and genocide against the people of Loxicha! Freedom for all political prisoners!
@photo caption = Some of the families of the "disappeared" in Oaxaca City Square in August