Zapatista Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Tabasco

As previously announced, on April 21 two Zapatista political prisoners, Ángel Concepción Pérez Gutiérrez and his father Francisco Pérez Vázquez, went on hunger strike in the Tacotalpa, Tabasco, prison where they're incarcerated. Originally announced as a fast that would last "for three days or as long as necessary," the prisoners sent a letter to Other Campaign adherents on April 22 confirming that they are on hunger strike for an "indefinite period of time."

The two prisoners are on hunger strike despite their poor health condition--74-year-old Francisco is diabetic, and Ángel suffers from an untreated infection. Some reports say Ángel is also diabetic.

Ángel and Francisco were imprisoned in July 9, 1996, for a murder they say they did not commit. They demand immediate, unconditional release, not a pardon, because a pardon implies that they committed the murder.

Family members and supporters have erected a plantón, or protest encampment, outside of the municipal prison in Tacotalpa, Tabasco. Plantonistas are sending YouTube video messages to the Other Campaign declaring their resolve to continue the struggle until Don Ángel and Don Francisco are free.

Julio Garduño, an adherent to the Other Campaign in Tabasco, reports that porros are hanging out near the plantón, giving the plantonistas "murderous looks." Porros are government-sponsored thugs.

On April 21, the prison arbitrarily refused to allow supporters to visit the prisoners despite serious concerns about their health. However, in an April 22 letter the prisoners say they're in good health and good spirits, and that prison medical staff examined them.

The Other Campaign requests that adherents contact the following authorities to demand the immediate unconditional release of Zapatista prisoners in Tacotalpa, Tabasco, and political prisoners who are part of La Voz de Los Llanos and La Voz del Amate in Chiapas:

• Mexican Mission to the United Nations in Geneva
  16 Avenue du Budé
  1202 Geneva
  Switzerland
  Fax :1 41 22 748 07 08
  Tel: 1 41 22 748 07 07
  E-mail: mission.mexico@ties.itu.int
• Señora Embajadora Sandra Fuentes-Berain, Mexican Diplomatic Mission in Brussels
  94 avenue F.D. Rossevelt
  1050 Ixelles
  Belgium
  Tel: 1 32 2 629 07 11
  Fax: 1 32 2 644 08 19
• Señor Presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, President of Mexico
  Residencia Oficial de "Los Pinos"
  Co. San Miguel Chapultepec
  México D.F.
  C.P. 11850
  Mexico
  Fax :1 52 5 55 522 94 13, +52 5 55 277 23 76
  E-mail : radio@appresidencia.gob.mx; webadmon@appresidencia.gob.mx
• Sr. Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Procuraduría General de la República
  Reforma Norte esquina Violeta 75
  Colonia Guerrero
  CP. 06300
  México D.F.
  Mexico
  E-mail : ofproc@pgr.gob.mx
  Fax: +52 5 55 346 0906
  TEL: +52 5 55 346 20 03

Please also write the following Chiapas authorities:

• Lic. Juan José Sabines Guerrero, Governor of Chiapas
  Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Chiapas
  Av. Central y Primera Oriente
  Colonia Centro
  C.P. 29009
  Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
  Mexico
  E-mail : secparticular@chiapas.gob.mx
  Fax: 1 52 961 618 8088; 1 52 961 618 8056
• Lic. Sonia Siman Morales, President of the Chiapas Supreme Court
  Palacio de Justicia
  Libramiento Norte Oriente no. 2100
  Fracc. El Bosque
  C.P. 29047
  Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
  Mexico
  Switchboard: 1 52 961 617 8700
  Or the following numbers: 1 52 961 616 5350 or 1 52 961 616 5354
• Lic. Amador Rodríguez Lozano, Chiapas Minister of Justice
  Libramiento norte oriente y Rosa de Oriente #2010
  Col. El Bosque
  C.P. 29049
  Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
  México
  Fax : 1 52 961 617 2300
  E-mail : arodriguez@mje.chiapas.gob.mx

Please send a copy of your letters to: laotrajovel@gmail.com

Photo by Chloe Heather.