Murderers of Zapatistas Walk Free

On 8 June the Fray Bartolome human rights centre denounced the situation whereby the murderers of two zapatista civilians have been allowed to escape justice. On 16 May judge Francisco Javier Plaza Ruizhas ruled that he considered there was not sufficient evidence and that no further action will be taken against Nicolás and Pedro Méndez López.

These two men murdered Manuel and Gloria Méndez Sánchez, zapatista bases of support, on 27 October 2000 on the zapatistas' land in the community of Río Salina Cruz, Municipality of Marqués de Comillas, which is in the south of Chiapas, near the Guatemala border.

The murders were seen by Gloria's son, eight year old son, Emmanuel Méndez Peñate, who identified the murderers. The boy was himself seriously injured in the attack. There is still an arrest warrant out for a third man involved in the murder, Víctor Manuel Díaz. The attackers are involved in a peasants organisation known as MOCRI-CNPA. After the attack the community of Río Salina Cruz was displaced.

The human rights centre Fray Bartolomé has denounced this injustice stating: "For Frayba the murder of Manuel and Gloria in impunity is a demonstration of the negligence of the public authorities. Rather than upholding the right of law, they have obeyed political and economic interests, thus making impossible the smallest reparation of the wrongs suffered by the victims, who are seeking justice.

Área de Comunicación Social del Frayba (medios@frayba.org.mx), Tels: (01 967) 678 7396, 678 3548, 678 3551, Calle Brasil No. 14, Barrio de Mexicanos, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico