Human Rights Center
Fray Bartolome de las Casas, A.C.
Press Bulletin
December 23, 1998

The Mexican National Army, Public Security and the National Migration Institute displayed a shameful attitude yesterday during the commemoration ceremonies for the Acteal massacre.

A year after the events at Acteal, yesterday, December 22, 1998, thousands of Mexican and foreign people attended the religious celebration to commemorate the women, children and men killed. The was presided by Bishops Don Samuel Ruiz and Raul Vera in the company of the priests of the San Cristobal de las Casas, Tuxtla Gutierres, and other Dioceses; among the participants were the victim's widows, widowers and orphans.

A helicopter from the Mexican National Army flew over several times over the spot where the celebration was taking place as well as over the sanctuary where the victims are buried. They interrupted the act. The Public Security forces, Migration agents and members of the Mexican National Army constantly patroled the highway passing through Acteal and with an intimidating attitude they took pictures and video of the people at the entrance of the community. At the military and migration posts located at the entrance to San Pedro Chenalho and Las Limas, soldiers of the Mexian National Army also took video of the people on the highway. In the same manner, they acted as National Migration Institute agents, taking over their functions and asking passerbies for their identification.

The Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center is aware of several foreigners whose migratory form was taken away from them and who were given a citation to show up today, December 23, at the National Migration Institute's offices.

These actions show that the government continues its campaign against international solidarity people because they are considered inconvenient witnesses. This Human Rights Center deeply laments the scoffing attitude and the lack of respect to a people in mourning and who refuses to forget its brutally massacred dead at the hands of paramilitaries linked to the regular forces and all the people in solidarity with them.

We denounce, before public opinion, these shameful acts which, once again, show contempt on the part of official offices to the Indigenous people who fight for a dignified life and a just peace.

Originally released in Spanish, by Fray Bartolome Human Rights Center Translated by Rosalva Bermudez-Ballin for Nuevo Amanecer Press

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