Sunday, January 11th, 2004, the community of Tlalnepantla declared autonomy from the country of Mexico, blocked the access roads to the community and did not allow the police or the military to enter. They also took control of the municipal/city government building, asserting their rights to self determination and self governance. The indigenous people of Mexico have the right to name their own authorities and held an autonomous election with much participation from the municipality in the mountains of Morelos.
This declaration of autonomy was the result of years of organizing, and was precipitated by the government refusing to allow people to elect their municipal leaders the way they have always done. The tradition had been that leaders are chosen in a group process through a town-hall style meeting, but the government told them that this was invalid, and forced a ballot electoral process, in which the winner Elias Osoria purchased most of the winning votes. Once autonomy was declared, Osoria was not allowed into the government building and remained in his home.
In the early morning of Wednesday, January 14th, more than 1000 police, using armed force and weapons, took the municipal/city government building of Tlalnepantla, supposedly to “reestablish the state of rights.” The police killed Gregorio Sanchez Mercado , gravely wounding others, arresting and detaining more than forty people, and establishing a virtual military siege in this community. Most of the men from the community were forced to flee under threat of arrest or worse by the police, and by Thursday night the community was a quiet one, with people staying indoors and almost no men to be seen.
The official version states that the police came to aid of the reputed municipal president Elias Osoria , but in reality there is substantial proof of a criminal operative conducted and directed by the Sergio Estrada Cajigal who has the bloodstains of this police action on his hands.
The inhabitants of Tlalnepantla initially repelled the aggression by the police force using rocks, shovels, machetes and a few hunting weapons but were obviously overcome by an operation where the “Forces of order” used professional weapons and snipers posted from the church. Once the city was taken over by the police, assault rifles were planted to fabricate a story the people of this community were guerrillas, and not simply people working for their right to determine their own future, and of course the corporate media has picked up this story.
This is a story of a true massacre against the people. It has been many years since Morelos has seen such a level of barbarity and fascism. It reminds us of the troops led by Huerta and Carranza against Emiliano Zapato, because here also they have succeeded in making hundreds of men and women hide in the hills seeking refuge from the oppressive government.
Friday in Cuernavaca, Mexico, a solidarity march occurred with over 2000 people marching in the rain. The march route was plastered with posters and covered with graffiti labeling the government of the State of Morelos and the police to be assassin, and supporting the right of self determination for the people of Tlalnepantla. A group of international observers were present to observe any potential human rights abuses during the action. There was also another march on Saturday, which has attendance of about 2000 people.
Please see the Mexico and Chiapas indymedia sites for more detailed information on this situation as it continues to develop.