Youths rally in support of Mexican political prisoners

A group of revolutionary youths--small in number but big in spirit--rallied at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego Feb. 23 in support of several political prisoners currently held throughout Mexico.

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The important event, initiated by Reynaldo Escoto of Zapatista Friends-Tijuana, was called to present the consulate with letters and petitions in support of three ongoing struggles: to free the political prisoners arrested on May 28, 2004, in Guadalajara; a halt to the continued torment of the community of Agiabampo 2 in Sonora; and stop the unjust incarceration of Nicolasa Ramos from Maclovio Rojas, a Tijuana community still struggling for its land titles.

The May 28 political prisoners are five men being detained at the Penal de Puente Grande in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Although the charges range from vandalism to inciting a riot, the real "crime" these youths are being penalized for is having attended a demonstration at the Third Summit of Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union (III Cumbre America Latina, El Caribe y la Union Europea) last May.

That day hundreds of demonstrators were chased down and brutally beaten by police. Many protesters were not detained but are currently awaiting trial. Those individuals, regardless of where they live, are being forced to report to authorities in Guadalajara once a month. Currently there is no trial date set for the five detainees, but their combined bail is U.S. $8,000.

Agiabampo 2 in Sonora is a community like many others in Mexico, in that it struggles for recognition of its land titles, livable wages and decent housing. After being threatened and harassed by police, the community built barricades made of junked cars. Also, the community declared itself to be in solidarity with the Zapatista movement as a further measure of security and in a brave revolutionary effort to struggle against the government.

In response, the Mexican government came down hard on Agiabampo 2 one night last December, sending paramilitary troopers directly to the homes of movement leaders before dawn. Windows were shattered as women, men and children were forced from their beds and thrown out into the cold. They were forced to watch as community leaders were beaten, handcuffed and carried away by police.

Three men remain in detention. Police patrol the community day and night. Chil dren have stopped going to school and several families sleep in one home out of fear.

Fear is no stranger to the people of Maclovio Rojas, Tijuana, either. They too have struggled for their land titles and their dignity in a battle against the government that has gone on for 16 years.

Two years ago the people of Maclovio received a huge blow when Tijuana police arrested Nicolasa Ramos, one of the leaders of their struggle, for alleged theft of water. Water, which runs to the city of Tijuana in aqueducts that cross Maclovio's land, is denied to the residents of the town. They must buy water from the government.

Residents managed to tap into the water's source. Ramos was targeted because of her important role in the struggle. Since December 2003, Ramos, who is in her 50s, has remained incarcerated. Other leaders of the community were forced into hiding.

At the Feb. 23 rally, members of Zapa tista Friends-Tijuana, Fight Imperialism- Stand Together, Resistencia Estudiantil, and other youth and student groups led chants letting the people of Guadalajara, Agiabampo and Maclovio Rojas know they are not alone: "NO ESTAN SOLOS!"

Consulate officials claimed to be "unavailable." But the letters and petitions were unenthusiastically received by a press agent, who promised that the "San Diego Mexican Consulate is on your side."

In response, the youths promised to continue rallying on their doorstep until there's proof that the consulate is doing something in response to these three unjust, intolerable crimes against the working class.