Chiapas State Police Repress Caravan of Mothers and Fathers of the Disappeared of Ayotzinapa

Communique from the mothers and fathers of the missing 43 students of Ayotzinapa following state repression carried out against them this morning in Chiapas.

Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas

February 16, 2020

Today, at around 6am, mothers and fathers of the missing 43 students of Ayotzinapa arrived to the rural teacher training school of Mactumactzá, Chiapas, as part of their planned visits to all of the rural teacher training schools of the country.

The planned schedule was breakfast from 8-9am, a meeting with students from 10-11am, a reunion with social organizations from 12-2pm, and a march at 5pm with all of the organizations.

However, at 8am, more than 200 state police with armored vehicles and tear gas posted up at the entrance of the rural teacher training school without any valid explanation. At around 8:30am, the police began to throw tear gas at the mothers and fathers of the 43 students of Ayotzinapa, along with students from the rural teacher training school of Mactumactzá. The repression lasted for about an hour leaving three students injured, two mothers, and a three-year old granddaughter. Two students were hit in the head with projectiles, one of them from Ayotzinapa. It is reported that they are receiving medical attention in the polyclinic located on North Fifth Avenue. The mothers are at the rural teacher training school without being able to leave to receive medical attention because the school continues surrounded by state police.

As mothers and fathers of the 43, we condemn the repression. We demand swift medical attention to the injured, and that an investigation be opened to establish who is responsible for the excessive use of force. Furthermore, we demand that further events of sharing information and peaceful protest of the mothers and fathers of the 43 not be repressed

The state seeks to silence the demand for the presentation of the 43 missing students. The repressive attitude shown by the authorities, trampling on all of our constitutional rights and freedoms, is ridiculous.

Sincerely,

“Because they were taken alive, we want them back alive.”

Committee of Mothers and Fathers of the 43