Mexico: Indigenous Prisoner in Struggle, Diego López Méndez, is Free!

This communiqué comes from the working group, No Estamos Todxs, and celebrates the recent release of Indigenous prisoner in struggle, Diego López Méndez. Diego was held for almost seven years on fabricated charges. He was an organizer inside prison and a member of the organization, Solidarios de la Voz del Amate. Welcome home, Diego!

Compañeras and Compañeros of the National and International Sixth

Compañeras and Compañeros of the Network Against Repression and for Solidarity

Compañeras and Compañeros of the CNI-CIG

Compañeras and Compañeros of the Different Collectives and Organizations

Compañeras and Compañeros Human Rights Defenders

Compañeras and Compañeros of the National and International Civil Society

We greet you from San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. With all of the joy in our heart, we want to let you know that compañero Diego López Méndez was freed today, March 11^th, 2019. It has been years of formation and organization of the struggle in different prisons of the state, in which together we have grown and walked, laughed and cried, to arrive to where we are today: where Diego is free, where Diego can return to his family and construct the life he deserves.

Diego was detained on July 18^th, 2012, while leaving his workplace in San Cristóbal de las Casas. He was tortured and extorted by judicial forces of the state before being imprisoned in CERSS 10, El Amate, in Cintalapa. It was there where we met Diego, at first a young man of few words that began to organize together with other compañeros. After almost seven years of struggle, he ended up a teacher for us and for everyone, to whom he gave strength and hope, to continue the struggle for his freedom, even in the most difficult moments.

We thank everyone who has accompanied Diego and his struggle during these years. We thank everyone who was behind and attentive to the intense campaign for his freedom which began more than 4 months ago. Your affection and expressions of solidarity meant for Diego and for us much more than we can express in words. There were months of intense political work and accompaniment, of mobilization and learning; but to able to embrace Diego and his family outside of the prison walls can’t compare to anything.

Diego was part of the organization, Solidarios de la Voz del Amate, adherents of the sixth declaration of the Lacandon jungle. He joined the organization in December of 2017 when he was transferred to CERSS No. 5, where he was kidnapped by the state until yesterday. After seven years of struggle, Diego was acquitted of the fabricated crime against him. That’s seven years that will never be returned to him. He will never be able to feel what it is like to see his son grow up, who was just three months old when Diego was kidnapped. He will never be able to feel what it is like to construct a life together with his compañera or to care for his sick mother. We will never forgive the Mexican state for taking that from Diego.

Thus, we will not stop struggling for the freedom of the other compañeros, of the Solidarios de la Voz del Amate, the rest of the organizations in struggle and all of the prisoners of the world.

UNTIL WE ARE ALL FREE

THE STRUGGLE IS THE ONLY PATH

Working Group No Estamos Todxs