Hunger-Striking Prisoner in Struggle, Germán López Montejo, in Need of Medical Attention

This communiqué speaks to the deteriorating health of the prisoners on hunger strike in Chiapas, providing an update on Germán López Montejo whose medical situation is particularly dire and who lacks necessary medical attention.

San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

June 25^th, 2019

Yesterday, at 11:20 in the morning, we received communication from Adrián Gómez Jimenez, hunger-striking prisoner in struggle, being held in CERSS No. 5 San Cristóbal de las Casas. He informed us that Germán López Montejo is being treated in the infirmary in CERSS No. 5.

Since 6:00 pm on June 23^rd, Germán had felt a general discomfort in his body, which intensified with the passing hours. At 12:00 am on the 24^th, he began to have a fever along with the following symptoms: diarrhea, strong cramps in his lower extremities, severe pain in his stomach, vomiting and dizziness.

The doctor who treated Germán diagnosed him with an infection, but no specialized medical examination has been carried out to provide a diagnosis. Germán has asked to be transferred to the hospital, but they told him that it was better that he be treated from inside the prison.

Adrián informed us that the other prisoners are deeply concerned about Germán’s health and they said he is not being attended to with the best treatment, since the prison health authorities are not carrying out renal or hepatic exams. More than 100 days have passed since the beginning of this process of struggle and it is very probable that those organs in particular could be damaged.

At approximately 2:30 pm yesterday, we talked with Germán via telephone. He told us that he had been given vitamin water and an intravenous antibiotic, along with medication for the pain to be taken orally (Trimetoprima/sulfametoxazol y GRAFIN (Bromuro de Hioscina). His voice sounded very weak and he himself said he felt totally exhausted, with some of the symptoms still present in his body.

The prisoners in struggle also again report that they are not being supplied with water. When we spoke to them, three hours had passed in which they had not been able to drink anything because they had not been given a jug of water. It is not the first time that they have lacked clean water, and had to drink contaminated water from the faucet.

After more than 100 days since the beginning of this process of struggle, the government and the Supreme Court of Justice of the State of Chiapas continue to respond with mockery, and that is speaking generously. The gruesome game to which the compañeros on hunger strike and their families are being submitted is more than horrifying: the lack of fulfillment of agreements reached and the lack of fulfillment of deadlines for giving information and answers. The authorities throw the ball between them and with that they attempt to wear everyone out to the point of desperation. They say that they do not work beneath the pressure of a hunger strike. But it seems that they can function without problems knowing that there exists people capable of giving their lives in order to achieve justice.

It seems that what frightens the authorities is that the dignified struggle, embodied in the hunger strike of the companñeros, can produce a precedent. But they are not concerned that these are people that have denounced and demonstrated serious violations to their human rights, insufficient investigations, and/or the extraction of guilty pleas through torture. That seems to be totally and absolutely normal for the authorities.

The posture that the compañeros have communicated with us is clear; they will continue the struggle until they obtain their freedom, or until they lose their lives trying to achieve it.

At this point, the health of the compañeros is critical, and can only get worse. When the damage to their health is irreversible, who will be responsible? In the moment that one of the compañeros is in a critical situation, are they going to be cynical enough to say that they treated him correctly? To whom do we send our condolences if there is a fatal outcome?

We hold responsible the Government of Chiapas, and in particular Governor Rutilio Escandón Cadenas.

We hold responsible the Supreme Court of Justice of the State, and in particular the presiding judge, Juan Óscar Trinidad Palacios.

We hold responsible the Director of Human Rights of the Sub-secretary of Government, Francisco Fernando Pérez Robles

Whatever irreversible damage or final outcome will be their total and absolute responsibility.

Until we are all free!

Working Group No Estamos Todxs