Indigenous Prisoner in Struggle Marcelino Ruiz Gómez Denounces Prison Conditions in Chiapas

Statement from Indigenous prisoner in struggle, Marcelino Ruiz Gómez, denouncing the ongoing negligence of prison authorities and the state in CERSS No. 10 in Chiapas

 

To the Public

To the Networks of Resistance and Rebellion

To the National Indigenous Congress

To the Zapatista Army of National Liberation

To the Non-Governmental Human Rights Defenders

To the Independent Organizations

To the National and International Civil Society

To the Media

To the National and International Sixth

To the People of Mexico and the World

From here in CERSS No. 10 in Comitán, Chiapas, we want to speak out against our situation as prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, June 19, a worker from the maintenance area died from COVID-19 and a guard is currently in serious condition due to the virus, in between life and death. These individuals were working here just last week.

Our fear is that we will be infected by prison workers. Our visits are suspended but the guards rotate their shifts every 48 hours. As we have previously denounced, this prison does not have adequate medical attention or medicine. Many of our compañeros are suffering from different sicknesses and pains that are not being attended to.

I personally have suffered medical negligence. Three years ago, the traumatologist ordered an MRI on my knee. It is difficult for me to walk due to the torture I received at the hands of the prosecutor’s office and judicial authorities.

To this day they have denied me the MRI with the argument that there is a lack of resources from the government of Rutilio Escandón Cadenas in this prison. We are completely abandoned, suffering from negligence and injustice.

As Indigenous prisoners in struggle and political prisoners, we suffer from mistreatment. We are looked upon with disgust. We have suffered countless acts of repression. We are people the government doesn’t care about, victims of impunity, abandonment and injustice.

On the other hand, we thank our companerxs, the collectives and human rights organizations for their solidarity. We send you a combative salute from our place of struggle and resistance.

We continue fighting for justice, for our freedom, as Indigenous prisoners in struggle, political prisoners and prisoners of conscious.

Sincerely,

Marcelino Ruiz Gómez