Uprising in Tanivet Prison in Oaxaca Where Indigenous Political Prisoner Fredy García is Being Held

Communique from the Indigenous organization, CODEDI, regarding an uprising which took place today in the Tanivet prison in Tlacolula, Oaxaca, Mexico. Indigenous political prisoner and member of CODEDI, Fredy García Ramírez, has been held in Tanivet, following his arrest on November 6, 2019. Fredy’s arrest and ongoing imprisonment is the result of his organizing work in defense of Indigenous communities in Oaxaca.

 

To the People of Mexico and the World

To the National and International Human Rights Organizations

To the Free and Paid Media

To the Social Organizations

Today, May 15, 2020, we have received information about a riot involving three prisoners which took place in the Tanivet prison, in Tlacolula, Oaxaca. Our compañero, Fredy García Ramírez, is imprisoned there. He was detained on November 6, 2019, and since his arrival to Tanivet, has been submitted to torture and isolation. We know well that many other prisoners in Tanivet are tortured by the guards in the same way, with their human rights being violated.

We are not surprised that the prisoners have had enough of this harassment from the prison director and guards, choosing to go on a hunger strike in resistance to the harassment. However, things got out of hand and ended in a riot after three guards and the prison director were taken hostage by the prisoners. This all took place in the neighboring sections of the prison to where our compa is being held.

Within this context, we are concerned for the well-being of our compañero, Fredy, who didn’t participate in these events, but as we mentioned, is being held there. We have no doubt that the government will use this moment to enact violence against our compañero.

We hold the Secretary of Public Security of Oaxaca, the governor of the state, Alejandro Murat, and the director of the Tanivet prison, for whatever aggression is carried out against our compañero.

We demand that the state government and the federal government guarantee the well-being of our compañero, Fredy. We also ask that the National Commission of Human Rights make regular visits to the prison in order to see the true conditions in which the prisoners are living there. It is these very conditions which provoked what happened today, since the demands for prisoner integrity are not being met as they should be, and in due time.

We ask the solidarity organizations to be attentive to what happens next including any attack carried out against our comrade.

Freedom for Fredy García!

Respect for human rights!

For the defense of our rights and our territories, not one step back!

CODEDI

May 15, 2020