0 Shares

This letter comes from Indigenous Tzotzil prisoner in struggle, Adrián Gómez Jiménez, who has been held for 15 years without sentence. In the letter he speaks out against the violation of his rights and the explicit marginalization of Indigenous people in the Mexican legal system. The letter was edited with a heavy hand for clarity, as Spanish is not Adrián’s primary language. The original in Spanish was published by the working group No Estamos Todxs and can be found here.

To the Public

To the National Indigenous Congress

To the National and International Sixth

To the Nongovernmental Defenders of Human Rights

To the Media

To the People of Mexico and the World

Indigenous Tzotzil prisoner in struggle, Adrián Gómez Jiménez, member of the organization, the Voice of Indigenous Resistance, adherent of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle of the EZLN. Imprisoned in the prison number 5 San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

With this communiqué, I want to share that on January 15th of this year, I was notified of my legal situation. By January 29th, 2019, I will sign documents to close this stage of my legal process. Afterwards there will be 15 working days for the judge of first criminal court of San Cristóbal to dictate a verdict regarding my case.

I know that my human rights have been violated. They detained me in an arbitrary manner without any arrest warrant. Since February 3rd, 2004, they unjustly deprived me of my freedom. I am being charged for the crimes of kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder, all fabricated by the public prosecutor.

From 2004 until today 2019, I have not been given a sentence. According to the laws of the constitution of Mexico, specifically Article 20, section B, Paragraph 7, one can only be in a legal process for two to four years maximum. But this system of judicial power has violated my rights. I have been in this legal process for a period of 15 years without receiving a sentence. They have robbed me of my time and freedom.

I also want to emphasize that the public prosecutor made me sign paperwork using torture with the participation of his judicial agents. These acts of torture are another violation of my rights. Article 20 and other applicable articles clearly state, “Any lack of communication, intimidation or torture is sanctioned and prohibited by law”. They make their laws that they do not apply. They apply what those of above want, but the Indigenous people and the lower classes do not receive any respect for our human rights.

During my legal process, I have asked that the supposed victims appear in court with their witnesses, but they haven’t appeared, not even once. The last person to delay my trial was Erika Carina Garcia Cruz who never showed up after several dates set up in this court.

For this, I call on the independent organizations, the national and international Sixth, the networks of support and the independent defenders of human rights to continue demanding true justice. At the same time, I will protest in a manner necessary to demand my acquittal before the judge of this first criminal court, Cesar Rodriguez Robles.

There is no crime to prosecute, and I have demonstrated that in all of the legal proceedings. Regardless, I continue to be unjustly deprived of my freedom. Never have the alleged victims been presented in court during the 15 years of my legal process.

My rights have been trampled on for being an impoverished Indigenous person. Indigenous people are ignored, humiliated and despised by the authorities. But enough already of so much ignorance!

I will continue protesting to demand my acquittal, because it is not fair to pay for a crime that I never committed. They have kidnapped me for 15 years and stole my freedom, my time and my money that I could have saved during these 15 years of unjust imprisonment.

From the prison number 5 of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, prisoner in struggle, Adrián Gomez Jiménez, member of the organization the Voice of Indigenous Resistance, adherent of the Sixth. I send a combative salute to the compañerxs of Mexico and the world that are struggling and resisting against the bad governments and a salute to all the political prisoners, prisoners of conscious, and prisoners in struggle.

By uniting our voices and the forces of the Mexican people, true justice will triumph.

Respectfully,

Adrián Gómez Jiménez

Member of the Organization The Voice of Indigenous Resistance

January 24th, 2019