MEXICO CITY / EDITORIAL / BLACK GOLD. – The images are shocking: a man burns himself with the help of his teammates against the Legislative Palace in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, to demand the release of activist Florentino Gómez Girón. For half a minute that seems eternal becomes a human torch until his companions manage to lay him off and sand.
This is Agustín Gómez Pérez […]. He and another group of militants, belonging to Ricardo Flores Magón Front inspired by [the] anarchist ideas of [the] Mexican revolutionary, held a protest outside the Congress [on] 10 November.
[On the 27th of] the same month lips were sewn in protest. Five others went on hunger strike. [On December 2 others] were crucified. They demand the release of Florentino, [held in] prison since last May [and] accused of stealing cattle.
The protesters claim that there is a “government indifference”, added to police harassment and threat to evict them with the police. Ricardo Flores Magon Front says Florentino Gomez is innocent and his detention is an act of retaliation for the participation of the organization in various forms in the state that governs Manuel Velasco Coello.
Paramedics took him to the hospital dying. His condition was reported as serious. The demonstrators continue to protest outside Congress.
According to data from the National Council for Evaluation of Social Development Policy (Ceneval), of 2012, in Chiapas there is an educational backwardness of 33.5 percent; lack of access to health of a 24.9 and lack of social security of a 83.3.
Florentino is a teacher and social activist [in the] town of Ixtapa. [Last May, social organizations were persecuted and] arrested by state police in civilian clothes [while taking] part in a demonstration in the capital of Chiapas, convened by unionized teachers. Giron faces charges of cattle rustling (cattle theft) and theft of a “chain”.
“Our Florentino companion, regional leader, always accompanied us in the defense of our rights as a people,” [Said the] group in a press release.
According to the social groups demanding their freedom, Giron Gomez fought for the defense of human rights and its territory since the year 1994. [He coordinated in his community of Chigtón in resistance to the high electricity rates in the area.] He has also openly expressed […] solidarity with political prisoners in Chiapas.
Before Congress of Chiapas, Viviana Gómez Díaz Sánchez Girón and Lucy, sister and daughter of the leader, joined the protest that started on Tuesday […].
The Front said that since last 10 November several members set up a picket in front of the local Congress, [but so far their demand that Florentino Gómez Girón be released has not been met.]
from Oro Negro (translation)