By: Chiapas Paralelo

Members of the Latin American Network of Research and Reflection with Girls, Boys and Youth (REIR) demanded attention and immediate solution to the problem of land invasion of community lands in Nuevo Poblado San Gregorio since November 2019. The Network recalled the dispossession of close to 155 hectares belonging to EZLN support base families, land on which they plant and harvest their foods.

That’s why they considered the action severely harmful for the full exercise of the rights of Zapatista girls and boys, because it violates their superior right to live a dignified life, based on the fact that their access to food, health and education are totally or partially compromised at this time, due to the invasion of their territories.

“This situation, we insist, is extremely delicate, since it has been going on for almost three years, which has caused the breakdown of the social fabric in the daily life of the Zapatista families, and in the construction of their community life based on principles of autonomy,” they said.

The members expressed the obstruction of the political and peaceful process of Zapatista autonomies as a result of this event. In addition, they considered that there is a situation of threats, harassment and intimidation by this invading group, which adds to the failure of the Mexican State to guarantee human rights.

La REIR, with information from the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human Rights Center, recalled the daily increase of violence in said region, since 21 aggressions against EZLN families have taken place so far this year. Violence has been manifested in the following ways: intimidation, death threats, sexual violence and torture; physical aggressions, theft of cattle and destruction of property; water cut-offs, vigilance; blocking, control and charging for free transit, as well as kidnapping people.

Finally, they demanded justice, attention, mediation and an urgent solution to the conflict on the part of the State, safeguarding the integrity of all the families, and immediately attending to the superior interest of boys and girls.

Originally Published in Spanish by Chiapas Paralelo, Monday, July 18, 2022, https://www.chiapasparalelo.com/noticias/chiapas/2022/07/exigen-atencion-inmediata-al-interes-superior-de-la-ninez-zapatista/ and Re-Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee