By: Jorge A. Pérez Alfonso and Gustavo Castillo
Correspondent and reporter

A new eviction attempt arose yesterday morning against the “Tierra y Libertad” camp, which indigenous Mixes maintain in the Mogoñe Viejo-Vixidu section, in the municipality of San Juan Guichicovi, Oaxaca.

This happened in the same place where on Friday federal and state forces removed them “with aggression,” in addition to arresting six people, members of the Union of Indigenous Communities of the Northern Zone of the Isthmus (UCIZONI) denounced.

The protest began 62 days ago as a demand for damages caused to their lands by the modernization work on the railroad that crosses the area and that is part of the Interoceanic Train project that will connect the port of Salina Cruz, in Oaxaca, with that of Coatzacoalcos, in Veracruz. The protesters were evicted from that point on Friday morning, at the request of the Federation, the state government revealed, but they reinstated their sit-in in the afternoon.

At 9 o’clock yesterday morning, police again arrived at the camp to try to remove the demonstrators; However, residents started ringing the community’s bells. More than 100 Indigenous people gathered, forcing the police to retreat.

According to the state government, the six detainees were handed over to the state prosecutor’s office; however, this institution reported that they only supported their transfer to the state capital, since they were presented to the Attorney General’s Office (FGR).

Therefore, it said, the FGR will determine their legal situation; the Morenista government of Salomón Jara has not disclosed the charges against the indigenous people arrested.

The most “serious” thing, said Ucizoni, is that until yesterday morning they had not been allowed to speak with any defender, that is, they served more than 24 hours incommunicado, “which clearly violates their human rights.”

Meanwhile, the Secretariat of the Mexican Navy (Semar) released its version of what happened during the eviction carried out on Friday against the indigenous Mixes in the town of Mogoñé Viejo.

Semar indicated that federal and local authorities acted because the workers who carry out rehabilitation work on the Interoceanic Corridor railway of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), “were attacked.”

Semar pointed out that the information it has on that case states that “about 15 people who blocked the railroad tracks for more than 60 days at the Mogoñé Viejo-El Zarzal crossing, came to prevent the rehabilitation work of the CIIT tracks, armed with sticks and machetes. “

Semar further explained that the demonstrators “verbally and physically assaulted the workers who were at the place. Therefore, in order to safeguard human life, personnel of the State Police and National Guard who were providing security in the area, acted immediately in the face of violent events.”

Originally Published in Spanish by La Jornada, Sunday, April 30, 2023, https://www.jornada.com.mx/2023/04/30/estados/026n1est and Re-Published with English interpretation by the Chiapas Support Committee