Mexico City, Wednesday the 31st of May, 2006.

Press Bulletin #3 of the International Civil Commission for the Human Rights Observation.

Our second day of work began at 7:30 AM in the office of the commission located in the headquarters of the Autonomous University of Mexico City. A large group went to visit Texcoco and San Salvador Atenco.

They were received by a group of people who had been impacted by the events of May 3rd and 4th. Some of them were members of an organization named " People's Front in Defense of the Land" (FPDT). After introductions the commission divided into three groups in order to cover as much ground as possible. Two of the groups were accompanied by inhabitants of the town to tour Texcoco and San Salvador Atenco, while the third created an office in a local ejido building to collect testimonies and denouncements.
Given the number of testimonies received, and the number of people who wanted to speak but didn't have the opportunity, the commission decided to return today in smaller numbers.

It is worth noting the will and interest of the townspeople in speaking about everything that had happened despite the fear that permeated the area. We were allowed to enter homes and observe the state that they were in. We also observed the marks on the bodies of people who had suffered blows.

According to what people said, the state of "terror" is not over. Many have not returned to their homes out of fear of another attack. There are pending arrest warrants which are leading many people to hide. Several of them have expressed to the commission, through family members, that they would like to give their testimonies and at the same time they run the risk of being arrested if they speak to the Commission in their homes. They are also clearly unable to come to the office to speak. We were informed of around 100 persons who remain in hiding.

At first evaluation the damages to this historically resistant community is palpable. Many people are showing severe psychological reactions. Some are asking why this happened to them, and many others refer directly to this experience as a "revenge" for their history of resistance.

In the morning we went in person to the prison of Santiaguito and handed in the petition to enter in the prison. The previous day we had requested to visit the other prison in "La Palma." We hope that the commission will be allowed to enter so that it can interview the prisoners who remain in prison.

We have also interviewed lawyers, detainees, and family members throughout the day.
Today the delegation committed itself to completing a second visit. One group returned to Atenco to finish working and another group went to a sit-in that was being held in front of the Santiaguito prison in order to interview the families of prisoners who were protesting there.

International Civil Commission for Human Rights Observation, Mexico

Address: Fray Servando Teresa de Mier 92, second floor (in the Autonomous University of Mexico City)

May 29th June 4th (9AM-9PM)

Telephone (0052) 55785563
Mobile (0052) 044 55 32758122
E-mail: cciodh@pangea.org
Website www.cciodh.pangea.org