2006 civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco
Encyclopedia
The civil unrest in San Salvador Atenco of 2006 began on Wednesday, May 3, when police prevented a group of 60 flower vendors from selling at the Texcoco local market in the State of México, about 30 km (18.6 mi) from Mexico City
. Police used violence
and arrest against resisters. The flower vendors appealed to the residents of San Salvador Atenco
, a small neighboring community about 25 km (15.5 mi) northeast of Mexico City, famous for their resistance to the development of an airport on their land
in 2002. The Atenco residents block
ed the highway
to Texcoco near their town. In response, hundreds of state police were summoned to remove the blockade, but were unsuccessful after five attempts.
The confrontations were very violent, causing the deaths of two protesters and dozens of people (mostly women) sexually assaulted
by the police forces.
(CNDH) President José Luis Soberanes Fernández
published the results of its five-month investigation of the case. The CNDH called the incident a "tragedy", called particular attention to the excessive use of force
and firearm
s by state and federal authorities, and specifically found that:
In connection with these findings, the CNDH served recommendations to the federal Secretary of Public Security, Eduardo Medina Mora; the governor of the state of México, Enrique Peña Nieto
; and the commissioner of the National Migration Institute, Hipólito Treviño. The contents of the recommendation included, inter alia, improved training for the security forces, due compensation for the next-of-kin of the two fatalities and for all those whose human rights
were violated, and a review of the expulsion procedures applicable to foreign visitors.
The report also concluded that the violence could have been prevented through dialogue, but that "preference was given to the use of public force".
has charged that police used excessive force
, smashing windows and furniture and hauling people from their beds. The commission is currently investigating reports that police molested and rape
d female detainees and abused
children, the elderly and the disabled.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Police used violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
and arrest against resisters. The flower vendors appealed to the residents of San Salvador Atenco
San Salvador Atenco
San Salvador Atenco is the municipal seat of Atenco, in the Mexican state of Mexico.The name "Atenco" comes from a Nahuatl phrase meaning "place on the edge of water". -The town:...
, a small neighboring community about 25 km (15.5 mi) northeast of Mexico City, famous for their resistance to the development of an airport on their land
Community Front in Defense of Land
The Community Front in Defense of Land was formed in 2002, by residents of San Salvador Atenco, to resist their forced displacement by the government of Mexico. The government planned to displace them to make way for a new Mexico City Airport...
in 2002. The Atenco residents block
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
ed the highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
to Texcoco near their town. In response, hundreds of state police were summoned to remove the blockade, but were unsuccessful after five attempts.
The confrontations were very violent, causing the deaths of two protesters and dozens of people (mostly women) sexually assaulted
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
by the police forces.
National Human Rights Commission report
On 16 October 2006, National Human Rights CommissionNational Human Rights Commission (Mexico)
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission is the national human rights institution accredited at the United Nations with 'A' status by the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs . It is a member of the Network of National Institutions in the Americas, one of four regional groups within...
(CNDH) President José Luis Soberanes Fernández
José Luis Soberanes
José Luis Soberanes Fernández is a prominent Mexican lawyer. He was president of the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico from November 16, 1999 to November 15, 2009....
published the results of its five-month investigation of the case. The CNDH called the incident a "tragedy", called particular attention to the excessive use of force
Force (law)
In the field of law, the word force has two main meanings: unlawful violence and lawful compulsion. "Forced entry" is an expression falling under the category of unlawful violence; "in force" or "forced sale" would be examples of expressions in the category of lawful compulsion.When something is...
and firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s by state and federal authorities, and specifically found that:
- 207 people (including ten minors) were victims of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatmentCruel and unusual punishmentCruel and unusual punishment is a phrase describing criminal punishment which is considered unacceptable due to the suffering or humiliation it inflicts on the condemned person...
. - 145 were arbitrarily arrestArrestAn arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
ed. - 26 women suffered sexual assaultSexual assaultSexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
. - 5 foreigners, in addition to the violenceViolenceViolence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
inflicted on them, were illegally expelled from the country.
In connection with these findings, the CNDH served recommendations to the federal Secretary of Public Security, Eduardo Medina Mora; the governor of the state of México, Enrique Peña Nieto
Enrique Peña Nieto
Enrique Peña Nieto is a Mexican politician. A member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party , he served as governor of the State of Mexico from 2005 to 2011. On September 19, 2011, he announced his candidacy in the 2012 Mexican presidential election to succeed Felipe Calderón...
; and the commissioner of the National Migration Institute, Hipólito Treviño. The contents of the recommendation included, inter alia, improved training for the security forces, due compensation for the next-of-kin of the two fatalities and for all those whose human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
were violated, and a review of the expulsion procedures applicable to foreign visitors.
The report also concluded that the violence could have been prevented through dialogue, but that "preference was given to the use of public force".
Police brutality
The National Human Rights CommissionNational Human Rights Commission (Mexico)
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission is the national human rights institution accredited at the United Nations with 'A' status by the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs . It is a member of the Network of National Institutions in the Americas, one of four regional groups within...
has charged that police used excessive force
Excessive Force
Excessive Force is a musical side project started in 1991 by Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM and Buzz McCoy of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult.-History:...
, smashing windows and furniture and hauling people from their beds. The commission is currently investigating reports that police molested and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d female detainees and abused
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
children, the elderly and the disabled.
Sources
- San Salvador Atenco in Mutiny! Infoshop.org
- Continuing Struggle Against Violent Repression in San Salvador Atenco, Mexico Cleveland Independent Media Center
- Atenco: A Violent Attack Against The Other Campaign Adherents NarcoNews.com
- Police Brutality in Atenco, Mexico UpsideDownWorld.org
- Police Brutality in Mexico - Znet Zmag.org
- Mexico: police storm Atenco World War 4 Report