February 2, 2022
To the people of Mexico and the peoples of the world,
To the media,
To the National and International Sexta.
The Coordination and Follow-up Commission of the National Indigenous Congress-Indigenous Governing Council, reports that our compañeros1 and compañeras from the Indigenous and Popular Council of Guerrero- Emiliano Zapata (CIPOG-EZ) denounced that, starting at dawn on Sunday January 30th, they were being attacked by the narco-paramilitary group Los Ardillos2, whose gunmen opened fire on the communities of Tula, Xicotlán and Zacapexco for about 2 hours. During that time the state and local governments did nothing to stop the attack on the communities, who are members of the CIPOG-EZ.
Governmental security and military forces did not protect the community, despite having the capacity to ward off the attacks, particularly as there is a Mixed Operations Center located in the community of Tula. Rather, they allowed the paramilitaries to make an attempt on the lives of the compañeros and compañeras. Governments at all levels are also complicit in the forced disappearance of the compañeros Pablo Hilario Morales and Samuel Hernández Sánchez at the hands of the Atlixtac municipal police on January 25.
We denounce the impunity and corruption with which the criminal group Los Rojos maintains its war against the communities in struggle who organize themselves in the CIPOG-EZ, to, with autonomy, defend peace and their indigenous territory.
We hold the three levels of the bad government responsible for the well-being of the compañeras and compañeros of the Indigenous and Popular Council of Guerrero- Emiliano Zapata, as well as for any new aggression against the communities that are part of it.
We call on solidarity organizations and independent media to be vigilant in the face of new narco-paramilitary attacks.
Sincerely
February 2022
For the Integral reconstitution of our peoples
Never Again A Mexico Without Us
Coordination and Follow-up Commission of the National Indigenous Congress- Indigenous Governing Council
1Compañero, compañera. Compañero (male) and compañera (female) have no exact translation in English. They lie somewhere between “comrade” and “companion.” In a political context, the term generally refers to someone who belongs to a particular organization or movement.
2Los Ardillos is a criminal group identified by state and federal authorities as the main perpetrator of violence in the mountains of Guerrero. It has grown stronger in the last 20 years and leads the drug trade in much of the state. The constant attacks on the communities is due to the cartel using their territories as a route for the transfer of drugs, weapons and people.