Mexico overturns sentences of suspected participants in Acteal Massacre

In Mexico, the Supreme Court overturned the sentences of 22 people who were jailed for the massacre of 45 indigenous Mexicans. The Acteal massacre occurred in December 1997, when a group of paramilitaries, who also came from local indigenous communities, attacked a group of men, women and children, some of whom belonged to the pacifist group Las Abejas.

Eighteen children died in the massacre and more than 80 people were incarcerated for the crimes. But defense lawyers recently asked Mexico's Supreme Court to overturn the sentences of more than 40 of those convicted arguing that their cases had not received due process.

In a divided vote, Mexico's Supreme Court said that irregularities were committed by Mexican prosecutors who handled the case, such as including false evidence and administrative errors. The court ruled that that justifies overturning the sentences of 22 prisoners. The cases of 35 more people are under review.  Some Human rights organizationS opposed the court's decision.  According to Victor Hugo Lopez, who works for the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center in Chiapas.

“We are worried about this move by the Supreme court, because the Supreme Court is only looking out for administrative mistakes here. We also agree that some procedures were violated as these people were investigated. But we think there is more to it.  We do not think that the Acteal massacre resulted from a conflict between rivaling communities. We think the Mexican state is responsible for this crime."

The Fray Bartolome center has conducted in-depth research on the Acteal massacre and has interviewed witnesses and families of those involved.  Lopez says witnesses are certain that those whose sentence may be reverted, were involved in the massacre.

But Lopez also wants Mexico´s supreme court to interrogate important government figures, over their involvement in Acteal. Lopez says he thinks the Acteal massacre was part of a broader plan to eliminate indigenous resistance movements after the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas in 1994.

“We obtained a government document called the 1994 Campaign plan for Chiapas. In this campaign plan, it says that one of the objectives of the Mexican army is to arm civilian groups in Chiapas, so as to douse indigenous resistance and to neutralize all populations that could possibly support autonomy for indigenous peoples.”

More than 80 people are in jail, charged with participating in the Acteal massacre. But the Supreme Court is only considering reverting the sentences of those who did not plead guilty.