Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved. Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.
Reference: Asia, southern; Agriculture
Title: MEXICO: INDIANS REPORT VIOLENT POLICE REPRESSION
mexico city, apr 23 (ips) -- a group of mexican indians reported
here thursday that police in the eastern coast city of veracruz
had used violent repressive measures to evict indian families
from a farm, killing one person, wounding eight and arresting 12.
the forceful eviction of the nahua nation indians from a
250-hectare property in the 'tres zapotes' community near
veracruz had been carried out at the request of a group of people
claiming to be the owners of the land.
the accusation of police brutality was made at a press
conference attended by foreign correspondents.
demetria mendiola, jose antonio palma and aurelio monroy--all
affiliated to the indian peoples' national coordination (cnpi)--
said the killing and police brutality had taken place apr. 15.
about 300 state police, they said, descended on the disputed
land and used firearms, tear gas and batons to evict about 400
indians, including children.
shot and killed by the police was pedro ambrosio cunchis, 22.
eight indian peasants were also shot and seriously wounded, while
16 others were arrested. later, four were released from custody.
the police detachment, the indians said, destroyed the houses
of the evicted people and the crops they had planted, ''they
also stole our money, our clothes and tools.''
according to three indians who reported the incident,
representatives of their organization hade tried to lodge
a compalaint with the veracruz state authorities but were
not permitted to do so.
for this reason, they said, they had travelled to mexico
city to report the alleged police brutality and murder to the
federal government and to international human rights
organizations. (ends/ips/tr/mc/cs/it)