PARISH OF SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA
SIMOJOVEL, CHIAPAS, MEXICO
San Diego de la Union, Gto. Monday January 1, 1996.
DR.ERNESTO ZEDILLO PONCE DE LEON
PRESIDENT OF THE MEXICAN UNITED STATES
LOS PINOS PALACE
MEXICO D.F.
MR. PRESIDENT:
From the care I am giving my sick mother, I send you my New
Year's word.
The extreme and growing misery of the indigenous people to
whom I serve and accompany is real.
Real is also their hope that very soon they will see justice and
they will be given the conditions that guaranties a life with
dignity.
Real also are the patrols from your army in front of that misery
and hope of these pueblo. What can these weapons of war
contribute as solution to that misery and hope?
I heard through the media that the indigenous people of
Simojovel were repressed one more time. I can speak to you to the
long history of repression and death that has been imposed to this
pueblo. Why more repression? Why not dialogue? There is
no more room in the history of the suffering of this indigenous
pueblo, for more repression. Don't allow any more repression
in any corner of Mexico.
We are all convinced that the ONLY WAY to achieve PEACE, is through
dialogue. Let us not lose that road.
One more time, IN THE NAME OF THE GOD OF LIFE,
I beg you: authorize the immediate and just freedom of the "more
than 60 indigenous" detained in the police operative that took
place in Simojovel. This freedom will keep open the road to
PEACE.
FROM THE SUFFERING AND HOPE OF THIS INDIGENOUS PUEBLO, I WISH YOU
HAPPY NEW YEAR 1996.
SINCERELY,
Signature
Joel Padro'n Gonzalez
Pastor of Simojovel
c.c. Mons. Samuel Ruiz Garcia, Bishop of San Cristobal de L.C.
c.c. Mons. Raul Vera Lopez, Coadjutor Bishop of S. Cristobal L.C.
c.c. Lic. Julio Cesar Ruiz Ferro, governor of Chiapas.
Translated by: Susana Anibarro.