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| Memorial to Victims of Violence next to Campo Marte (Mars Field) in Chapultepec Park (Photo: Cuartoscuro) |
On November 30, 2012, the last day of the Calderón administration, the Secretariat of Government Relations (SEGOB) reported that it had "symbolically" delivered the Memorial to the citizen organizations that had called for its construction. But [at that time,] neither the SEGOB nor citizen groups specified when it would open to the public.
On April 3, the Under Secretary for Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Secretariat of Government Relations, Lía Límón, reported that the Memorial to Victims will be opened this Friday at 11:00 AM.
"It is a Monument to Violence"
The Memorial to Victims has faced rejection by the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD), led by the poet Javier Sicilia and other activists. Sicilia calls it a "monument to the violence" focused on covering over the "trail of blood" that, in his opinion, was caused the National Security Strategy implemented by Calderón and deployed in 2006.
"It is a Monument to Violence"
The Memorial to Victims has faced rejection by the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD), led by the poet Javier Sicilia and other activists. Sicilia calls it a "monument to the violence" focused on covering over the "trail of blood" that, in his opinion, was caused the National Security Strategy implemented by Calderón and deployed in 2006.
The anti-kidnapping activist Eduardo Gallo has said in interviews that this work is more responsive to political ends [than to the victims].
On February 15, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, Secretary of SEGOB, said that during the Calderón administration, about 70,000 people died as a result of clashes between organized crime groups, and between these groups and security forces.
On February 15, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, Secretary of SEGOB, said that during the Calderón administration, about 70,000 people died as a result of clashes between organized crime groups, and between these groups and security forces.
Controversial Location
The idea of the Memorial was presented to Felipe Calderón in 2010. In that year, when she received the National Human Rights Award [from Calderón], the activist Isabel Miranda de Wallace asked him for a space to remember the victims.
Months later, Sicilia and the MPJD insisted to the President on the need for promoting the Memorial. Calderón agreed to carry it out. The federal government allocated resources up to 30 million pesos [2.4 million USD] and allocated a plot of 13,864 square meters [slightly more than 3 acres].
Since then, the Movement for Peace has objected that the space was located next to the Campo Marte [Field of Mars], a military parade field in Chapultepec Park that is used by the Army, which has been cited for several cases of human rights violations.
In addition to the issue of the Memorial's location, the Movement for Peace petitioned that before construction began, a consultation be held with various sectors of society and a census taken to record the names of victims of violence.
The idea of the Memorial was presented to Felipe Calderón in 2010. In that year, when she received the National Human Rights Award [from Calderón], the activist Isabel Miranda de Wallace asked him for a space to remember the victims.
Months later, Sicilia and the MPJD insisted to the President on the need for promoting the Memorial. Calderón agreed to carry it out. The federal government allocated resources up to 30 million pesos [2.4 million USD] and allocated a plot of 13,864 square meters [slightly more than 3 acres].
Since then, the Movement for Peace has objected that the space was located next to the Campo Marte [Field of Mars], a military parade field in Chapultepec Park that is used by the Army, which has been cited for several cases of human rights violations.
In addition to the issue of the Memorial's location, the Movement for Peace petitioned that before construction began, a consultation be held with various sectors of society and a census taken to record the names of victims of violence.
Faced with the [government's] refusal to comply with these demands, the MPJD retired from the negotiating table. The civic organizations Stop the Kidnapping, led by Miranda de Wallace; the Way Home Foundation, led by Patricia Prado, and Mexico SOS, led by Fernando Martí, continued to collaborate [and these organizations' names are on the memorial as sponsors].
The Memorial is made up of fifteen rusty and one reflective [mirror-like] steel walls,
"so that everyone can see reflected that we can become victims at any time of any crime," commented Miranda de Wallace during an interview.In August, the Movement for Peace indicated that it would seek to build an alternate memorial.
Stele of Light: Another Memorial?
Last Tuesday, the Movement for Peace and members of civil society began collecting signatures calling for President Peña Nieto to convert the Stele of Light into a memorial for victims of the violence.
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| Stele of Light at time of its inauguration |
Originally, the monument, located at the entrance to Chapultepec Park, was built for festivities celebrating the Bicentennial of the Independence from Spain and the Centenial of the Mexican Revolution, but it has been used as a rallying point for protests and cultural events.
The Stele was dedicated in January of 2012, more than fifteen months past the date originally scheduled. In March the Superior Audit of the Federation (ASF) reported that the cost over-run of the Stele was 192%.
MV Note: Yesterday, government spokesperson, Lía Límón, announced that it would not convert the Stele into a memorial to victims, as one already exists.
Miranda de Wallace Defends the Memorial
In 2012 activist Miranda de Wallace said that the government's memorial, that borders [a major boulevard] Paseo de la Reforma [as it passes through Chapultepec Park], would definitely include victims' names.
In 2012 activist Miranda de Wallace said that the government's memorial, that borders [a major boulevard] Paseo de la Reforma [as it passes through Chapultepec Park], would definitely include victims' names.
"All the people who want to go to record the name of his victim can go to do so. We do not have that list (of all the victims of violence in the six-year [Calderón administration]), nor do I believe that anyone else may have it, so everyone is free to go and place on those walls, the name of their victim, and that's what is going to be allowed," she said.In an interview with Milenio Television on April 3, she said that the work is a space of reflection
"for all Mexicans," which is designed "entirely from the point of view of death, in order first to take the courage of the victims, then to arrive at forgiveness, reconciliation and peace."Miranda de Wallace also said that she would sign the petition to convert the Stele of Light into a memorial. Spanish original