Translated by Alise Rule
The government of Chiapas announced today that it has issued instructions to the municipal authorities of San Juan Chamula that the women of the Nichnamtic community, who completed their middle school education, are guaranteed their full right to obtain their documents in a graduation ceremony, so that they may continue their studies if they so choose.
A complaint filed by indigenous women from the community claims that the president of the community’s Water Board, Domingo Gómez Díaz, was opposed to the 67 women--some of whom were pregnant and who completed their middle school education--receiving their documents, and it accuses him of discrimination. Following the complaint, the state government said it will ensure that the issued instructions are carried out.
“In order to guarantee their right to receive the certificate of middle school education, the secretary general of Government, Noé Castañón León, under instructions from the governor, Manuel Velasco Coello, ordered the responsible educational authorities to attend the graduation ceremony of the 67 women and to grant them the highest award of the state government for their efforts and for the example they set for other indigenous women and girls,” said the state government in a press release sent to the news media today.It also indicates that an exhaustive investigation has been ordered into the alleged conduct of Domingo Gómez Díaz and of others allegedly involved in the events.
It warns that upon confirmation of offences or crimes committed to the detriment of the 67 women who completed their secondary education, “actions will be taken against those responsible with the full force of the law.”
Although the government of Chiapas says that these instructions were issued on May 30, it did not show any official document to the effect.
A group of 67 women of the village of Nichnamtic, municipality of San Juan Chamula, had sent a letter to the governor of Chiapas, Manuel Velasco Coello, in which they accused the president of the Board of Drinking Water, Domingo Gómez Díaz, of having insulted them in an assembly meeting, telling them that “it is shameful for pregnant women to study,” and that they are “only good for the kitchen and for working the fields.”
The letter, signed by hand by each of the Tzotzil [Maya] women, indicates that the incident occurred on Sunday, May 26, in a meeting on the basketball court of the Nichnamtic community, located in San Juan Chamula.
In addition, they say that they “proudly” learned to read and write, thanks to the Adult Education Institute (IEA) and that, with the support of their teacher, María Gómez Gómez, they were able to finish their middle school studies. Spanish original