A little over a month after the First Collegiate Court of Appeals of the Twentieth Circuit based in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, ratified the sentence of 60 years in prison for the Tzotzil teacher Alberto Patishtán Gómez, his son Héctor Patishtán, reported that due to his father's health issues, "We urge his release."
He explained that
"No one is asking for a pardon. It is not the best way, because it is a pardon by the government, when it should be the other way around. They should ask his forgiveness for those thirteen years [time served to date] of injustice and impunity."During his participation in the Chiapas Forum, The War and Resistance Continues: EZLN [Zapatista Army of National Liberation], Alberto Patishtán and Forced Displacement, organized by the Intercultural Program and Indigenous Affairs from the Ibero-American University, Hector Patishtán explained that having exhausted all legal avenues in the country, one of the ways to achieve his father's release is to appeal to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), although, he said, there is a possibility of legislation to create an amnesty law. The 17-year old youth expressed confidence that
"It won't be long before my papa is released. ... Mexican justice is made only to serve some; the vulnerable classes, the indigenous peoples, we are the most hurt."As an example, he mentioned
"the Chiapas jails, which are full of indigenous people accused of crimes they did not commit, but because they don't know Spanish and were tortured, they admitted to having committed them.
"We are not at odds with any of the possible avenues for the freedom of my father," he added.He noted that as young people they have in their hands the country's future, they should strive for changes to prevent the recurrence of the injustices like those committed against his father.
"As young people, what can we expect? If we continue like this, what will happen? Will the criminalization of protest, the enforced disappearances continue? It's time to reflect, to think about what we want. As youth we are the hope of Mexico and if we want change, we have to start right now," he said.He stated that despite health issues [recurrence of a brain tumor] and legal setbacks, his father's spirit is good. He recalled:
"He says that they can never lock him up in jail or kill his dignity, freedom and pride, even if they give him a thousand year sentence."Alberto Patishtán, a native of El Bosque, Chiapas, was accused of participating in an ambush on June 12, 2000, [on the road] between the municipalities of El Bosque and Simojovel, in which seven policemen were killed. Spanish original
Related MV translations:
- Alberto Patishtán's Appeal for Freedom Denied by Court of Appeals;
- Mexico Justice System Renders Consummate Injustice for Alberto Patishtán;
- Mexico Government's Message to Alberto Patishtán and His Supporters;
- Mexico Justice is Selective for Alberto Patishtán - Defense Attorney;
- Alberto Patishtán Case Shows Mexico Justice System Incapable or Unwilling to Correct Abuses;
- "The Blessing of Having A Prisoner Father" - Héctor Patishtán.