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| Emilio Alvarez Icaza Photo. Cuartoscuro |
Translated by Ruby Izar-shea
The preliminary investigation by the Tax and Financial Crimes Specialized Investigation Unit of the Deputy Attorney’s Office Specialized in the Investigation of Federal Crimes against Emilio Alvarez Icaza is a direct attack by President Enrique Peña Nieto against human rights defenders.
And it’s also a sign of how Peña Nieto fears the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) and his extraordinary and rigorous work on our country. Alvarez Icaza is the symbol of the struggle for the defense of human rights, while Peña Nieto is the symbol of the violation of human rights in Mexico and the endemic impunity that covers public servants, governors, police, military and marines who violate them.
Never before had our country been plunged into such a severe and profound institutional crisis over human rights. This grave situation has generated an endless chain of suffering for Mexicans. The Mexico ruled by Peña Nieto has become a paradise for torture, forced disappearances and extrajudicial executions. Impunity is constant and continues to invite a repetition of the crimes. The Mexico ruled by Peña Nieto has become the country of killings and mass disappearances. The names Tlatlaya, Ayotzinapa, Apatzingan and Tanhuato in just 15 months refer us to a generalized scenario of civil servants licensed to kill and disappear.
Peña Nieto's government stands out for its half-truths and lies about these tragedies. For hiding, simulating and manipulating the judicial processes. For blocking the victims’ access to justice. For its contempt for life. For its indolence to the pain of parents who seek and mourn their children. For its lack of economic, psychological and social assistance to victims. Peña Nieto doesn’t care about human rights, much less access to justice for thousands of victims. He doesn’t seem to care either about Mexicans’ right to the truth.
But there are people who do care about the defense of these human rights flagrantly violated in Mexico. People willing to risk everything, even their lives, because they are committed to justice and truth. People like Emilio Alvarez Icaza, son of Mr. Jose Alvarez Icaza and Mrs. Luz Longoria, promoters of the christian family movement and founders of the National Center for Social Communication (Cencos).
The moral and ethical quality of Emilio is above all things. His human greatness goes far beyond the smallness and meanness of some politicians and public officials who now want to lynch and process him for nonexistent crimes, because of the fascist delirium of some Peña cabinet members.
It must be said clearly: the preliminary investigation opened against Alvarez Icaza is Peña Nieto’s revenge for the Commission’s damning report about Human Rights in Mexico, a report that only tells the truth, a properly documented report, a serious and rigorous report detailing the despicable crimes committed by civil servants, police, military and marines like extrajudicial executions, torture and forced disappearances.
Peña Nieto and his entourage are upset the world has learned about the misdeeds committed by public servants. They resent it be known that the Ayotzinapa crime is a clear example of the collusion of state agents with organized crime. They worry they will be shown to be dissimulators, a government that tolerates State crimes and has chosen impunity; a government that signs all international human rights treaties to look good, but doesn’t respect them internally. They are indignant the world can see that in Mexico extrajudicial execution is not considered a crime and important public servants are not detained for torture or forced disappearances.
And it bothers them, not because they are interested in the welfare of Mexicans. Enrique Peña Nieto is bothered by the CIDH’s report because because he will no longer be able to sign international agreements with other countries to demand respect for human rights. The business possibility is thus reduced for the vultures that make up our corrupt and unpunished political class.
Peña Nieto is a man of vendettas. To prove it, the latest example, the removal of Emilio Rabasa as ambassador of Mexico to the Organization of American States (OAS) and his transfer to the Boston consulate in response to his support for the Commission’s report. Peña Nieto’s revenges show only his fear, particularly because he knows that soon Mexico will have the knowledge and commitment of Alvarez Icaza on observing human rights.
Emilio has already announced he will not seek reelection to his Commission post [his four-year term end in August of this year]. And you know why? Because he loves Mexico. He hurts for his country, this immense human rights crisis we are suffering pains him, it pains him to see the indifference of most of Mexican society to the horrors committed by the State.
The letter revealing his reasons for not seeking re-election is a beautiful testimony of love for Mexico and his Mexican siblings:
"The visits we have recently done and tracking what happens in my country challenges me hard. My country pains me deeply. I want to dedicate my efforts and capabilities to work directly and closely to transform the human rights crisis going on there. While the Commission gives me an excellent opportunity to also work for the people of Mexico, the serious situation requires I prioritise my time and agenda. What I see and feel in my country has made me think it’s my ethical obligation to do what is in my power to transform that situation."Emilio Alvarez Icaza fortunately is returning to Mexico. That news worries Peña Nieto, provokes fear and has therefore has initiated an onslaught against him, but has not measured his strength. Alvarez Icaza has the support of civil organizations and hundreds, thousands of people who know his faultless work.
Peña Nieto is darkness, Alvarez Icaza is light. Does anyone doubt it? Spanish original
*Sanjuana Martínez is an investigative journalist focusing on issues of social justice, human rights and gender equality @SanjuanaMtz