Last Monday , villagers from Chenalhó, Ocosingo, and Zinacantán began their “Pies cansados” (Tired Feet) walk to the state capital of Tuxtla Gutiérrez .
The indigenous caravan has walked more than 18.6 miles in the last three days, ever since they left San Cristóbal de las Casas .
Yesterday morning, the Tzotzil group walked in thick fog and rain amidst a cold front that drove temperatures down to 10°C .
They walked for 6.2 miles and stopped in the afternoon to install huts made of plastic to spend the night and continue their journey this morning.
The director of the Ku’untick Human Rights Center, Diego Cadenas , who is part of the 444 people who are walking through the state of Chiapas , informed that the government of Manuel Velasco has done nothing but suggest that the indigenous group walks back to San Cristóbal. There has been no commitment from local authorities to guarantee the safety of indigenous peoples who have been displaced due to political conflicts and armed groups .
Yesterday, several groups of the displaced indigenous population received humanitarian help, food, clothes, and cash sent by citizens through different churches.
However, there were no paramedics, members of Civil Protection, nor elements of the Mexican Red Cross to help the Tzotzil people in their journey yesterday. Only Federal and State Police were there to guard the caravan.
Cardenas emphasized that it should be the government’s top priority to address the claims for justice and punish the aggressors, who not only expelled the indigenous groups from their villages, but also burned their homes down and occupied their farmlands . “There are now at least four arrest warrants in process,” he claimed.
The refugees plan to hold a meeting with Velasco to call for compliance with the minutes that were signed months ago, in which the current administration made a commitment to provide humanitarian aid and safety conditions needed in their villages, as well as a compensation for losses suffered since their displacement.
The indigenous groups warned that, should there be no response from authorities, they would remain outside the City Hall until their petitions were heard.
dm