Javier Sicilia – A Voice for Mexico’s Victims

Javier Sicilia with Juan Mora, from DePaul University in Chicago

Javier Sicilia’s message to the audiences of four public events in Chicago, IL was clear and powerful;

In 1994 subcomandante Marcos introduced the Zapatistas to the world, declaring Mexican President Salinas’ signing of NAFTA opened ‘the gates of hell’ for Mexico, and now Mexico is living in that hell.

He begins every speech quoting terrifying statistics: Since 2006, there are 60,000 Mexicans dead, 20,000 Mexicans disappeared and 250,000 Mexicans displaced from their homes, all a result of a drug war launched by a deaf and dumb government. And there is no end in sight. More than 98% of homicides committed in Mexico are never resolved. He brings home the message that if anyone in the audience decided to kill someone in Mexico, there would be less than 2% chance of ever being held accountable.

The cost of the war reflected in these numbers has grown inexorably since last year when the respected poet announced to an adoring Mexican public that he was putting aside his poetry to protest the government’s complicity with organized crime and inexcusable inaction in investigating the deaths of those killed in drug war related violence.

Altar outside of the Municipal Palace in Cuernavaca Morelos, with names and pictures of drug war related victims

Javier’s son Juan Francisco was murdered along with six friends on a fateful night in March of 2011 in Temixco, Morelos. Suddenly, Javier –who had long been active in Mexico’s cultural and political life — became the voice for a movement led by people who are simply called ‘las victimas’.

He is emphatic that the statistics don’t convey the real picture. He says that the face of the person who suffered ‘one death’ or ‘one disappearance’ is one person who had a character, a personality and merits justice. One death represents a family torn apart in grief. The fact that more than 98% of the time those seeking answers from authorities get no satisfaction adds to their pain and misery. One disappeared person represents a family consumed with fear and unanswered questions. One displaced family lives in constant upheaval and suffering. In short, the statistics are overwhelming but even one is too many.

The public events were co-sponsored by the National Museum of Mexican Art, UIC (Latin American and Latino Studies Program), DePaul University and The Resurrection Project and well attended by students, activists and members of the Latino community in Chicago. In each speech Javier repeated the urgent demands of the Mexico-based Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity – the organization of victims that came together last year to declare Estámos hasta la Madre/We Are Fed Up (with the drug war) – to the Mexican and US governments. The Pacto Nacional (link in Spanish) was signed May 12, 2011 with the following demands:

  • End the drug war, a failure of tragic proportions;
  • End the easy access to high-powered weapons that facilitates weapons smuggling;
  • Crack down on those who help criminal enterprises by laundering money;
  • Defend the human security and dignity of immigrants;
  • End US support for the militarization of Mexico.

In Mexico, the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity is campaigning for approval of the Ley de Victimas this week. This law would place new responsibility on the government to investigate drug war related crimes and provides a fund for impacted families.

Carrying the voices of las victimas to the United States, Javier is widening the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity’s profile and building support for a US Peace Caravan this summer (link in Spanish). Javier and the Caravan will cross the United States in cars, buses, and RVs joined by victims of drug war related violence from Mexico, supporters, activists and journalists. The Caravan will stop at key cities along the route for public conferences, demonstrations and meetings with key local leaders.

TAKE ACTION!

  • For more information about Javier Sicilia’s speaking events in the USA, click here.
  • For more information about the US Peace Caravan, click here.

Earlier this month, we reported on mass mobilizations against the drug war that stretched from Ciudad Juárez to San Cristóbal, partnered with solidarity movements around the world. At the May 8th demonstration in Mexico City, the National Pact for Peace, or Pacto Nacional, was first presented calling for, among other things: ending the militarization of the effort to control drug trafficking which is fundamentally a public health issue; challenging official corruption and impunity that have crippled genuine investigations and law enforcement; and opposing the economic monopolies that have robbed the wealth of the poorest Mexicans, leaving millions of youth with few productive options.

Javier Sicilia has been a driving force behind the Pacto Nacional that opponents of President Calderon’s drug war will sign in Ciudad Juarez on June 10th. A summarized English translation of the Pacto that lays out the broad demands of the growing movement can be found here.

Javier Sicilia will travel to the United States next week to receive the Global Exchange “People’s Choice” human rights award for the peace movement that he has sparked in the wake of his son’s death. If you are in San Francisco, you will be able to see him at the 7:00 PM awards ceremony. He will also be speaking to the media on June 1st at a 10 AM press conference at Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94110.

In other Mexico news, on June 15th, John Gibler’s new book, To Die In Mexico, will be released at City Lights Books in San Francisco. Please note that Global Exchange is sponsoring a U.S. tour of both Gibler and author Diego Osorno (El Cártel de Sinaloa) this fall. Please get in touch with me at ted@globalexchange.org if you are interested in hosting them to address audiences at schools, churches, union halls, and other organizations in your community.