Mexico City | Desinformémonos: “The murderers of comrade Samir are still free and governing,” reads one of the banners that the support bases of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) raised this morning in Chiapas, in protest of the six years since the murder of Samir Flores Soberanes, Nahua defender and communicator from Amilcingo and one of the most visible faces in the struggle against the Morelos Integral Project (PIM).
In the early hours of this February 22nd, thousands of Zapatista men and women went out with candles and banners to join the Global Day of “Justice for Samir Flores Soberanes!” and denounce the impunity that prevails in the crime, perpetrated on February 20th, 2019 in Amilcingo, a day after the defender questioned the Hugo Erick Flores in a public meeting and pointed out the negative impacts of the federal megaproject.
“Is it right that we are asking for justice from the one who ordered his death? Are they going to imprison themselves, judge themselves and punish themselves? Today it is the Fourth Transformation, but before, how much impunity was there and how much impunity will there be from now on?” questioned the Zapatistas in a statement, which they distributed in the streets during this morning’s protest, broadcast by Los Tercios Compas.
While lighting the path with candles and raising banners with slogans such as “The 4T is advancing on the second floor of impunity,” “The justice we need will come from below, to the left and in common” and “How many eras and generations are we going to wait for there to be truth and justice?”, the Zapatista support bases also shouted slogans to denounce the government’s participation in the murder of Samir Flores and to vindicate the defender’s struggle.
“Samir fought with courage, the common people remember you with rebellion,” “Justice for comrade Samir, the people will build it in common ,” “If Obrador was a traitor, Claudia is and will be worse,” shouted the women and men support bases, who accused the federal government of being responsible for the community division.
“Behind those from whom we demand justice is the real culprit who ordered the murder, they are the transnational drug businessmen because they want the Morelos Integral Project (PIM),” the Zapatistas reiterated. For this reason, they insisted that justice for Samir Flores is in the hands of the people in the city, the countryside, the streets, the colonies and the neighborhoods. This Saturday’s protest is part of the global day that began on February 19th in various communities and cities in Mexico and the world to remember the Nahua defender, denounce the impunity in the case and demand punishment for those responsible.
Original article at Desinformémonos, February 22nd, 2025.
Translated by Schools for Chiapas.