Journalists and activists threatened in Tecámac documented environmental impact by AIFA

Last Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the organization of the 12 Indigenous Peoples of Tecámac, published a statement announcing that activists and journalists of the newspaper “El Universal” were carrying out documentation work on the environmental effects of Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA). when they were intimidated on the hill of Chiconautla, Tecámac.

Say the statement.

The 12 towns of Tecámac denounced that the previous events took place “in an atmosphere of increasing tension” before which they positioned themselves on 21 March, the same day when the inauguration of AIFA, when, likewise, published on their social networks a statement against the new airport.

In this way, they say that during the documentation and interview process, a van interrupted the recording, descending from it four men with their faces covered: two armed, one armed, one with a handgun and the other, a state police, with a weapon for the exclusive use of the army.

In addition, they violently intercepted them, forced them to leave the scene and with threats demanded that they delete the recordings and photographs they had captured.

The organization also referred to the fact that they have previously reported omissions due to arson arson on Tecalco-Chiconautla hill, first on February 11, 2022 to the Office of the Environmental Protection of the State of Mexico (PROPAEM) and then to the Comptroller's Office of the Government of the State of Mexico. None of them proceeded.

Instead, on March 27, another arson took place “intentionally” and according to the statement, as “a clear example of the harassment of the practices and knowledge of community organization and autonomy”.

In the end, they held the municipal government of Tecámac, headed by Mariela Gutiérrez Escalante, and the federal government responsible for the intimidation and aggression of those present,

According to the journalists, the aggressors instilled physical violence against one of the activists and threatened to “catch them with a match” to burn right there, adding that one of the men shot into the air.

On March 30, the Secretary of Security of the State of Mexico (SS EDOMEX) informed through its Twitter account that it is already carrying out the necessary investigations to rule out the probable involvement of an element of the State Police during the aggression, as stated in the version of both journalists, such as that of the 12 Towns of Tecámac.

He assured that if the probable linkage is confirmed, “appropriate legal and administrative remedies will be acted upon”. However, so far, Alfredo del Mazo Maza, governor of the entity, has not issued a statement on the matter.

This represents yet another aggression against environmental activists and journalists, of whom in recent months there have been murders, attacks and intimidation and against which members of the union, human rights defenders, as well as civil society have protested.

KEEP READING: