Public Story
Arantepacua 6 years after state violence: “Celebration as resistance”
Investigación por Viridiana Martínez y Elizabeth Díaz
Fotografías Elizabeth Díaz
Fotoreportaje de lo vivido los días 8,9 y 10 de septiembre en la celebración que año con año se hace con motivo de la virgen de la Natividad, en la comunidad indígena autónoma de Arantepacua, Michoacán.
Territorio que en 2017 fue víctima de graves violaciones de derechos humanos que derivaron en el lamentable asesinato de cinco compañeros:
10 casos de tortura, 48 detenciones arbitrarias y más de 1000 personas afectadas de la comunidad. Hechos perpetrados por elementos de la policía del estado ordenados por el entonces gobernador Silvano Aureoles Conejo y el actual fiscal Adrián López Solís.
A casi 7 años de lo sucedido la comunidad va retomando y habitando la alegría desde la fiesta, el baile y música, espacios para reparar comunitariamente las múltiples afectaciones de lo sucedido en 2017.
Como respuesta a la represión, la comunidad de Arantepacua optó por defender su derecho a la libre determinación. Tras el episodio de violencia, las asambleas comunitarias en Arantepacua se fortalecieron notablemente. En diciembre de 2017, luego de ocho meses de sufrir la represión, formalizaron la creación del primer Consejo Comunal.
Cabe destacar que la comunidad ya había estado ejerciendo su derecho a la libre determinación desde antes de 1994 mediante sus asambleas basadas en usos y costumbres, manteniéndose independientes del municipio de Nahuatzen. Como resultado de la represión, la comunidad decidió establecer una ronda comunitaria de seguridad para abordar la desconfianza e inseguridad que los incidentes con la policía habían generado entre la población.
En un primer momento, la comunidad presentó denuncias ante la fiscalía de Michoacán. La Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDH) emitió una recomendación en diciembre de 2020 en la que atribuye la responsabilidad de los acontecimientos al gobernador Aureoles Conejo.
Aunado a ello, la comunidad continúa en búsqueda de reparación ante la violencia estatal que aún no se repara en términos de justicia y castigo a los responsables.
Justicia para Arantepacua.
¡Ni perdón, ni olvido!
Arantepacua 6 years after state violence: “Celebration as resistance”
Research by Viridiana Martínez and Elizabeth Díaz
Photographs Elizabeth Díaz
Photo report of what was experienced on September 8, 9 and 10 in the celebration that takes place year after year on the occasion of the Virgin of the Nativity, in the autonomous indigenous community of Arantepacua, Michoacán.
Territory that in 2017 was a victim of serious human rights violations that led to the unfortunate murder of five colleagues:
10 cases of torture, 48 arbitrary arrests and more than 1,000 affected people from the community. Acts perpetrated by elements of the state police ordered by the then governor Silvano Aureoles Conejo and the current prosecutor Adrián López Solís.
Almost 7 years after what happened, the community is resuming and inhabiting joy through partying, dancing and music, spaces to communally repair the multiple effects of what happened in 2017.
In response to the repression, the Arantepacua community chose to defend its right to self-determination. After the episode of violence, the community assemblies in Arantepacua were significantly strengthened. In December 2017, after eight months of suffering repression, they formalized the creation of the first Communal Council.
It should be noted that the community had already been exercising its right to self-determination since before 1994 through its assemblies based on uses and customs, remaining independent from the municipality of Nahuatzen. As a result of the repression, the community decided to establish a community security patrol to address the mistrust and insecurity that the incidents with the police had generated among the population.
At first, the community filed complaints with the Michoacán prosecutor's office. The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued a recommendation in December 2020 in which it attributes responsibility for the events to Governor Aureoles Conejo.
In addition to this, the community continues to seek reparation for the state violence that has not yet been repaired in terms of justice and punishment for those responsible.
Justice for Arantepacua.
No forgiveness, nor forgetness!
Research by Viridiana Martínez and Elizabeth Díaz
Photographs Elizabeth Díaz
Photo report of what was experienced on September 8, 9 and 10 in the celebration that takes place year after year on the occasion of the Virgin of the Nativity, in the autonomous indigenous community of Arantepacua, Michoacán.
Territory that in 2017 was a victim of serious human rights violations that led to the unfortunate murder of five colleagues:
10 cases of torture, 48 arbitrary arrests and more than 1,000 affected people from the community. Acts perpetrated by elements of the state police ordered by the then governor Silvano Aureoles Conejo and the current prosecutor Adrián López Solís.
Almost 7 years after what happened, the community is resuming and inhabiting joy through partying, dancing and music, spaces to communally repair the multiple effects of what happened in 2017.
In response to the repression, the Arantepacua community chose to defend its right to self-determination. After the episode of violence, the community assemblies in Arantepacua were significantly strengthened. In December 2017, after eight months of suffering repression, they formalized the creation of the first Communal Council.
It should be noted that the community had already been exercising its right to self-determination since before 1994 through its assemblies based on uses and customs, remaining independent from the municipality of Nahuatzen. As a result of the repression, the community decided to establish a community security patrol to address the mistrust and insecurity that the incidents with the police had generated among the population.
At first, the community filed complaints with the Michoacán prosecutor's office. The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued a recommendation in December 2020 in which it attributes responsibility for the events to Governor Aureoles Conejo.
In addition to this, the community continues to seek reparation for the state violence that has not yet been repaired in terms of justice and punishment for those responsible.
Justice for Arantepacua.
No forgiveness, nor forgetness!
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