Indigenous Activists Networks

Defenders of the Land, Truth Campaign, Idle No More

AYOTZINAPA – OPEN LETTER

TO: To the Mothers and Fathers of the 43 Ayotzinapa students and all of the Indigenous Peoples in Mexico

FROM: Indigenous Activists Networks (Defenders of the Land, Truth Before Reconciliation Campaign, Idle No More)

DATE: July 10, 2020

RE:     Tomás Zerón, Mexican Fugitive Reportedly in Canada

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Dear Relatives:

On June 29, 2020 we sent an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanding clarification of the role of the Canadian government in the case of the Forced Disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students abducted on September 26, 2014 in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico by military and police agents of the state.

A specific issue of concern for us was the question of the complicity of the Canadian government in the coverup of the international crime of Forced Disappearance by allowing Tomas Zerón into the country in spite of the fact that Zerón was the subject of a federal arrest warrant in Mexico issued on March 10, 2020.  The government of Mexico also purportedly called for a Red Flag notice of arrest to the international police agency Interpol at the same time.

Although today we are receiving notices that the government of Mexico is announcing publicly that they are serving the government of Canada with a formal petition of extradition of Tomas Zerón to Mexico, the Canadian government has yet to respond to our questions regarding the complicity of Canada in the Ayotzinapa case.

Justin Trudeau has yet to explain how he allowed Tomas Zerón to Canada.

We continue to stand in solidarity and support of the families of the missing 43 students of Ayotzinapa, and the all the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico.

We have declared Tomás Zerón as a persona non-grata in our Indigenous territories, and that we will stand with you always in the struggle of Indigenous Peoples for SELF DETERMINATION  and JUSTICE in Mexico.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Communications Contact: Tori Cress at E-Mail: info@IdleNoMore.ca

Sylvia McAdam, Idle No More Organizer, Cell: (306) 281-8158

Kanahus Manuel, Defenders of the Land, Spokesperson, Cell: (250) 852-3924

Russ Diabo, Spokesperson, Truth Before Reconciliation Campaign Cell: (613) 296-0110

  This document is issued by the Coordinating Group of the Idle No More, Defenders of the Land and Truth Campaign

This document is issued by the Coordinating Group of the Idle No More, Defenders of the Land and Truth Campaign Netw Networks[i].

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^[i] Defenders of the Land is a network of Indigenous communities and activists in land struggle across Canada, including Elders and youth, women and men, dedicated to building a fundamental movement for Indigenous rights, was founded at a historic meeting in Winnipeg from November 12-14, 2008. Idle No More was founded by four women (three of whom are Indigenous and one of whom is White) in November 2012 in response to several bills passed in Canada that undermine Indigenous rights and environmental protection. The movement grew quickly, and by January 2013 there were tens of thousands of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people taking part in locally-based actions and mass mobilizations around the world. The Truth Campaign is a core team of people who are part of an advocacy and public education campaign to get Crown governments and Canadian society to address “Truth Before Reconciliation” because the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action are not sufficient to address the colonization that First Nations have historically experienced and which continues today particularly under the colonial policies and legislation passed under the Constitution Act 1867.