March against the project and the police brutality
2002-11-10
Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Opponents of Costco arrested and jailed.
The Costco controversy in Cuernavaca, Mexico goes on, and the government is cracking down harder on protestors who want to prevent Costco from destroying the historic Casino De La Selva. (See 9/7/02 Newsflash). One of the leaders of the anti-Costco movement in Cuernavaca sent the following chilling report to sprawl-busters: "Several days ago, our vehicle was sorrounded by several patrol cars. In order to speak to the police we lowered the windows only to find that they would try to get into the car by force without indicating what our fault was. They then proceeded to spray tear gas and forced us out. Two of us, the men, were handcuffed while the woman that was with us screamed of terror. We were thrown into the back of a pick-up with our faces pressed to the floor while they crushed our handcuffed wrists. A doctor received us but was unwilling to wash my out eye affected directly by the gas. A friend of ours complained at the local "procuraduria de justicia" asking for information, but was taken away to prison as well. We were with 18 other men in the same cell, so that that there was no place to lie down in order to sleep. Those that were being held were not allowed to drink water, eat or place a single phone call. Some were hurt badly by the police but were not attended by an ambulance. As there was no running water, the stench was unbearable during 10 hours. Finally we were let out without bail without ever being informed of anything. Our protests are against the establishment of a Costco warehouse on a piece of land where an ecological and cultural reserve should be kept."
COSTCO destroys archeological site and ancient trees in Mexico
Costco Corporation in Mexico has been involved in the destruction of valueable artwork and ancient trees that were one of the most important attractions of the city of Cuernavaca. The protests from some of the most respected members of the community were silenced by police brutality in August but arrests of activists are still occurring. The company only makes unacceptable and offensive offers such as making copies "restorations" of murals, lending an art exposition for 5 years and replacing the giant trees with 30 thousand 1.5m seedlings.
Mexican Movement for the Defense of Cultural and Natural Heritage wins important award
The Civic Front for the Defense of Casino de la Selva (FCCS), a Mexican organization created in 2001 to fight the destruction, by the Costco corporation, of a key heritage site in Cuernavaca, has been awarded one of the most important Human Rights awards in Latin America, the Mendez Arceo 12 th National Award.
The prize, for which eight other major civic organizations were running, was awarded following the jury's statement that the organization was probably the first in Mexico to consistently advocate for “third generation rights.” Third Generation Rights consist of cultural rights, the right to a healthy environment, and the right for new generations to inherit a safer, more equitable world.
The jury also acknowledged the fact that the FCCS not only fought for its own cause, but was able to rally a large part of the population around it, and furthermore offered support and solidarity to the most urgent indigenous struggles for justice and equity. The award will be a key instrument to advance the FCCS objectives, which presently include: bringing forth reforms on State and Federal legislations on cultural and ecological issues and civil society participation.
INCD Steering Committee member, Rafael Segovia , has been a key actor in this movement, as General Coordinator of the Morelos Citizen's Council for Arts and Culture , which triggered the movement, in July 2001, in their intent to save the valuable mural paintings and characteristic buildings which were part of the heritage site.
