Article by PBI-Canada

On November 28, the Peace Brigades International-Mexico Project posted on Facebook and Twitter: “Today we are accompanying the People’s Front in Defense of Water and Land – Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala in a peaceful march against the PIM.”

The PIM refers to the Morelos Integral Project (Proyecto Integral Morelos), an energy megaproject that includes a gas and steam generating plant, a gas pipeline that crosses three states (Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala), and an aqueduct.

PBI-Mexico adds: “This activity occurs in the context of various mobilizations that will take place today, commemorating the 109th anniversary of the signing of the Ayala Plan and within days of the eviction of Apatlaco blockade.”

The Plan of Ayala was drafted in 1911 by revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata and set out his vision for land reform during the Mexican Revolution.

The Apatlaco blockade had been in place for four years on both sides of the Cuautla River to stop the water from the river being diverted into the PIM aqueduct. It was evicted by the National Guard in the early hours of November 23.

PBI-Mexico further notes: “PBI provides international accompaniment to the People’s Front in Defense of Water and Land – Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala (FPDTA-MPT) due to their risky situation.”

Significantly, Indigenous Náhuatl activist Samir Flores, a member of the FPDTA-MPT, was killed in February 2019 after receiving death threats for his role in protests against the PIM.

PBI-Mexico concludes: “We continue to closely monitor its security situation and that of affected communities and remember that it is the duty of the State to ensure the protection and security of the defenders of human rights, land and territory.”