Peace Activist Says Mexico's Focus Must Be More on Justice Than Peace Adazahira Chavez - CIP Americas
go to original April 8, 2014

According to Pietro Ameglio, activist and nonviolent resistance promoter, The Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) can be credited with initiating important processes in Mexico, such as transforming victims of the drug war into actors, highlighting their dignity and mobilizing society. However, he believes it still has many unfinished goals three years since its inception. Among these goals are the need for greater civil disobedience to demand immediate action for the re-appearance of the missing, justice for the dead and the need to change the State’s militarized security model that is increasingly becoming more criminal and wrought with impunity.

Ameglio complains that in Mexico, despite MPJD protests and dialogue with the authorities, violence has increased as the government merely pretends to present solutions. He also accepts the criticism that the movement has lacked an effective way to articulate its goals and has failed to resonate with indigenous groups, acknowledging that there are other actors in society that should not be led by the Movement for Peace, but rather that the Movement should incorporate itself into these movements.

The execution of seven youths in Temixco, Morelos, on March 28, 2011, triggered the emergence of the MPJD, headed by poet Javier Sicilia, the father of one of the victims. Sicilia, with his ever-present hat and khaki vest, led a march on foot from Cuernavaca, Morelos, to Mexico City, under the slogan “We’ve had it!” Later he led three caravans–one to the northern border, one to the southern border and another into the United States. On the caravans relatives of victims gave voice to the horrors of the “drug war” being waged by then-President Felipe Calderon, The caravans also met with politicians, engaged in dialogues with public officials and carried out dozens of other activities.

The party in power has changed since then. After being in the opposition for 12 years, the Institutional Revolutionary Party returned to the presidency and holds the most seats in Congress. Despite the change in administrations, the Movement continues strong. In March it symbolically renamed streets from known tyrants to names of victims of the war, it opened an exhibit at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance in downtown Mexico City, and initiated a series of workshops and conferences in May and June.

In an interview with Desinformémonos, Ameglio takes stock of the three years of the movement, highlighting its contributions and discussing its “Achilles heel.”

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