Statement on the murder of Jesús Normalista Mactumacza
- José Filiberto Velázquez
- May 20, 2025
- 1 min read
The Minerva Bello Center strongly condemns the death of student teacher Jesús N., who died after suffering a skull fracture caused by an impact that caused him to fall, allegedly caused by police officers in Chiapas. This act of violence represents a flagrant violation of human rights and demonstrates the disproportionate use of force against students at the Mactumcza Rural Teacher Training School in Chiapas.
The use of tear gas, designed to disperse crowds, becomes a lethal weapon when misused. A direct impact from a tear gas canister can cause serious and irreparable injuries, as occurred in this case. We demand that the competent authorities conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, that the corresponding responsibilities be determined, and that those responsible be punished according to the law.
This tragic incident adds to a history of attacks and human rights violations against student teachers. We recall that in 2020, a student teacher from Ayotzinapa, Juan N., was also seriously injured when a tear gas canister hit his head by a Chiapas police officer, demonstrating a pattern of repression and institutional violence by the police forces.
The Minerva Bello Center calls on authorities to guarantee the safety and human rights of student teachers and adopt effective measures to prevent future attacks.
We demand the immediate release of the two students detained during these events, as well as a thorough and impartial investigation to determine responsibility and punish those responsible for this attack.
We reiterate our solidarity with the student teachers and call on the authorities to guarantee the safety and human rights of the protesters, preventing future acts of violence by security forces.
