ConflictBarometer_2016

THE AMERICAS
MEXICO (PUBLIC SECURITY)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2014
NICARAGUA (INDIGENOUS GROUPS)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2015
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
normalistas et al. vs. government
system/ideology
The violent crisis concerning the political system and the handling
of public security between teacher trainees, so-called
normalistas, and several teachers' unions, on the one hand,
and the government under President Enrique Peña Nieto, on
the other hand, continued. The incident triggering the conflict,
the abduction of 43, the killing of six, and the injuring of
25 normalistas and bystanders on 09/26/14 in Iguala, Guerrero
state, remained largely unsolved.
On March 30, the Interdisciplinary Independent Group of Experts,
designated by the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights, announced that the government had not renewed
its investigation mandate expiring at the end of April. Subsequently,
demonstrators set up a camp outside the Ministry of
the Interior in the capital Mexico City, Federal District, on April
15, demanding a prolongation. They voiced concern over the
possible closure of all investigations, including those of the
national general attorneyship. On July 8, however, the Subsecretary
of Human Rights of the Interior Ministry, Roberto
Campa Cifrián, announced that investigations and searches
would be taken up again in August.
Marches and roadblocks continued to be frequent acts of
protest against the government. Public transport unions criticized
the government's approach to public security during
a 10,000-strong highway blockade in solidarity with normalistas
in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, on April 28. When federal
police cleared the blockade using tear gas and batons,
protesters fired gunshots, hurled stones, and wounded four
policemen. 58 demonstrators were arrested.
Over the year, parents and solidary groups regularly protested
to commemorate the Iguala case. On its second anniversary,
for instance, normalistas, partly supported by teacher
unions [→ Mexico (CNTE et al.)] and Zapatistas [→ Mexico
(EZLN/Chiapas)], staged protests against the government's
handling of public security in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero,
Michoacán, Yucatán, and Mexico City. While the march
in the capital accounted for about 8,000 protesters, the
other states registered several hundred demonstrators respectively.
The protest in Chilpancingo turned violent when
normalistas started to throw Molotov cocktails at the state
government palace. Police used tear gas to disperse the
crowd, injuring seven normalistas.
Throughout the year, three normalistas were killed by unknown
gunmen. While those supporting the normalistas
blamed the government for being at least indirectly involved,
the government accused common criminals.
International solidarity, even though more sporadic than in
the previous year, endured. In the Argentine capital Buenos
Aires, for instance, demonstrators voiced their disapproval of
Peña Nieto's visit to the country on July 29 and criticized his
security policies. jok
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Miskito groups, YATAMA vs. government
autonomy, resources
The violent crisis in the coastal regions of the North Caribbean
Coast Autonomous Region (RACCN) over autonomy and resources
between members of the Miskito indigenous and the
party Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA), on the
one hand, and the government, on the other, continued.
Throughout the year, illegal settlers, so-called colonos, carried
out several abductions and violent attacks in an effort
to threaten Miskito indigenous. YATAMA and the Miskito indigenous
continued to express their dissent with policies of
the government concerning the enforcement of indigenous
rights as well as the insufficient provision of protection for
their community.
Between December 2015 and January 2016, colonos allegedly
had taken ten Miskito indigenous hostages. While six
of them were later released under severe threats, one was
found dead and three remained missing. On March 16, eight
armed colonos ambushed and injured a Miskito park ranger
in Wawa, Francia Sirpi municipality. A further abduction took
place on August 18, as alleged colonos kidnapped and beheaded
two Miskitos in Li Aubra, Waspam municipality.
On February 27, Miskito indigenous reaffirmed to defend
their autonomy at the 9th Extraordinary Assembly of Indigenous
People in the municipality of Bilwi. They accused the
government of neglecting issues such as the clear-cutting of
tropical forests and the exploitation of hardwoods as well as
violent attacks by colonos. They urged the authorities to ensure
their rights. On November 26, the government, in turn,
stated that it had not received any criminal charge this year.
On August 7, the Centre for Justice and Human Rights of the
Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua claimed that approx. 500 Miskito
indigenous from the RACCN had fled to the Honduran border
area due to permanent threats and violence carried out by
colonos.
Further tensions between indigenous people and colonos
arose in the national park of Indio Maíz, located in the South
Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCS) and the southern
department Río San Juan. On June 16, colonos armed with
AK-47 assault rifles threatened a park ranger and his family,
demanding him to give up his forest patrols. Authorities did
not undertake any countermeasures. One month later, indigenous
groups reported at least 195 illegal activities in the national
park, including the clear-cutting of tropical forests and
the exploitation of hardwoods by colonos.
In the elections on November 7, YATAMA leader Brooklyn
Rivera returned to parliament after he had been ousted last
year by the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
over allegations of land grabbing. The same day, a clash between
members of YATAMA and the FSLN left four people injured
in Bilwi. mah
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