h
five days ago, it circulated on social networks a video broadcast by the Congress of Mexico City. It was the working group of the Institute of Democratic and Prospective Planning of Mexico City, to analyze the citizen consultation processes that mark the beginning of “consultation in good faith”, they say, for the general development and territorial planning programs of Mexico City.
In the video it is observed that the Morena representative for Tláhuac and Milpa Alta, Judith Vanegas, expressed insults and threats against the lawyer Carlos González, founder and member of the National Indigenous Congress. He warned that, surely, “I don’t know if he lives or not, and write it down once and for all, but he is going to go against everything that is being tried to do, he raised up the native peoples.” He gave a kind of “semblance” in a dangerous tone, highlighting that he accompanied the Zapatista movement when Marcos arrived in Milpa Alta; “Yes, he is a man who has an impact, he is a man who can move and the President of the Republic, Claudia Sheinbaum, has had him well placed since she was head of Government.”
Immediately, the Nahua Indigenous Communal Property Council of Santa Ana Tlacotenco issued a strong statement that stated, among other things, that it “deeply regrets the unfortunate comments of local representative Judith Vanegas Tapia against the lawyer Carlos Gonzalez García, during the workshop on October 30 held at the Institute of Democratic and Prospective Planning. In her participation, she blamed the lawyer for being the ‘historic enemy’ of the processes he is experiencing today. Milpa Alta. Such visceral accusations, where she also accuses him of being the one who ‘raised’ the community against Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum when she was head of Government, can only be the result of frustrated interests and her ignorance regarding the organizational processes and struggle that the people of Milpa Alta have waged against the impositions of the government. An incendiary, irresponsible, ignorant and ill-intentioned speech that puts at risk not only the bridge that the head of Government is trying to build. Clara Brugada with the native peoples of Milpa Alta, but also puts at risk the physical integrity of the one she points out.” And they added that the lawyer Carlos González García is a legal advisor to this council and is very honored.
They also pointed out in the document, dated October 31, that the community organizes itself, according to its logic, forms and times, and does not need someone external to come and “raise” it. Lawyer González has only limited himself to providing legal support for the defense of our rights, which have been transgressed by the authority itself.
Numerous organizations have questioned the statements of the aforementioned Morenoist representative and highlight that Carlos González is a lawyer for indigenous communities in the defense of their lands and territories in different parts of the country, including towns in Milpa Alta.
Without a doubt, the allegations of Deputy Vanegas are very serious, who as mayor of Milpa Alta faced an amparo trial successfully promoted by lawyer González, on behalf of and by decision of the community noted above.
The bitterness spoke through her voice, but beyond that, it is important to emphasize that the local Morenoist legislator, in a public intervention and official event, with the support of her jurisdiction, in the logic of knowing she was unpunished, issued a judgment against a defense lawyer and against his political positions. It is no coincidence that he exemplifies the Zapatista link, which, moreover, is public and long-standing.
It would be desirable for her party to question such public intervention and for the Congress of Mexico City itself to evaluate the actions of Representative Vanegas not only from the perspective of legality, but also from legitimacy, if it is not endorsed that the jurisdiction is a patent of marque.
On the other hand, in addition to the attack and disqualification of the defense lawyer, the legislator showed the discrimination and racism against the indigenous peoples by pointing out that an external person, in this case the aforementioned lawyer, has the power to “lift them up.” The critical point made by the Nahua Indigenous Communal Property Council of Santa Ana Tlacotenco is very correct, claiming that they have their own forms of organization and decision-making. This vision, as we well know, is common among the majority of the members of the political class from the three Powers of the Union, not to mention society in general, which unfortunately has naturalized these practices and views towards the people.
It would be significant if the specific commissions against discrimination, both in Mexico City and at the federal level, addressed this case spread through official channels. Or, in fact, will it be considered that the Morenoist representative spoke in a personal capacity and not as a public servant?
