Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

October 8, 2022

Mexico's Government Spy Files on Yaqui and Zapatistas in Europe Leaked by Hacker Collective

Mexico's Secretary of Defense spy files include the photos shown above: Zapatistas in their communities; Zapatistas tour in Europe, and aerial images. Mexico's government spy files include profiles on Zapatistas and their supporters, Indigenous movement leaders, professors, farmers, and women leaders.

Mexico's Government Spy Files on Yaqui and Zapatistas in Europe Leaked by Hacker Collective

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

A hacker collective leaked the spy files of Mexico's Ministry of Defense, revealing spying on the Zapatistas and their supporters during the Journey for Life in Europe in 2021. The spy files include Mexico's targeting of both powerful Indigenous women and Indigenous movement leaders in Mexico.

The files were released by the hacktivists Guacamaya.

The leaked files reveal the Mexican government spying on the Yaqui Traditional Authority in Vicam, Sonora, where Vicam Yaqui spokesmen have been kidnapped, imprisoned, and assassinated.

Vicam Yaqui protested the theft of their water for an aqueduct taking Yaqui River water to the city of Hermosillo. Vicam Yaqui have maintained highway blockades for years in defense of their water on a major highway, slowing down the flow of commercial trucks to the U.S. and elsewhere.


Top photo: Vicam Yaqui Spokesperson Tomas Rojo, a soft-spoken agricultural engineer, was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 2021. Tomas was found buried in the desert outside the village. Photo 2: International Water Forum hosted by Vicam Yaqui Traditional Authority in Vicam, Sonora in 2012. Photo by Brenda Norrell, Censored News. https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/video-yaqui-foro-internacional-del-agua.html

The new spy files of Mexico's Defense Department on Yaqui in Vicam are especially chilling since the exposure follows a series of assassinations of Vicam Yaqui.


Tomas Rojo, the spokesman for the Vicam water protectors, was kidnapped on May 27, 2021, brutally murdered, and buried in the desert at Vicam. Rojo's assassination follows the resistance to the Independence aqueduct and theft of Yaqui River water, highway blockades on a major highway at Vicam, and the international water forums hosted in the community.

Vicam, one of the Yaqui communities south of the international border, is about a six-hour drive southwest of Tucson in the state of Sonora, Mexico.

Mexican Defense Department Spying on Zapatistas in Europe

The Mexican government spy files on the Zapatistas and Yaqui were posted in a list of leaked files by Zapatista supporters in Berlin, Germany, on Twitter. Mexico's SEDENA, the National Defense Department, was spying on Zapatistas' during their Journey for Life through Europe.

The Zapatistas support group in Berlin, GiraZapatistaBerlin, said on Twitter, "There are some details about meetings in Switzerland, Netherlands & Belgium during the #giraporlavida. The intention of SEDENA seemed to have been to observe if the #zapatista delegation would speak out critically against the Mexican Government."

The post from Berlin points out that Mexico's Defense Department was documenting the feminist and decolonization activities during the Zapatistas tour in Europe, and specifically, the "fight of women, trans and non-binary people against every type of discrimination."


Zapatistas from Chiapas set sail for Europe on Journey for Life. 

The leaked files of Mexico's Defense Department include photos of the Zapatistas' tour in Europe; biographies and photos of movement leaders in Mexico, including biographical profiles of professors, farmers, and women leaders.

Mexico's Military Spied on Women's Gathering in Chiapas

El Pais reports Mexico's military is obsessed with the Zapatistas.

"The information obtained from the massive email leak reveals that the Army is obsessed with the bases of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas. The follow-up includes detailed cards that include details of events, description of leaders and photographs of supporters."

Mexico military spy file on Zapatistas supporters

Mexico's Defense Department spy files include details of the Second International Meeting of Women in Struggle. Although Mexico's military claims this is surveillance, the information was available on the Zapatistas website and on the social media accounts of the Zapatistas and their supporters.

In its article, El Pais provides the translation from Spanish of the Mexican military's spy file:

"Date and place: Dec. 26 to 29, 2019. Caracol IV, Mpio. Autonomous November 17” (Altamirano, Chis.). Activity: 'Second International Meeting of Women in Struggle.' They carried out cultural activities (theater, dance, poetry and regional dances). Number of participants: Approx. 3,140 people (760 Zapatista support bases, 800 students, 800 nationals and 780 people of foreign appearance from 43 countries.)

"It concluded without incident," indicates the file prepared by the military.

El Pais reports on Mexican military spying elsewhere, including spying on a dentist in Queretaro.

"Beyond the mountains of Chiapas, in another document found by this newspaper, a military chief from military camp No.16 in Querétaro sends his superiors a series of files with the profile of the Zapatista leaders in Querétaro. In it, next to the name of the spied on, the public or private activities carried out are summarized. In some cases, these records are limited to writing: 'carries out activities typical of his profession: dentist."

Mexico's Government Targeted 'Feminists,' Chilean singer, and Women  Struggle in Struggle

Remezcla reports:

The leaked documents allegedly included a report of the Chilean singer Mon Laferte and feminist groups being watched closely by the Mexican army.

Among the thousands of pages in Guacamaya’s report are documents noting that the Mexican army was keeping a close eye on Laferte and other feminist groups. From 2017 to 2022, Laferte and these groups were reportedly put on watch. 

According to El Desconcierto, Laferte was considered “a danger due to her songs.” Her music is known for carrying empowering feminist messages. She was reportedly put on watch for her involvement in a feminist meeting called II International Meeting of Women in Struggle, along with traditional medicine healer and human rights activist Marichuy. 

Read more: https://remezcla.com/music/the-guacamaya-leaks-allege-the-mexican-army-kept-an-eye-on-mon-laferte/

Militaries Trained by U.S. Keep People Prisoners

In a statement accompanying the most recent action, the hacktivist group described the plundering of Latin America, Abya Yala, by colonizers and the continuing extractivist goals of the Global North, ABC News reports.

The group issued a 1,400-word communique saying that the militaries and police of Latin American countries, often with extensive training by the United States, are used by governments “to keep their inhabitants prisoner.”

“The police minimize the risk that the people exercise their honorable right to protest, to destroy the system that oppresses them,” the hacktivist group wrote.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hack-puts-latin-american-security-agencies-edge-9078742

Mexico's Embassy in Switzerland Provided Surveillance of Zapatistas

The media in Mexico is reporting on the leaks, and pointing out that Mexico's Defense Department used Mexico's Embassy staff in Switzerland for surveillance, and also collected information from social media.

"In the so-called Guacamaya leaks, there is a document dated August 31 with seals from the Mexican embassy in Switzerland, which includes the activity of the so-called “Squadron 421″, a Zapatista delegation that traveled to Europe by boat last April, and from whose actions on European soil indicates that 'no coverage of demonstration activities is observed,' instead it indicates that activism actions disseminated on social networks were identified."

Mexico Defense Department Spied on Amnesty International

Amnesty International said the leaked files expose the militaries of Mexico and Peru spying on the human rights organization, specifically on Amnesty's investigations into the missing 43 students in Guerrero, Mexico, and on the conflicts in Cusco and Apurímac, Peru.

"The leaks obtained by the Guacamaya collective from various servers belonging to the armed forces in different countries in the region have revealed monitoring of the activities of civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, by the military in Mexico and Peru so far, showing the deterioration of respect for human rights, Amnesty International said today."

"In Mexico, the media outlet Proceso published a Ministry of Defense document containing multiple references to Amnesty International’s observations on the enforced disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students in 2014."


The New York Times ignores spying on Zapatistas and Yaqui

The New York Times reported on the leaked files on Thursday but did not include the details of spying on the Zapatistas and Yaquis.

The Times article reveals that Israeli spyware was used.

"The leaked emails reveal that the military was using Pegasus, an Israeli spyware, to infect the phones of journalists and an activist."

The Times reports that the leaks expose the widespread sexual assaults in the armed forces.

"The leaks were released by a hacker group known as Guacamaya, or macaw in Spanish, and include some six terabytes of data of over four million emails."

The Times reveals government officials' connections to organized crime and the cartels. It states the expansion of the military’s power also came after a government truth commission in August officially said the military was involved in the disappearance of 43 students from Ayotzinapa.

The Times said that the hack displayed for the first time the extent to which the military has used its power and connections to shield itself from oversight in the Ayotzinapa case.

Latin American Military Files Exposed

Related media reports show files were exposed by the group from the militaries in Chile, El Salvador, Peru and Colombia, as well as El Salvador’s National Police.

Aztec Reports reveals, "The joint investigation used documentation from the Guacamaya hacks to show that the Mexican military acquired the Pegasus espionage software, owned by the Israeli transnational cyber security corporation, NSO Group, in April 2019."

Leaks Expose Under-Reported Indigenous Issues: Mining and Railway

The leaks expose under-reported Indigenous issues, which are being protested, including Tren Maya in Mexico, and mining in Guatemala, The Record reports.

"Representatives of Guacamaya slammed news outlets for ignoring leaked documents on Tren Maya — a 1,525-kilometer intercity railway that will traverse the Yucatán Peninsula after construction is finished in 2024."

“They briefly mention that the leak contains documents on the Tren Maya, a megaproject opposed by many communities in its path, that would certainly be in the public interest to talk about,” a Guacamaya representative said. 

“But we follow ideals of Wikileaks, that information on institutions in power should be public.” 

"In August, the group leaked troves of documents stolen from the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office as well as from five public and private mining companies and several environmental agencies in Colombia and Guatemala. Another 4 TB of data was leaked from a Swiss mining company operating in Guatemala in March."


Cover-up of rapes by Mexican military

"Documents dated November 9, 2021 revealed that of 308 military personnel accused of human rights violations, 23 were accused of sexual abuse or rape, of which only five had been sentenced."

Excerpts from Mexico Defense Department Spy Files on Yaqui

(English translation)

A. 20 Pnas. in both directions of Carr. Fed. No. 15, section Cd. Obregón - Guaymas, at the height of the monument "Danzante Yaqui", in the Municipality of Cajeme, Son., with the purpose of demonstrating for the alleged fraud of one million pesos to transporters of said ethnic group, by the company Cooperativa de Transportes de Carga y Volteo, during the works they carried out in the Carr. Fed. No. 15 section Cd. Obregón - Guaymas, Son. B. 15 Pnas. in both directions of the Carr. Fed. No. 15 at the height of the town of Vicam, Guaymas, Son., in order to show their disagreement with the state authorities for the construction of the "El Ramal" aqueduct. The non-conformists asked the truckers for a fee in exchange for allowing them to pass through the area; through this activity, the community raises funds for communal work (Concluyeron).

The inhabitants of the Yaqui communities have carried out this type of activity for years on this highway, near the towns of Esperanza, Cócorit and Estación Corral, in the municipality of Cajeme, as well as in Vícam and Pótam, in the municipality of Guaymas, Sonora, due to the internal normative system (uses and customs) by which they are governed, considering all of their territory as their own, including federal highways.

2. In Sonora they apply one hour less (-1), in relation to Mexico City's schedule. Opinion: The Yaqui ethnic group carries out this type of activities in a recurrent way, derived from their opposition to the construction of the aqueduct "El Ramal", which transfers water from the Yaqui River to the City of Hermosillo, Sonora, arguing that their actions are in defense of the Yaqui River, arguing that their actions are in defense of what they call "territorial rights", using the internal normative system with which they are governed, so it is estimated that these blockades will continue to occur. This information was picked up by social networks and the media. Respectfully. RTT-SASG-MALL-CEHT-MEMM-OPH.  TO 0500, 23 MAR. 2022.docx

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

(CONFIDENTIAL)

E.M.C.D.N. Subjfa. Intl.

S-2 (Intl.) E.M.C.D.N.

Summary of developments.

(From 1500, 3 Apr. to 0500, 4 Apr. 2022).

I. Various events in the Country.

1500 to 2200, 3 Apr. 2022, Approx. 420 Pnas. held various mobilizations, as follows:

A. I R.M. (El Chivatito, Cd. Méx.).

100 members of feminist groups marched through the main streets of Col. Centro, in the municipality of Cuautla, Mor, demanded progress in the investigations of the murder of Evelin Afiune Ramirez, who was a student of the Tecnologico de Cuautla, found dead in the Cuautla, found dead on 28 Mar. 2022, in the aforementioned municipality, and later held a rally in front of the facilities of the State Attorney General's Office

State Prosecutor General's Office East Zone.

B. VI R.M. (Puebla, Pue.).

150 people held a rally in the esplanade of the Mayor's Office of Milpa Alta, Mexico City, as part of the "Caravan for Water and Life".

Caravan for Water and Life, which will take place from March 22 to April 24, 2022, contemplating visiting various communities in the states of Puebla, Veracruz, Guerrero, Guerrero, Mexico City, Mexico, Veracruz, Guerrero, Mexico City, Queretaro, Morelos and Oaxaca, in order to make known their disagreement against the companies "Bonafont" and "Bonafont" and "Bonafont".

Bonafont" and "Danup" companies, which allegedly exploit water excessively.

C. X R.M. (Mérida, Yuc.).

30 members of the dog shelter "Cachorrilandia", held a rally in front of the facilities of the Vicefiscalia Gral. del Edo. Zona Norte, located at Avs. Xcaret and Kabah, Col. Centro, Mpio. de Benito Juárez, Q. Roo, they demanded to the state authorities to enforce the law against authorities to enforce the law against animal abuse.

D. XII R.M. (Irapuato, Gto.).

a. 100 people marched peacefully from the Glorieta de la Cultura, located at Avs. Francisco I. Madero and Constitución de 1814, Col. Constitución de 1814, Col. Zaragoza, Mpio. de Apatzingán, Mich., in the direction of the Regional State Prosecutor's Office, located at José María Morelos y Pavón Street, Col. Palmira, demanded the appearance alive of C. Guadalupe Monserrat Gamiño Cruz, 31 years of age, who is being held in custody, 31 years old, who was last seen leaving her home in Col. Fovissste, on March 30, 2009. of Mar. 2022.

b. 40 members of the "Frente Nacional en Defensa de la Reforma Eléctrica", held a rally at the Kiosco del Jardín Principal,located in Col. Centro, Peñamiller, Qro., they demonstrated in support of the Electricity Reform promoted by the Federal Executive.

Federal Executive.

2

(CONFIDENTIAL)

II. Road Blockades by the Yaqui Ethnic Group, in the State of Sonora.

0800 to 2000, 04 Apr. 2022 (T.P.), a group of 35 members of the Yaqui ethnic group, carried out two blockades intermittently as follows:

A. 20 Pnas. in both directions of Carr. Fed. No. 15, section Cd. Obregón - Guaymas, at the height of the monument "Danzante Yaqui", in the municipality of Cajeme, Sonora, in order to protest against the alleged fraud of one million pesos to transporters of said ethnicity by the company

The company Cooperativa de Transportes de Carga y Volteo, during the work they performed on the Carr. Fed.

No. 15 section Cd. Obregón - Guaymas, Son.

B. 15 Pnas. in both directions of the Carr. Fed. No. 15 at the height of the town of Vicam, Guaymas, Son. the state authorities for the construction of the "El Ramal" aqueduct.

The non-conformists asked the truckers for a fee in exchange for allowing them to pass through the area; through this activity, the community raises funds for community work. community collects economic resources for communal work (Concluyeron).

Notes:

1. The inhabitants of the Yaqui communities have carried out this type of activity for years on this road, at the height of the Yaqui communities.

the towns of Esperanza, Cócorit and Estación Corral, in the municipality of Cajeme, as well as in Vícam and Pótam in the municipality of Pótam, Municipality of Guaymas, Son Sonora, derived from the internal normative system (uses and customs) with which they are governed, considering as their own the totality of their territory, including the federal highways.

2. In Sonora they apply one hour less (-1), in relation to the schedule of Mexico City.

Opinion:

The Yaqui ethnic group carries out this type of activities on a recurring basis, derived from their opposition to the construction of the "El Ramal" aqueduct, which would transfer the water from the "Ramal" aqueduct, which transfers water from the Yaqui River to the city of Hermosillo, Son Sonora, arguing that their actions are in defense of what they call "territorial rights", arguing that their actions are in defense of what they call "territorial rights", arguing that their actions are in defense of what they call "territorial rights".

territorial rights", using the internal normative system with which they are governed, so it is estimated that the aforementioned blockades will continue to occur.

blockades will continue to take place.

This information was picked up by social networks and the media.

Respectfully

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Mexico Defense Department Spy Files

Espanol

(CONFIDENCIAL) (CONFIDENCIAL) E.M.C.D.N. Subjfa. Intl. S-2 (Intl.) E.M.C.D.N. Resumen de novedades. (De las 0800, 22 Mar. a las 0500, 23 Mar. 2022).

Cajeme, Son., con el fin de manifestarse por el supuesto fraude de un millón de pesos a trasportistas de dicha etnia, por parte de la empresa Cooperativa de Transportes de Carga y Volteo, durante los trabajos que realizaron en la Carr. Fed No. 15 tramo Cd. Obregón – Guaymas, Son. B. 15 Pnas. en ambos sentidos de la Carr. Fed. No. 15 a la altura del poblado de Vicam, Mpio. de Guaymas, Son., con el fin de mostrar su inconformidad a las autoridades estatales por la construcción del acueducto “El Ramal”. Los inconformes pidieron a los transportistas una cuota a cambio de permitirles el paso por el lugar; mediante esta actividad, dicha comunidad recaba recursos económicos para trabajos comunales (Concluyeron). Notas: 1. Los pobladores de las comunidades Yaquis, han realizado durante años este tipo de actividades en citada vía de comunicación, a la altura de los poblados Esperanza, Cócorit y Estación Corral, Mpio. de Cajeme, así como en Vícam y Pótam, Mpio. de Guaymas, Son., derivado del sistema normativo interno (usos y costumbres) con el que se rigen, considerando como propio la totalidad de su territorio, incluyendo las carreteras federales. 2. En Sonora se aplican una hora menos (-1), en relación con el horario de la Cd. Méx. Opinión: La Etnia Yaqui realiza este tipo de actividades de manera recurrente, derivado de su oposición a la construcción del acueducto “El Ramal”, el cual trasvasa agua del río Yaqui hacia la Cd. de Hermosillo, Son., argumentando que sus acciones son en defensa de lo que llaman “derechos territoriales”, valiéndose del sistema normativo interno con el que se rigen, por lo que se estima que citados bloqueos continuarán registrándose. Esta información fue retomada en redes sociales y medios de comunicación. Respetuosamente. RTT-SASG-MALL-CEHT-MEMM-OPH. W:\acopio\2022\1.-MESA DE PANORAMA\TARJETAS\3.- MARZO\15\RESUMEN S-2\10.-RESUMEN DE NOVEDADES DE LAS 1500, 22 MAR. A LAS 0500, 23 MAR. 2022.docx


(CONFIDENCIAL) (CONFIDENCIAL) E.M.C.D.N. Subjfa. Intl. S-2 (Intl.) E.M.C.D.N. Resumen de novedades. (De las 1500, 3 Abr. a las 0500, 4 Abr. 2022). I. Diversos eventos en el País. 1500 a 2200, 3 Abr. 2022, Aprox. 420 Pnas. realizaron diversas movilizaciones, como sigue: A. I R.M. (El Chivatito, Cd. Méx.). 100 integrantes de grupos feministas, realizaron una marcha por las principales calles de la Col. Centro, Mpio. de Cuautla, Mor., exigieron avances en las investigaciones del homicidio de Evelin Afiune Ramírez, quien era estudiante del Tecnológico de Cuautla, localizada sin vida el 28 Mar. 2022, en citado Mpio., posteriormente realizaron un mitin frete a las instalaciones de la Fiscalía General del Estado Zona Oriente. B. VI R.M. (Puebla, Pue.). 150 personas, realizaron un mitin en la explanada de la Alcaldía Milpa Alta, Cd. Méx., en el marco de “La Caravana por el Agua y la Vida”, la cual se lleva a cabo del 22 Mar. al 24 Abr. 2022, contemplando visitar diversas comunidades en los Estados de Puebla, Veracruz, Guerrero, Cd. Méx., Querétaro, Morelos y Oaxaca, con el fin de dar a conocer su inconformidad en contra de las empresas “Bonafont” y “Danup”, las cuales supuestamente explotan el agua de manera excesiva. C. X R.M. (Mérida, Yuc.). 30 personas integrantes del refugio canino “Cachorrilandia”, realizaron un mitin frente a las Instalaciones de la Vicefiscalia Gral. del Edo. Zona Norte, ubicada en las Avs. Xcaret y Kabah, Col. Centro, Mpio. de Benito Juárez, Q. Roo, exigieron a las autoridades estatales que se aplique la ley contra el maltrato animal. D. XII R.M. (Irapuato, Gto.). a. 100 personas, realizaron una marcha pacífica de la Glorieta de la Cultura, ubicada en las Avs. Francisco I. Madero y Constitución de 1814, Col. Zaragoza, Mpio. de Apatzingán, Mich., con dirección a la Fiscalía Regional del Estado, ubicada en calle José María Morelos y Pavón, Col. Palmira, exigieron la aparición con vida de la C. Guadalupe Monserrat Gamiño Cruz, de 31 años de edad, misma que fue vista por última vez saliendo de su domicilio particular en la Col. Fovissste, el pasado 30 de Mar. 2022. b. 40 integrantes del “Frente Nacional en Defensa de la Reforma Eléctrica”, realizaron un mitin en el Kiosco del Jardín Principal, ubicado en la Col. Centro, Mpio. de Peñamiller, Qro., se manifestaron en apoyo a la Reforma Eléctrica impulsada por el Ejecutivo Federal. 2 (CONFIDENCIAL) (CONFIDENCIAL) II. Bloqueos carreteros de la Etnia Yaqui, en el Estado de Sonora. 0800 a 2000, 04 Abr. 2022 (T.P.), un grupo de 35 integrantes de la Etnia Yaqui, realizaron dos bloqueos de forma intermitente como sigue: A. 20 Pnas. en ambos sentidos de la Carr. Fed. No. 15, tramo Cd. Obregón - Guaymas, a la altura del monumento “Danzante Yaqui”, en el Mpio. de Cajeme, Son., con el fin de manifestarse por el supuesto fraude de un millón de pesos a trasportistas de dicha etnia, por parte de la empresa Cooperativa de Transportes de Carga y Volteo, durante los trabajos que realizaron en la Carr. Fed No. 15 tramo Cd. Obregón – Guaymas, Son. B. 15 Pnas. en ambos sentidos de la Carr. Fed. No. 15 a la altura del poblado de Vicam, Mpio. de Guaymas, Son., con el fin de mostrar su inconformidad a las autoridades estatales por la construcción del acueducto “El Ramal”. Los inconformes pidieron a los transportistas una cuota a cambio de permitirles el paso por el lugar; mediante esta actividad, dicha comunidad recaba recursos económicos para trabajos comunales (Concluyeron). Notas: 1. Los pobladores de las comunidades Yaquis, han realizado durante años este tipo de actividades en citada vía de comunicación, a la altura de los poblados Esperanza, Cócorit y Estación Corral, Mpio. de Cajeme, así como en Vícam y Pótam, Mpio. de Guaymas, Son., derivado del sistema normativo interno (usos y costumbres) con el que se rigen, considerando como propio la totalidad de su territorio, incluyendo las carreteras federales. 2. En Sonora se aplican una hora menos (-1), en relación con el horario de la Cd. Méx. Opinión: La Etnia Yaqui realiza este tipo de actividades de manera recurrente, derivado de su oposición a la construcción del acueducto “El Ramal”, el cual trasvasa agua del río Yaqui hacia la Cd. de Hermosillo, Son., argumentando que sus acciones son en defensa de lo que llaman “derechos territoriales”, valiéndose del sistema normativo interno con el que se rigen, por lo que se estima que citados bloqueos continuarán registrándose. Esta información fue retomada en redes sociales y medios de comunicación. Respetuosame




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