Activist groups in Mexico on Tuesday are outraged over the arrest of three students in Guadalajara who were planting trees in a land formerly owned by the government which is being turned into a luxury high-rise residence.
The three students were reportedly in the large tract of land planting trees due to the desire of the local residents and students for the area to become a park instead of a residence owned by private developers. The area itself was earmarked for a public park until 2008 when it was given to a private developer in exchange for works that have reportedly not been completed since, according to ABC News.
The students were arrested last week for their actions and charged with illegal land seizure and carrying weapons, with those reportedly being the picks and shovels they had that were used to dig holes to plant the trees, the Associated Press reported.
Local activist groups have decried the arrest as unjust and the charges as exceedingly harsh, with many like University of Guadalajara director Cesar Barba wondering why the peaceful protests of the three students were hit with such consequential charges.
“The excessive abuse of power against three young people who held a peaceful protest ... has reached a dangerous level that shows a lack of limits, and principles,” he said. “Anyone who seeks justice is at risk of being put in jail.”
Hagamos Jalisco, a local civic group, has also said that the charges were “a disproportionate measure” to keep the students jailed “based on the lie that they had weapons,” and that most of what they were doing was replanting trees and passing out information to the public.
While the developers’ offices have yet to comment on the situation, Gov. Enrique Alfaro has claimed that the charges were justified due to the land being “private property,” but that he will get the students out on bail before their trial.
“Nobody has been arrested for protesting,” Alfaro claimed.
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