Mexico revists Acteal massacre

A news source that monitors international Christian imprisonments and martyrdoms is reporting that Mexico is releasing 9 prisoners and lowering the sentences of 10 (out of a total of 90) all charged with the December 22, 1997, massacre of 45 Tzotzil Indians in Acteal, Chiapas. Investigators said it became clear that the 45 massacred Tzotzil Indians, including pregnant women and children, were shot and killed by government-backed paramilitary forces who stormed a church where they were praying, not by the 90, mostly native indian, prisoners serving time over the massacre.

Open Doors, a Netherlands-based Christian rights group which negotiated with a special commission reviewing the case, along with other human rights groups has questioned the evidence used to convict the 90 prisoners and says they were imprisoned for "political reasons." Its interest in the case stems from the fact that half the prisoners are evangelical Christians.

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