Fairfax is today carrying a story about an Australian, Felicity Ann Ryder, who — based on reports in Mexican media — may have been arrested by Mexican authorities for alleged involvement in a bombing campaign in Mexico City. A Mexican, Mario Antonio Lopez Hernandez, was arrested on June 27 and — according to Spanish-language sources — has allegedly confessed to participation in a bombing outside the Federal Electricity Commission on that date. Hernandez was apparently injured when the bomb exploded and appears to have been arrested after being taken to hospital and treated for injuries obtained as a result. Ryder may — or may not — have been arrested in connection to the incident. A report in the Mexican newspaper Excelsior — Detienen a mujer australiana por explosiones en Tlalpan y Coyoacán, June 29, 2012 — would appear to confirm that Felicity has been arrested/detained by Mexican police for alleged involvement in the bombings:
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, 29 de junio.- Una mujer de nacionalidad australiana identificada como Felicity Ann Ryder fue detenida luego de corroborar que acompañaba al sujeto que le detonara en la mano un artefacto explosivo de fabricación casera, y fuera capturado por policías capitalinos en la colonia Del Carmen, delegación Coyoacán.
La mujer, quien llegó a México con visa de turista y fue detenida gracias a las declaraciones del propio Mario Antonio López Hernández, quien reveló que la conoció hace tres meses a través de internet.
Ann Ryder es originaria de Albury, Australia, e ingresó a la ciudad de México el 6 de diciembre de 2011…
[machinetranslation:]
MEXICO CITY, June 29. – A woman identified as Australian, Felicity Ann Ryder was arrested after accompanying the subject confirm that detonated in his hand a homemade explosive device, and was captured by police in the colonial capital city Del Carmen, Coyoacan.
The woman, who arrived in Mexico on a tourist visa and was detained by the statements by Mario Antonio Lopez Hernandez, who revealed he met three months ago over the internet.
Ann Ryder is a native of Albury, Australia, and entered Mexico City on December 6, 2011…
On the other hand, according to Fairfax, her family and Australian authorities are unable to confirm her arrest.
The Anarchist Black Cross (Mexico) has issued a statement (below) expressing concern over the situation, as has a group of lawyers in Mexico City (Grupo de Abogados en Solidaridad con los Presos Anarquistas/Group of Lawyers in Solidarity with Anarchist Prisoners), one which raises particular concerns over the process employed by police in order to extract a supposed confession from Hernández. The statement by the Grupo de Abogados, like that by the ABC, has been published by various sites.
‘Albury woman linked to Mexican bombing’, Nino Bucci, The Age, July 3, 2012:
AN Albury woman has been linked to bombings carried out by a Mexican anarchist group.
Mexican media reported that Felicity Ann Ryder had been arrested in Mexico City along with a man suspected of planning three bombings.
The alleged bombings occurred in two separate boroughs of Mexico City on June 27.
Ms Ryder’s family told The Age that they did not believe she had been arrested but that Mexican authorities were trying to find her. ”We have been unable to contact Felicity, so we are not even sure if she is involved in the incident,” a family member said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Australian Embassy in Mexico would provide consular assistance if requested. ”We are aware of media reports that Mexican authorities are seeking an Australian citizen, alleged to be connected to those who orchestrated explosions in Tlalpan and Coyoacan in Mexico,” a spokesman said.
Ms Ryder had been connected to the bombings by Mario Antonio Lopez Hernandez, who was arrested when he was injured by one of the bombs, according to news reports. Police said Mr Hernandez, 27, was found with clothes matching a description of the bomber and with a bomb in his backpack.
The reports say Ms Ryder had arrived in Mexico City as a tourist on December 6 last year.
Mr Hernandez had admitted to being a member of an anarchist group and learning how to build the bombs on the internet, the reports state. He reportedly bought bomb components from street vendors and supermarkets.
Police allege a bomb detonated outside the Federal Electricity Commission and two more explosions were planned, including one at the Federal Electoral Institute. Pictures of the commission published with the story show several windows shattered in the blast.
[México] Compañero anarquista herido y detenido (Actualizado), CNA México, June 29, 2012. English translation, Mexico: Recent information about the anarchist comrade Mario López Fernández, via Contra Info, July 1, 2012:
Having been seriously injured with burns on his arm and leg by an accidental explosion from an incendiary device, the comrade is currently being treated in the Rubén Leñero General Hospital, in Mexico City. He has been given skin grafts on both his arm and leg, with a damaged artery forcing surgeons to operate quickly his leg to avoid, as a last ‘resort’, its amputation. The comrade is now conscious.
After the explosion of the incendiary device, the comrade was taken to the hospital under arrest. Since his entry to the hospital, at 5am on June 27th, he was cut off from the outside world, so he had no possibility of getting legal defense that wasn’t the duty lawyer. A first witness statement was taken while he was not in a favourable physical or mental state, under the effects of anaesthesia after an operation, while being subjected to a lot of police pressure. It was not until June 28th, at more or less 4.30pm, that he had first contact with his lawyer. It remains to be seen if there will be a judicial review of his case, still assigned to the Public Ministry’s Coy-2 agency, as he awaits a transfer to a Mexican Federal District prison in the following hours; it is unclear what the charges for his arrest are as they have varied each time clarifications were requested, which seems to indicate that they are trying to put together a case, with the most recent being criminal damage and attacks against public property. The comrade Mario testifies to be an anarchist but categorically denies being part of the ‘#yo soy 132’ movement or the ‘Tenochtitlán Salvation Front (FST)’ mentioned in the Press.
We know they are trying to link a comrade, Felicity Ryder, and that the investigation is still open as they widen their search.
We need to remain vigilant about the way Mario is treated in his current health condition, so that he is not transferred to a prison before he recuperates. Also, that the lawyers he has selected for his case be recognized by the authorities trying his case.
Lastly, we make a callout to the anarchist movement to join forces and demonstrate their support and solidarity with the comrade. For the moment it is necessary to redistribute counter-information about Mario’s situation. Some days from the general election (July 1st), the comrade’s case could be manipulated for electoral ends, but we know that his position is not only focused on the false democracy and the situation we are currently experiencing in Mexico. His posture goes further than that: he is an anarchist and consequently he is against all existent Power.
A solidarity gathering was called for last Friday, June 29th, at 3pm, outside the Colegio Militar metro station in support of Mario.
Total solidarity with Mario López and Felicity Ryder
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OK so as of this date Felicity’s status is unclear. There are contradictory accounts in the Mexican media regarding her legal situation and a recent article (‘Border family’s Mexican mystery’, July 4, 2012) in the Border Mail suggests — contrary to these other reports — that she has not in fact been arrested: it may be that she is wanted for questioning.
A joint statement put out by anarchist groups in Mexico:
http://soliobrera.cnt.es/secciones/internacionall/947-comunicado-conjunto-de-colectivos-y-organizaciones-anarquistas-en-solidaridad-con-mario-lopez.html
The relevant section reads:
“We have information that the police are trying to link more people to the events, specifically Felicity Ryder, whose name has appeared in several mass media outlets as the supposed accomplice of Mario, even stating that she has been detained; however, this has not been confirmed by the PGR (Federal Attorney General’s Office).”
“We demand the presentation of Felicity Ryder. In an article published on June 29 by the newspaper Excelsior, it is mentioned that she had been detained, but this has not been denied or confirmed by the PGR.”
This article:
http://impacto.mx/la%20ley/nota-47612/Presenta_PGJDF_a_bombarderos
claims she got in touch with Mario three months ago over email and is a sympathizer of the “Anarchist Movement” (capitalized). It says her passport was found at one of the bombing sites and that the Attorney General of Mexico City is charging her with two counts of “Attacks against the Public Peace” and one count of “Property Damage”.
The claim that the passport was found at the “scene of the crime” is sketchy: police raided Mario’s house after he was arrested. If she was staying with him, likely they found the passport there and planted it at the scene.
Who knows?
In the meantime, anarchist groups in Mexico and elsewhere are organising solidarity with Hernández.
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Mexico: Joint declaration of anarchist action groups
Spare no effort to free them.
Give free rein to our imagination, unleashing all the passions and focus all our anger at the release of comrades estxs. What direct solidarity is not limited and would be spread across the planet!
————–
The live of the companion Felicity Ann Ryder! Immediate release for Mario Antonio Lopez Hernandez! Urgent communication / Joint declaration of anarchist action groups:
Direct solidarity with our comrades Mario Antonio Lopez and Felicity Ann Ryder.
Health to those who fight!
Comrades:
In the early hours of Wednesday, June 27 comrades were two arrested Mario Antonio Lopez Hernandez and Felicity Ann Ryder by the repressive forces of the Federal District. Mario’s partner wounded was captured after falling at the time was activated an explosive device that was placed near the Del Carmen Coyoacán in Mexico City, so it was transferred to the Hospital Ruben Lenero capital city where still being held as a prisoner after the surgical procedure he underwent. The companion Felicity Ann Ryder was arrested shortly after being arrested comrade Mario Antonio on false charges that attempt to link the bombings made the night of 26 and during the early hours of 27 Revolution Autonomous Cells Immediate-Praxedis G Guerrero ( CARI-PGG) in Mexico City and Mexico State, as part of the anti-electoral campaign against all parties and the political caste made by the anarchist action groups over the past four months in different states of the Mexican region.
First we want to clarify, to avoid distortions and false links that the partner and the partner Mario Antonio Felicity Ann are not part of the Revolution Autonomous Cells Immediate-Praxedis Guerrero (CARI-PGG) or belong to any of the informal groups of direct action , are insurrectionists, anarcho-nihilistic anarcho-environmentalists, who have decided to develop the struggle against the system of domination across the Mexican geography.
So we want to point that Comrade Mario Antonio, should really have tried to place the explosive device which he is charged (indictment that generated plenty of questions to be left “clean” paraffin test which was submitted in for traces of gunpowder), served only driven only by their anti-authoritarian ideals and their belief antisystemic. It does not belong to any of the anarchist groups that have been starring since 2009 continuously direct action against domination.
Mario Antonio comrades and Felicity Ann active part called “anarchist movement” and are members of the editorial collective that encourages the publication “anarchist conspiracy” unquestionably committed to direct solidarity with imprisoned comrades nuestrxs around the world but do not have links or membership any of the groups signing the joint statement. We do not have to lie, are “guilty” or “innocent” recognize them as “comrades” and deploy our solidarity to the end.
The kidnapping of estxs comrades reminds us of the arrest of Ramses Villareal in 2009, under false accusations in an attempt to link it with our nuclei and clusters of action, which is why we were forced to issue a statement similar characteristics. The arrest of comrades estxs (such as Ramses then) only shows the inability of the government’s repressive corporations Federal District found “guilty” and the desperation of the puppets in the service of “Chief of the capital” Marcelo Ebrard to close his term successfully and continue with his political aspirations. The arrest of Mario Antonio comrades and Felicity Ann only responds to attempts to criminalize dissent and response to the pressures of mass media as they always want repression and blood to satisfy the society of the spectacle. And this time (how strange!), It’s up to the warning to the left of the system of domination, the bearers of “hope” and “real change”. We have timely knowledge of the witch hunt that prepare anti-anarchist and Mount police have launched city authorities, not only against publicly comrades who work in solidarity with our presxs such as the Anarchist Black Cross or of involucradxs comrades in various editorial projects but also against journalists who have realized objectively in the press of the performance of the anarchist groups.
Comrades, Felicity Ann Ryder is abducted by elements of the repressive corporations Federal District Attorney’s express orders Jesus Rodriguez Almeida and Head of Government Marcelo Ebrard, who cynically deny (hours after his arrest made public) that in custody declaring “fugitive”. Marco Antonio is still heavily guarded hospital under constant psychological torture and amid endless irregularities as having taken legaloides his statement while under the influence of anesthesia.
Spare no effort to free them.
Give free rein to our imagination, unleashing all the passions and focus all our anger at the release of comrades estxs. What direct solidarity is not limited and would be spread across the planet!
For the live presentation of the companion Felicity Ann Ryder, kidnapped by repressive corporate Federal Government Distro!
For the immediate release of Mario Antonio Lopez Hernandez mate!
For the release of all the comrades nuestrxs compañerxsl presxs in Mexico and the world!
For the destruction of prisons!
By extension of refractory fire!
What night lights!
For Anarchy!
Force comrades kidnapped by the state!
Force encarceladxs comrades in Greece of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire!
Force encarceladxs comrades in Italy!
Force, co Turtle!
Force, partner Tamara! Force, partner Gabriel! Force teammate Marco!
Against the technological system of domination!
For the destruction of everything that dominates us!
For Total Liberation!
For international coordination anarchist!
What lights up the night!
-Anonymous Anarchist Action / Informal Anarchist Federation, Baja California (AAA / IAF)
-Action Brigades by the Propaganda by Deed Simon Radowitzky-State of Mexico / DF (BAPHAA-SR)
-Cell Autonomous Immediate Revolution – Praxedis Guerrero / Informal Anarchist Federation, State of Mexico / DF / Morelos (CARI-PGG/FAI)
Informal Anarchist Revolutionary-Cell / Informal Anarchist Federation (CRIA / IAF)
Column lxs-Terrorist Revolucionarixs in Black (CTRN)
Ex-members of the Eco-anarchist cell for direct attack (CEAD)
-Informal-DF/estado of Mexico Anarchist Federation (FAI-DF)
-Front Earth Liberation (FLT)
Free-Individuxs, Dangerous and Wild Incendiarixs by the Black Death (ILPSIPN)
-Luddites Against the Domestication of Wild Nature-Mexico State / City (LOBs)
-Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF) fraction of the Informal Anarchist Federation of Mexico (FAI-M), section DF
- Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF) fraction of the Informal Anarchist Federation of Mexico (FAI-M), section Chihuahua
- Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF) fraction of the Informal Anarchist Federation of Mexico (FAI-M), Section Jalisco
- Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF) fraction of the Informal Anarchist Federation of Mexico (FAI-M), Section Veracruz
- Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF) fraction of the Informal Anarchist Federation of Mexico (FAI-M), section Oaxaca
Task Force-Anarcho-Nihilist by the Creator-Tamaulipas Nothing
Mariano Sanchez-Cell Insurreccional Añón-Edo. Mex. (CI-MSA) fraction of the Informal Anarchist Federation of Mexico (FAI-M)
Mariano Sanchez-Cell Insurreccional Añón-Guanajuato (CI-MSA) fraction of the Informal Anarchist Federation of Mexico (FAI-M)
Informal Circle Antagónicxs-individualists (CCIA) Mexico, Planet Earth, July 3, 2012.
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