While in Puerto Rico the governmental employees face the chaotic situation of over 90,000 of them in the streets, its senate and representatives struggling whether to approve a loan of over $600 millions dollars to balance the budget, and while the island is besieged by $30 thousand millions of public debt; in Mexico we live the anxiety of repression.

In an extraordinary show of force, the Mexican government recuperated the order of San Salvador Atenco after two days of disturbances and collisions between indigenous people, Mexicans and the police. The final number of wounded amounts to hundreds, one boy of 14 years old dead, 217 people jailed, many heavily beaten up when already inside the police vehicles. The first pictures of violence done by the police, as well as from enraged mobs were astounding and painful. However, later on only those coming from the Atenco people were the ones shown. The Zapatistas called for a red alert and all the "caracoles," Zapatistas towns, are closed.

On the one hand, we heard several organizations calling yesterday for marches and protests against the government's violence. A peaceful march to San Salvador Atenco from adherents to "La Otra Campaña," (the other campaign) and from "El Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra," (the Front of people to defend the land - FPDT) called for dialogue and the freedom of those detained and jailed during these operatives. On the other hand, the government affirms its right and will to punish all involved in the disturbances calling them kidnappers and homicides. The words of the government enhance its determination to bring order and peace. The police will not let anyone to escape the law and will not rest until all the leaders of the FPDT come to jail.

How did all start? On Wednesday morning, eight street vendors of flowers went to the market to sell their products. Arrangements between the local government of Texcoco and cultivators of flowers were made to let them sell their products in the market, and it seems also in the streets. However, these eight vendors, members of the FPDT were repressed by the police and brutally expelled from the place. Later on the FPDT and the people of Atenco mobilized and closed the main highway of Mexico-Texcoco, burned a police car and threatened to burn a gas tank truck. Twelve police agents were wounded. Afterward, hundreds of local and state police tried in vain to break the siege and open the highway. It was not until next day at dawn that 3,000 effectives succeeded in detaining some of the leaders, going to the houses pointed by a masked man, searching and detaining the people (and their families) allegedly involved in the event. These will be accused of federal crimes. Many went underground.

The history of the people of Atenco is one of fight and defense of their lands. Last year, they were successful to stop a project of expropriation of their lands to build an airport. Some say this is the drop fulfilling the cup of the powerful interests in the region. Its revenge, they say. Some say that poor people are fed up of being ignored for so many years. Many say this signals a change in governmental policies towards resistance groups. Some say the night has come.

PD. Heavy rains have been falling in Chiapas since Friday, and again people from Huixtla and several regions affected last year by Stan have their houses flooded.

• Please, pray persistently for peace, for God's mercy and wisdom!

In Christ service, Ricardo, Doris and Maria