21-year-old Man Set Himself On Fire To Free Activist From Jail

Man who set himself on fire wants local activist freed from jail.

By H. Nelson Goodson

December 5, 2014

Chiapas, Mexico - Agustín Gómez Pérez, 21, set himself on fire in front of the Tuxla Gutiérrez legislative palace in Chiapas and called for his uncle Florentino Gómez Giron, a local activist to be freed from prison. After setting himself on fire, Pérez's companions helped distinguish the flames and he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Giron was detained for allegedly stealing cattle, according to the protesters.

On November 25, two women, Bibiana Gómez Gómez and Lucirelia Sánchez Díaz who are related to Giron sewed their mouths in protest of holding Giron in prison since May 1. The women and other protesters had gathered at the legislative palace in the municipality of Cintalapa to protest Giron's imprisonment without due process.

Video of self engulfed blaze: http://youtu.be/479nncU_haQ