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Young Mexican farmer sets himself afire during protest demanding release of jailed father

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    EDS. NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT - Farmer Agustin Gomez Perez, 21, runs engulfed in flames after he was lit on fire as a form of protest outside the Chiapas state legislature in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. Perez was demanding the release of his father, indigenous leader Florentino Gomez Giron, who was arrested last year on charges stemming from a series of demonstrations in 2011 that turned violent. The father is charged with murder, stealing cattle, organized crime and causing 39 families to flee the Ixtapa municipality as a result of leading indigenous protests in 2011 to demand improved basic services. Agustin was taken to a hospital, and his stepmother, Araceli Diaz, said he was “serious but stable” condition with second- and third-degree burns. (AP Photo/Cuartoscuro, Jacob Garcia) NO PUBLICAR EN MEXICO, CREDITO OBLIGATORIO - MEXICO OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

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    People gather around farmer Agustin Gomez Perez, 21, after he set himself on fire as a form of protest outside the Chiapas state legislature in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. Perez was demanding the release of his father, indigenous leader Florentino Gomez Giron, who was arrested last year on charges stemming from a series of demonstrations in 2011 that turned violent. The father is charged with murder, stealing cattle, organized crime and causing 39 families to flee the Ixtapa municipality as a result of leading indigenous protests in 2011 to demand improved basic services. Agustin was taken to a hospital, and his stepmother, Araceli Diaz, said he was “serious but stable” condition with second- and third-degree burns. (AP Photo/Cuartoscuro, Jacob Garcia) NO PUBLICAR EN MEXICO, CREDITO OBLIGATORIO - MEXICO OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico – A young farmer in southern Mexico has set himself on fire outside the Chiapas state legislature building to demand the release of his father, an indigenous leader who was arrested last year on charges stemming from a series of demonstrations in 2011 that turned violent.

Agustin Gomez Perez lay down and allowed another protester to douse him with gasoline and set it alight Friday in the state capital. His stepmother, Araceli Diaz, says he is "serious but stable" condition with second- and third-degree burns.

Gomez Perez and other indigenous farmers have been protesting last year's jailing of his father, Florentino Gomez Giron. The father is charged with murder, stealing cattle, organized crime and causing 39 families to flee the Ixtapa municipality as a result of leading protests in 2011.