Attack reported dead and missing in san juan Copala
The Attorney General of the state (province) Oaxaca only confirmed the death of two persons, which did not identify, as reported on its Web site daily El Universal.
The organization Voices Oaxacan Constructing Autonomy and Freedom (VOCAL) said in a statement that it is Mexican and Finnish Baby Beatriz Antero Jyri Jaakkola, said El Universal and the Italian news agency ANSA.
The Finland”s missing: Meni Morne, Italian and Belgian David Casinori Santana-Martin denounced as Francisco Lopez of the Mexican Alliance for Self-Determination of Peoples, as well as journalists Erika Ramirez and David Cilia, of the Mexican magazine Contralinea, said the director of this publication, Miguel Badillo.
The incident occurred yesterday afternoon when a convoy consisting of members of local social organizations and international human rights observers headed for San Juan Copala to distribute food, water and blankets among the inhabitants of that town.
San Juan Copala is considered since 1 January 2007 as a part of the autonomous municipality of less than 1,000 inhabitants, members of various communities of the ethnic group Triqui, but the Oaxaca state government said that this status, which it had formally between 1826 and 1948 – has no legal and economic support.
Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI, opposition to national government), who is opposed by large sectors since 2006 severely repressed a teachers” strike led to a radical conflict that lasted several months, demanded intervention of federal troops and claimed several casualties.
Copala The Triqui were among the first indigenous peoples who rebelled unsuccessfully in 1832 and 1843 against the authority of independent Mexico which had helped to settle and then stripped them of their territories and their governments, said indigenous rights lawyer Francisco Lopez Barcenas in an article published in 2007 in the newspaper La Jornada.
In the 70s of last century re-organized with the aim of democratizing the exercise of power in the region and defend the land and natural resources, but growing internal differences led to a split in the middle of this decade.
Then there arose the Unification Movement and the Struggle Triqui Independiente (MULTI), which is the one who told Copala autonomous municipality and part of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), the main opposition force to the government Ruiz”s state.
On the other side was the Social Welfare Unit of the Triqui Region (UBISORT), which is considered close to Ruiz and in the early days of this year evicted MULTI by force from the seat of municipal government.
But the tension eased and the March 10, to death, the MULTI recovered the town hall amid allegations of killings cross , abductions and sexual abuse of women.
“San Juan Copala is under siege, there is no electricity, they have cut the water, no school since January, no doctor, when women go out for food or water, are harassed by paramilitaries whoe4aare there, there is a permanent checkpoint in the community and the state of siege does not allow life, “a statement issued two days ago described Monday by a group of organizations announcing the caravan.
The text was signed by VOCAL, the Center for Community Support Working Together (Cactus), the radio and communications network of the Mexican Southeast, and the commission of observers, including representatives of Germany Belgium, Finland and Italy.
Yesterday”s attack on the convoy was attributed to the UBISORT, whose leaders have been calling earlier this year military presence in the area.
A leader of the Mexican League for Human Rights, quoted by ANSA, said the attackers “kept in its people and have a strong resistance,” and expressed his fear that “is warranted entry of the army “in the region. (Telam) ajl-dc-da28/04/2010 19:06
