October 31st 2003
We have received the following very disturbing report from the Ricardo Flores Magón Indigenous Popular Council (CIPO–RFM).
On the morning of October 16th, 2003, a group of heavily armed men (whom the CIPO–RFM refers to as a paramilitary group) from the community of Tanetze de ZaragozA, led by Jacobo Chávez Yescas and César Toimil Roberts (who allegedly enjoy the protection of Oaxaca State Governor José Murat), opened fire on a community assembly in the neighbouring community of Santa María Yaviche. One man, BARTOLOME SALAS CHAVEZ, was killed by a blow from a machete and nine people were injured, four of them seriously, by gunfire. Sixty or more people, some of them from outside the region, took part in the attack, shrieking their hostility at "rebels" and at CIPO-RFM members. The community assembly had been called to discuss the events of the preceding day (October 15th) when two men known to be associated with the armed group from Tanetze had attempted to stab to death the community authorities of Santa Maria Yaviche. It was not until October 17th that the state government responded to the appeals sent out from Santa Maria Yaviche. The government had effectively ignored an earlier message from the Oaxaca State Human Rights Commission which had warned that an attack against the people of Santa Maria Yaviche was being organized in Tanetze. Despite the detailed information available, including photos, regarding the identity of the armed attackers from Tantetze, as of October 19th the government had not proceeded to any arrests. The two members of the attacking group who had been captured by the people of Santa Maria Yaviche, and subsequently released into the hands of the state judicial authorities, have been officially charged with nothing more serious than making threats.
The CIPO–RFM believes that the injured people from Santa Maria Yaviche were moved unnecessarily from clinic to clinic, and they have expressed surprise that the injured are being treated in three different medical establishments. They have also protested against the fact that some of the injured have been subjected to pressure to sign declarations which could lead to the exoneration of their attackers. The CIPO–RFM strongly opposes the statements of the State Attorney General to the effect that the attack was the result of a clash between two communities, and it deplores the fact that this is the only version of the events that appears in most of the media.
The CIPO–RFM sees the events of October 15th and 16th as part of a campaign on the part of the state government to punish Santa Maria Yaviche for having declared itself to be an autonomous community. It points out that in January 2002 forty–six of its members from the communities of Reforma, Yagallo, and Yaviche were abducted and tortured by a group of armed men who, the CIPO–RFM believes, were acting in connivance with the state authorities. Although, as a result of pressure from national and international human rights organizations, the Oaxaca State Human Rights Commission sent out a recommendation (15/2002) to the Oaxaca state government regarding this case, the latter took no steps to comply with the recommendation. (In fact, one of the perpetrators of that attack was also a ringleader in the events of October 15th and 16th 2003.)
Moreover, the government has issued a large number of warrants for the arrest of CIPO–RFM members and community officials (based on what the CIPO–RFM believes to be trumped–up charges). Death threats against the CIPO–RFM and the communities, emanating from the armed group referred to above, have appeared repeatedly in local newspapers. On February 26th, 2002, there was a specific death threat against Raúl Gatica. On June 13th and on August 7th 2002, armed group member Jacobo Chávez announced that there would be a violent attack on the CIPO–RFM and its communities. A similar threat was made by Cesar Toimil Roberts.
Please see Urgent Actions #1015, May 29th 2003, and #1016, June 9th 2003, for more details of recent attacks upon and threats against the CIPO-RFM and particularly Raúl Gatica.
The targeting of the CIPO–RFM and its supporters is part of what a number of human rights and social organizations consider to be a generalized pattern of violation of indigenous rights in the state of Oaxaca. In reaction to this situation, a one–hundred–and–twenty person human rights observation caravan of students and members of human rights and social organizations has just carried out a three–day mission to the state of Oaxaca visiting indigenous communities and interviewing indigenous prisoners in state penitentiaries. They were told by Carlos Manzo, an imprisoned member of the Union Hidalgo Citizens Committee, that the situation in Oaxaca is characterized by a politics of "terror" and that the government's will to reach and respect negotiated solutions to social conflicts is subordinated to powerful economic interests. (Please see Urgent Actions #1014, May 22nd 2003, and #1019, August 15th 2003, for more information on violations of the human rights of members of the Union Hidalgo Citizens Committee.)
Please write to the government of Mexica and the Oaxaca state government asking for the immediate disbanding of the paramilitary and armed groups in the state of Oaxaca.
Please ask for immediate steps to be taken to safeguard the physical and psychology integrity of Raúl Gatica and of all the members and supporters of the CIPO–RFM.
Please ask for a prompt and thorough investigation of the attack that took place in Santa Maria Yaviche on October 16th, leading to the arrest and punishment of the persons responsible for planning and perpetrating this murderous attack. Politely reminding the government that the events that took place on October 15th and 16th occurred after months of criminal threats, please ask that sanctions be applied to all of those persons in authority whose professional conduct is found to have been negligent with regard to the situation in Santa Maria Yaviche.
*In their messge, the CIPO-RFM also expressed their "rejection of the mega–projects and trade agreements which put the existence of our communities at risk and destroy the sovereignty of the peoples." They affirmed the importance of the "conservation of our forests; the care of our rivers, lakes, and seas; and the recovery of our traditional forms of agriculture as a means of resisting genetically–modified organisms." You may in your letters wish to express your support for these more general demands, which are, it goes without saying, shared by many Canadian citizens and social organizations.
For Mexico:
Lic. Vicente Fox Quesada
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de Los Pinos
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, Mexico D.F., C.P. 11850,
MEXICO
FAX: 011 52 55 522 4117 or 516 9537 or 515 1794
presidencia@gob.mx radio@presidencia.gob.mx webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx vicentefox@presidencia.gob.mx
Lic. José Murat Casab
Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, México
Fax: 011–52–951–516–3737 (If possible, please send your messge by fax) gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx
Please send copies of your letters to:
Lic. Ricardo Sepúlveda
Director General de Derechos Humanos
Secretaria de Gobernación (Ministry of the Interior)
Reforma 99, Colonia Tabacalera
CP 006030, Mexico D.F., MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 51 28 02 34
rsepulveda@segob.gob.mx
Dr. José Luis Soberanes Ferández
Presidente, Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos
Mexico D.F., Mexico
correo@cndh.org.mx
Lic. Sergio Segreste Rios
Presidente, Comisión Estatal de Derechos Humanos
Oaxaca, Mexico
cdoax@infosel.net.mx
Her Excellency María Teresa García
Ambassador for Mexico
45 O'Connor Street, suite 1500
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4
FAX: 613 235 9123
info@embamexcan.com
For Canada:
Hon. Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
FAX: 613 996 9607 Graham.b@parl.gc.ca
Ms. Susan Gregson, Director
Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's Equality Division (AGH)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive, B4
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
FAX: 613 943 0606
susan.gregson.agh@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Indigenous community in Oaxaca attacked by armed group after state government fails to respond to repeated threats of violence.
We have received the following very disturbing report from the Ricardo Flores Magón Indigenous Popular Council (CIPO–RFM).
On the morning of October 16th, 2003, a group of heavily armed men (whom the CIPO–RFM refers to as a paramilitary group) from the community of Tanetze de ZaragozA, led by Jacobo Chávez Yescas and César Toimil Roberts (who allegedly enjoy the protection of Oaxaca State Governor José Murat), opened fire on a community assembly in the neighbouring community of Santa María Yaviche. One man, BARTOLOME SALAS CHAVEZ, was killed by a blow from a machete and nine people were injured, four of them seriously, by gunfire. Sixty or more people, some of them from outside the region, took part in the attack, shrieking their hostility at "rebels" and at CIPO-RFM members. The community assembly had been called to discuss the events of the preceding day (October 15th) when two men known to be associated with the armed group from Tanetze had attempted to stab to death the community authorities of Santa Maria Yaviche. It was not until October 17th that the state government responded to the appeals sent out from Santa Maria Yaviche. The government had effectively ignored an earlier message from the Oaxaca State Human Rights Commission which had warned that an attack against the people of Santa Maria Yaviche was being organized in Tanetze. Despite the detailed information available, including photos, regarding the identity of the armed attackers from Tantetze, as of October 19th the government had not proceeded to any arrests. The two members of the attacking group who had been captured by the people of Santa Maria Yaviche, and subsequently released into the hands of the state judicial authorities, have been officially charged with nothing more serious than making threats.
The CIPO–RFM believes that the injured people from Santa Maria Yaviche were moved unnecessarily from clinic to clinic, and they have expressed surprise that the injured are being treated in three different medical establishments. They have also protested against the fact that some of the injured have been subjected to pressure to sign declarations which could lead to the exoneration of their attackers. The CIPO–RFM strongly opposes the statements of the State Attorney General to the effect that the attack was the result of a clash between two communities, and it deplores the fact that this is the only version of the events that appears in most of the media.
BACKGROUND:
The CIPO–RFM sees the events of October 15th and 16th as part of a campaign on the part of the state government to punish Santa Maria Yaviche for having declared itself to be an autonomous community. It points out that in January 2002 forty–six of its members from the communities of Reforma, Yagallo, and Yaviche were abducted and tortured by a group of armed men who, the CIPO–RFM believes, were acting in connivance with the state authorities. Although, as a result of pressure from national and international human rights organizations, the Oaxaca State Human Rights Commission sent out a recommendation (15/2002) to the Oaxaca state government regarding this case, the latter took no steps to comply with the recommendation. (In fact, one of the perpetrators of that attack was also a ringleader in the events of October 15th and 16th 2003.)
Moreover, the government has issued a large number of warrants for the arrest of CIPO–RFM members and community officials (based on what the CIPO–RFM believes to be trumped–up charges). Death threats against the CIPO–RFM and the communities, emanating from the armed group referred to above, have appeared repeatedly in local newspapers. On February 26th, 2002, there was a specific death threat against Raúl Gatica. On June 13th and on August 7th 2002, armed group member Jacobo Chávez announced that there would be a violent attack on the CIPO–RFM and its communities. A similar threat was made by Cesar Toimil Roberts.
Please see Urgent Actions #1015, May 29th 2003, and #1016, June 9th 2003, for more details of recent attacks upon and threats against the CIPO-RFM and particularly Raúl Gatica.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The targeting of the CIPO–RFM and its supporters is part of what a number of human rights and social organizations consider to be a generalized pattern of violation of indigenous rights in the state of Oaxaca. In reaction to this situation, a one–hundred–and–twenty person human rights observation caravan of students and members of human rights and social organizations has just carried out a three–day mission to the state of Oaxaca visiting indigenous communities and interviewing indigenous prisoners in state penitentiaries. They were told by Carlos Manzo, an imprisoned member of the Union Hidalgo Citizens Committee, that the situation in Oaxaca is characterized by a politics of "terror" and that the government's will to reach and respect negotiated solutions to social conflicts is subordinated to powerful economic interests. (Please see Urgent Actions #1014, May 22nd 2003, and #1019, August 15th 2003, for more information on violations of the human rights of members of the Union Hidalgo Citizens Committee.)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please write to the government of Mexica and the Oaxaca state government asking for the immediate disbanding of the paramilitary and armed groups in the state of Oaxaca.
Please ask for immediate steps to be taken to safeguard the physical and psychology integrity of Raúl Gatica and of all the members and supporters of the CIPO–RFM.
Please ask for a prompt and thorough investigation of the attack that took place in Santa Maria Yaviche on October 16th, leading to the arrest and punishment of the persons responsible for planning and perpetrating this murderous attack. Politely reminding the government that the events that took place on October 15th and 16th occurred after months of criminal threats, please ask that sanctions be applied to all of those persons in authority whose professional conduct is found to have been negligent with regard to the situation in Santa Maria Yaviche.
*In their messge, the CIPO-RFM also expressed their "rejection of the mega–projects and trade agreements which put the existence of our communities at risk and destroy the sovereignty of the peoples." They affirmed the importance of the "conservation of our forests; the care of our rivers, lakes, and seas; and the recovery of our traditional forms of agriculture as a means of resisting genetically–modified organisms." You may in your letters wish to express your support for these more general demands, which are, it goes without saying, shared by many Canadian citizens and social organizations.
ADDRESSES:
For Mexico:
Lic. Vicente Fox Quesada
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de Los Pinos
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, Mexico D.F., C.P. 11850,
MEXICO
FAX: 011 52 55 522 4117 or 516 9537 or 515 1794
presidencia@gob.mx radio@presidencia.gob.mx webadmon@op.presidencia.gob.mx vicentefox@presidencia.gob.mx
Lic. José Murat Casab
Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, México
Fax: 011–52–951–516–3737 (If possible, please send your messge by fax) gobernador@oaxaca.gob.mx
Please send copies of your letters to:
Lic. Ricardo Sepúlveda
Director General de Derechos Humanos
Secretaria de Gobernación (Ministry of the Interior)
Reforma 99, Colonia Tabacalera
CP 006030, Mexico D.F., MEXICO
Fax: 011 52 55 51 28 02 34
rsepulveda@segob.gob.mx
Dr. José Luis Soberanes Ferández
Presidente, Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos
Mexico D.F., Mexico
correo@cndh.org.mx
Lic. Sergio Segreste Rios
Presidente, Comisión Estatal de Derechos Humanos
Oaxaca, Mexico
cdoax@infosel.net.mx
Her Excellency María Teresa García
Ambassador for Mexico
45 O'Connor Street, suite 1500
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4
FAX: 613 235 9123
info@embamexcan.com
For Canada:
Hon. Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
FAX: 613 996 9607 Graham.b@parl.gc.ca
Ms. Susan Gregson, Director
Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's Equality Division (AGH)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive, B4
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
FAX: 613 943 0606
susan.gregson.agh@dfait-maeci.gc.ca