@http://fridaguerrera.blogspot.com/
We parents of Jyri Jaakkola, just came home from the opening ceremony of the exhibiton of Finland-Mexico 2010 in Helsinki for the Bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico, and found out the news from San Juan Copala, Oaxaca, wich make us worried.
We, as parents of a beloved and murdered son, send out this call to the governments of Mexico and the newly elected government of Oaxaca lead by Gabino Cué Monteguado, to make sure that no more blod be spilt in the triqui region due to the on-going siege around San Juan Copala.
We are deeply worried about the safety of the children, women and elderly people that still live in San Juan Copala.
As the latest news from the area tell that armed men responsible for the siege around the village have given warnings that the time for the people in the houses is ending and that these paramilitaries are now little by little approaching towards the houses with their weapons, we would like to share a call to the public and to the Mexican authorities to make sure that a massacre of Copala's population is avoided.
http://municipioautonomodesanjuancopala.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/mult-y-ubisort-amenazan-masacrar-a-todos-los-habitantes-del-municipio-autonomo-de-san-juan-copala/
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2010/09/16/paramilitares-rondan-el-municipio-de-san-juan-copala-oaxaca
We are also amazed and deeply concerned about the omission by the current governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz in doing nothing to stop the illegal siege and the violence practiced by it.
Find attached also a press release of 24 Finnish organisations.
Eeva-Leena and Raimo Jaakkola
Showing posts with label English. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English. Show all posts
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Urgent Call from the Autonomous Municipality
URGENT CALL TO STOP THE GENOCIDE OF THE TRIQUI PEOPLE
1. At dawn yesterday, Monday 13 September, the paramilitary soldiers of the Movimiento de Unificación y Lucha Triqui (MULT), along with those of the Unidad de Bienestar Social para la Región Triqui (UBISORT), once again took control of the Municipal building of San Juan Copala.
2. Since that time the perpetrators have not stopped shooting their high caliber firearms at our compañeros who have refused to abandon their homes despite the violence. They do not want to leave because this is their home, their past and future. They cannot imagine living anywhere else, away from their saints and their ancestors. They prefer to die there with them than to abandon them.
3. As a result of these attacks, today (September 14th) our compañera María Rosa Francisco was seriously injured. She is the same compañera who was recently kidnapped by MULT paramilitary soldiers. No federal, state or municipal authorities are willing to go in and remove our compañera so she can receive medical care. Our compañeros cannot get her out because the shooting has not stopped.
4. Knowing that their actions will go unpunished because they receive backing from the State government, the paramilitaries are shouting from their positions that the inhabitants of San Juan Copala have 24 hours to abandon their homes or they will be killed. We do not believe this is an idle threat, as they did the same thing some months ago in San Miguel Copala, assassinating twelve compañeros right on the municipal playing field.
5. In light of this desperate situation we are calling on all individuals of goodwill, on human rights organizations, on social movements, on all those who believe that the Triqui people deserve a life with dignity, to do everything in their power to denounce this situation; to demand that the government safeguard the lives of the Copaltecos and stop the murderers. We urge you to act today, compañeros, tomorrow will be too late.
Three o-clock in the afternoon of September 13, 2010
The autonomous municipality of San Juan Copala
1. At dawn yesterday, Monday 13 September, the paramilitary soldiers of the Movimiento de Unificación y Lucha Triqui (MULT), along with those of the Unidad de Bienestar Social para la Región Triqui (UBISORT), once again took control of the Municipal building of San Juan Copala.
2. Since that time the perpetrators have not stopped shooting their high caliber firearms at our compañeros who have refused to abandon their homes despite the violence. They do not want to leave because this is their home, their past and future. They cannot imagine living anywhere else, away from their saints and their ancestors. They prefer to die there with them than to abandon them.
3. As a result of these attacks, today (September 14th) our compañera María Rosa Francisco was seriously injured. She is the same compañera who was recently kidnapped by MULT paramilitary soldiers. No federal, state or municipal authorities are willing to go in and remove our compañera so she can receive medical care. Our compañeros cannot get her out because the shooting has not stopped.
4. Knowing that their actions will go unpunished because they receive backing from the State government, the paramilitaries are shouting from their positions that the inhabitants of San Juan Copala have 24 hours to abandon their homes or they will be killed. We do not believe this is an idle threat, as they did the same thing some months ago in San Miguel Copala, assassinating twelve compañeros right on the municipal playing field.
5. In light of this desperate situation we are calling on all individuals of goodwill, on human rights organizations, on social movements, on all those who believe that the Triqui people deserve a life with dignity, to do everything in their power to denounce this situation; to demand that the government safeguard the lives of the Copaltecos and stop the murderers. We urge you to act today, compañeros, tomorrow will be too late.
Three o-clock in the afternoon of September 13, 2010
The autonomous municipality of San Juan Copala
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Solidarity Action in Ciudad de Oaxaca
*Click on title for link to article with photos by Scott Campbell @ El Enemigo Comunún
On Saturday, July 31, around 50 individuals from various collectives and organizations in the city of Oaxaca blockaded Calle Benito Juárez in front of the federal courthouse for two hours to protest the escalating aggression against the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala. Reports from the region indicate that 400 paramilitaries from the state-backed Union for the Well-Being of the Triqui Region (UBISORT) have entered the autonomous municipality accompanied by 300 Oaxaca state police in an effort to crush the autonomous project underway in San Juan Copala, a municipality of 70 families who have been under siege by UBISORT and the Movement for Triqui Unification and Struggle (MULT) paramilitaries for seven months.
Protesters demanded an end to the siege, an end to state-backed paramilitary aggression, the immediate exit of paramilitary, police and military forces from San Juan Copala, implicated Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz as the one responsible for the violence, and expressed their support for the autonomous municipality. After two hours the blockade was lifted and a march made its way through town to the city’s central plaza.
On Saturday, July 31, around 50 individuals from various collectives and organizations in the city of Oaxaca blockaded Calle Benito Juárez in front of the federal courthouse for two hours to protest the escalating aggression against the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala. Reports from the region indicate that 400 paramilitaries from the state-backed Union for the Well-Being of the Triqui Region (UBISORT) have entered the autonomous municipality accompanied by 300 Oaxaca state police in an effort to crush the autonomous project underway in San Juan Copala, a municipality of 70 families who have been under siege by UBISORT and the Movement for Triqui Unification and Struggle (MULT) paramilitaries for seven months.
Protesters demanded an end to the siege, an end to state-backed paramilitary aggression, the immediate exit of paramilitary, police and military forces from San Juan Copala, implicated Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz as the one responsible for the violence, and expressed their support for the autonomous municipality. After two hours the blockade was lifted and a march made its way through town to the city’s central plaza.
Stop the repression against the autonomous municipality of San Juan Copala
Oaxaca de Magón, City of Resistance, July 30, 2010
To the peoples of Oaxaca
To the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca
To the people of Mexico
To the peoples of the world
To the general public
Today, July 30, 2010 at approximately 12:15, just after noon, a group of heavily armed UBISORT men accompanied by state police who were also heavily armed, went into San Juan Copala shooting into the air, striking the women comrades, and then violently occupying the Municipal Government Building.
To the peoples of Oaxaca
To the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca
To the people of Mexico
To the peoples of the world
To the general public
Today, July 30, 2010 at approximately 12:15, just after noon, a group of heavily armed UBISORT men accompanied by state police who were also heavily armed, went into San Juan Copala shooting into the air, striking the women comrades, and then violently occupying the Municipal Government Building.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Desalojo violento de comerciantes en el zócalo/ Violent removal of merchants in zócalo
Entre los detenidos José Armando Méndez de 13 años. 13 year old José Armando Méndez is among the arrested.
Haz click para seguir al articulo publicado en Noticias Oaxaca. Click on title to go to article published in Noticias Oaxaca
Haz click para seguir al articulo publicado en Noticias Oaxaca. Click on title to go to article published in Noticias Oaxaca
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Comunicado de Apoyo Solidario Urgente al Municipio de San Juan Copala
Haz click aqui para leer y firmar una carta en apoyo a los compas de Copala.
Click this link to read and sign a letter in support of Copala
Click this link to read and sign a letter in support of Copala
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Second Report: Humanitarian Convoy Bety Cariño and Jyri Jakkola
Monitoring the Humanitarian Convoy Bety Cariño and Jyri Jakkola
Second Report.
The human rights convoy is about to go into the community of Agua Fria, a community belonging to the autonomous municipality of San Juan Copala, and the Oaxaca State Attorney General, Maria de la Luz Candelaria Chiñas, has announced she wants to establish negotiations between the coordinator of the PRD, Alejandro Encinas Rodriguez, however the decision is not partisan.
Monitoring the Humanitarian Convoy
MONITORING THE HUMANITARIAN CONVOY BETY CARIÑO AND JYRI JAKKOLA
First report.
The convoy that departed from Oaxaca from the church of Xochimico at 5am left with approximately three private vehicles, a 49 person bus, as well as with 1 truck full of basic necessities including coal, canned food, clothing, corn, beans and rice.
Centro de Medios Independientes Chiapas / Indymedia Chiapas
El Centro de Medios Independientes Chiapas, estara tranmitiendo en vivo con video.
Indymedia Chiapas will be streaming live video.
Following the Caravana / Siguiendo a la Caravana Bety Cariño y Jiry Jakkola
Siguiendo paso por paso la caravana a San Juan Copala.
Following step by step the human rights convoy to San Juan Copala.
11:20am
Enlace con los compañeros en el crucero de Cinco Señores. Actividades en crucero de Cinco Señores. Se están cerrando el crucero parcialmente he informando. Hay un promedio de 300 personas. La estrategia hasta el momento es informativa. Informar a los conductres de la situación y de la caravana a San Juan Copala.
Conection with the comrades in the intersection of Cinco Señores. Activities in the intersection of Cinco Señores. They are currently partially closing the intersection to inform. There are around 300 people taking action. The current strategy is to inform. To inform drivers of the situation and about the convoy to San Juan Copala.
11:00am
Reporte desde Juxtlahuaca sobre la situación. Reportan que desde el domingo se intensifico el patrullaje en Juxtlahuaca. A partir de ayer lunes la UBISORT empezo a coonvocar a mujeres y niños con el fin de que la caravana no pasara. Las mujeres y niños están acompañados por hombres.
Report from Juxtlahuaca on the current situation. There are reports that there has been an increase in policing since Sunday in Juxtlahuaca. Since yesterday Monday, the UBISORT has called on women and children to block the convoy. The women and children are accompanied by men.
9:50am
Convocan en el zócalo de Oaxaca el bloqueo del crucero de 5 Señores alrededor de 70 personas se han unido.
A call is made in the zocalo of the city of Oaxaca to block the 5 Señores intersection. Around 70 people have joined.
9:45am
La caravana determina que seguira en camino a Copala. Sale la caravana.
The convoy decides to proceed. It heads towards Copala.
9:30am
Eviel Perez Magaña candidato del PRI anuncia mitin a la 1:oopm en Juxtlahuaca. [pueblo adjunto a Copala]
The PRI [governor] candidate announces he a meeting at 1:00pm in the town of Juxtlahuaca. [a town close to Copala].
9am
Reunion para determinar si la caravana sigue en camino a San Juan Copala.
The members of the convoy meet to decide whether they will continue to San Juan Copala.
La caravana esta llegando a Huajuapan.
The caravan is arriving at Huajuapan.
Following step by step the human rights convoy to San Juan Copala.
11:20am
Enlace con los compañeros en el crucero de Cinco Señores. Actividades en crucero de Cinco Señores. Se están cerrando el crucero parcialmente he informando. Hay un promedio de 300 personas. La estrategia hasta el momento es informativa. Informar a los conductres de la situación y de la caravana a San Juan Copala.
Conection with the comrades in the intersection of Cinco Señores. Activities in the intersection of Cinco Señores. They are currently partially closing the intersection to inform. There are around 300 people taking action. The current strategy is to inform. To inform drivers of the situation and about the convoy to San Juan Copala.
11:00am
Reporte desde Juxtlahuaca sobre la situación. Reportan que desde el domingo se intensifico el patrullaje en Juxtlahuaca. A partir de ayer lunes la UBISORT empezo a coonvocar a mujeres y niños con el fin de que la caravana no pasara. Las mujeres y niños están acompañados por hombres.
Report from Juxtlahuaca on the current situation. There are reports that there has been an increase in policing since Sunday in Juxtlahuaca. Since yesterday Monday, the UBISORT has called on women and children to block the convoy. The women and children are accompanied by men.
9:50am
Convocan en el zócalo de Oaxaca el bloqueo del crucero de 5 Señores alrededor de 70 personas se han unido.
A call is made in the zocalo of the city of Oaxaca to block the 5 Señores intersection. Around 70 people have joined.
9:45am
La caravana determina que seguira en camino a Copala. Sale la caravana.
The convoy decides to proceed. It heads towards Copala.
9:30am
Eviel Perez Magaña candidato del PRI anuncia mitin a la 1:oopm en Juxtlahuaca. [pueblo adjunto a Copala]
The PRI [governor] candidate announces he a meeting at 1:00pm in the town of Juxtlahuaca. [a town close to Copala].
9am
Reunion para determinar si la caravana sigue en camino a San Juan Copala.
The members of the convoy meet to decide whether they will continue to San Juan Copala.
La caravana esta llegando a Huajuapan.The caravan is arriving at Huajuapan.
Monday, June 7, 2010
English Transcript of Interview with Abril, member of the Bety Cariño and Jyri Jakkola Human Rights Convoy June 5, 2010
MM: Are you traveling with the Bety Cariño and Jyri Jakkola Convoy as a member of an organization?
A: Yes, the National Independent Teacher’s Front.
MM: Can you tell me why you decided to join the convoy?
A: Well because, we as an organization have known of the struggle of the Triquis for many years. The Triquis are a people that have resisted, they have resisted for more than 500 years. In the 70s, and 80s, a member of our organization was one of the promoters of the MULT (Triqui Unification and Struggle Movement) who was riddled with 50 bullets. So we have been very close to the struggles of our Triqui brothers. We are aware of the conditions under which they are right now, as they fought for autonomy, and achieve it in 2006. That isn’t favorable for the State; it is not favorable for the system. That is why they are being attacked and are now surrounded by paramilitaries. We know that the paramilitaries are a way to subdue the people. It is a form of clandestine government, of how to subdue the people and take away their wealth. That is what the Triquis have not allowed, of being robbed of their land and natural resources. That is why they are being subdued now. When they have tried to take their struggle outside of their town, there has been aggression, and bullet
A: Yes, the National Independent Teacher’s Front.
MM: Can you tell me why you decided to join the convoy?
A: Well because, we as an organization have known of the struggle of the Triquis for many years. The Triquis are a people that have resisted, they have resisted for more than 500 years. In the 70s, and 80s, a member of our organization was one of the promoters of the MULT (Triqui Unification and Struggle Movement) who was riddled with 50 bullets. So we have been very close to the struggles of our Triqui brothers. We are aware of the conditions under which they are right now, as they fought for autonomy, and achieve it in 2006. That isn’t favorable for the State; it is not favorable for the system. That is why they are being attacked and are now surrounded by paramilitaries. We know that the paramilitaries are a way to subdue the people. It is a form of clandestine government, of how to subdue the people and take away their wealth. That is what the Triquis have not allowed, of being robbed of their land and natural resources. That is why they are being subdued now. When they have tried to take their struggle outside of their town, there has been aggression, and bullet
Solidarity Actions in US and Canada!
From Infoshop News (click on title to go directly to website)
Solidarity actions with Oaxaca on June 7
On June 8, anti-authoritarians and human rights activists are trying to break the paramilitary blockade of the autonomous municipality of San Juan Copala in Oaxaca. We need to support them to help avoid another massacre.
For this reason, we are calling for a day of solidarity actions the day before, on June 7, to create pressure and prevent another massacre. The paramilitaries work on behalf of the Mexican government and Mexican and international corporations invested in the area. They do the dirty work that provides the basis for state control and commercial investment.
Boston
Chicago
Puget Sound
Toronto
En Español
Solidarity actions with Oaxaca on June 7
On June 8, anti-authoritarians and human rights activists are trying to break the paramilitary blockade of the autonomous municipality of San Juan Copala in Oaxaca. We need to support them to help avoid another massacre.
For this reason, we are calling for a day of solidarity actions the day before, on June 7, to create pressure and prevent another massacre. The paramilitaries work on behalf of the Mexican government and Mexican and international corporations invested in the area. They do the dirty work that provides the basis for state control and commercial investment.
Boston
Chicago
Puget Sound
Toronto
En Español
URGENT: JUNE 8TH HUMANITARIAN CARAVAN WILL ATTEMPT TO ENTER COPALA
On Abril 27, 2010 a humanitarian caravan en route to the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala was ambushed by heavily armed paramilitaries belonging to the PRI-funded group UBISORT, murdering Oaxacan activist Bety Cariño and Finnish activist Jyri Jakkola as well as injuring several others. Police refused to rescue injured human rights workers who were trapped in the area following the ambush. Despite national and international pressure demanding a thorough investigation no one has been held accountable for the murders of Cariño and Jakkola. Oaxacan governor Ulises Ruiz went so far as to blame the victims for their fate, questioning the migratory status of the international human rights observers and questioning the “real” reason outsiders were in “a community were there are problems.” This attack on an international human rights convoy set a disturbing precedent, as this was the first of its kind in Mexico.
On Abril 27, 2010 a humanitarian caravan en route to the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan Copala was ambushed by heavily armed paramilitaries belonging to the PRI-funded group UBISORT, murdering Oaxacan activist Bety Cariño and Finnish activist Jyri Jakkola as well as injuring several others. Police refused to rescue injured human rights workers who were trapped in the area following the ambush. Despite national and international pressure demanding a thorough investigation no one has been held accountable for the murders of Cariño and Jakkola. Oaxacan governor Ulises Ruiz went so far as to blame the victims for their fate, questioning the migratory status of the international human rights observers and questioning the “real” reason outsiders were in “a community were there are problems.” This attack on an international human rights convoy set a disturbing precedent, as this was the first of its kind in Mexico.
Since the murders of Cariño and Jakkola, the violence in Copala has continued. A few days after the attack several women and children from the community were kidnapped by paramilitaries as they attempted to go into the nearest town for food and essential supplies. On may 20th Timoteo Alejandro Ramírez, a leader in the Autonomous Municipality, and his wife Cleriberta Castro were murdered in the home by hit men believed to have been contracted by UBISORT. Again, this aggression and the continued blockade against San Juan Copala by UBISORT have gone completely uncontested by the state.
As such, a second humanitarian caravan will attempt to enter Copala on Tuesday June 8th. The Caravana Humanitaria Bety Cariño y Jyri Jakkola will leave the zócalo of Mexico City at 6pm, Monday June 7th and from the church of Xochimilco in Oaxaca Tuesday at 4am. Governor Ruiz has refused to guarantee the safe passage of the caravan, and as of Sunday June 6th the community has reported that UBISORT blocked the roads leading to Copala using heavy machinery. We ask that you remain vigilant of the fact that this caravan will be attempting to enter Copala June 8th and of the fact that it too may very well be attacked. Contact the Mexican consulate in your area (http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm) and let them know you expect that human rights observers be allowed to carry out their work without being violently attacked! Please keep yourself informed by checking this and other blogs and internet sources. You can check this blog periodically for updates as members of the caravan will be sending updates over the next couple of days.
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