URGENT APPEAL – 30/04/2010 / Oaxaca - Mexico
Human rights defender Ms Bety Cariño and international observer from Finland, Tyri Antero Jaakkola tragically killed in violent paramilitary attack.
Front Line is deeply saddened by news received of the violent paramilitary attack on a peaceful solidarity campaign in Oaxaca, Mexico, which resulted in the killing of WHRD Bety Cariño as well as an international observer from Finland, Tyri Antero Jaakkola.
Bety Cariño is especially remembered as a participant at the Fifth Dublin Platform which was held by Front Line in February 2010. Bety inspired everyone by her dedication to the defence of human rights in Oaxaca and her courage in continuing to work for the rights of indigenous populations and women and children.
Take Action
Bety Carino attended the Dublin Platform in February 2010. Everyone who met her was deeply impressed by her passionate devotion to the struggle for human rights in Oaxaca.
If you log onto https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2478
you will find the link to Bety’s testimony to the Dublin Platform on You Tube.
You will also find the translation of her testimony attached.
Please log onto You Tube because driving the video of her testimony up the ratings is one effective way of drawing attention to her story – and please encourage all your friends to do the same
Please also copy the enclosed letter and send it to the address provided.
The text of the letter is attached separately so you can just print it out and send it off.
Please put your own name and address on the letter. and if you receive a reply, please forward it to Front Line.
Presidente Felipe Calderon,
Presidencia de la República,
Los Pinos,
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec,
11850,
México DF,
México.
Your Excellency
I have recently heard about a violent attack on a peaceful solidarity caravan of human rights defenders yesterday, 27 April 2010, as it tried to enter the autonomous indigenous municipality of San Juan Copala. It has been confirmed that at least two human rights defenders have been killed and others remain unaccounted for.
On 27 April 2010, at approximately 14:40, a humanitarian group made up of 30 human rights defenders as well as international observers were on their way to attempt to enter San Juan Copala in order to deliver provisions to indigenous communities who have been under siege by armed groups.
As they entered the community of La Sabana, a town reportedly controlled by paramilitary organisation Unión de Bienestar Social de la Región Triqui UBISORT (Social Welfare Union of the Triqui Region), their vehicles came under fire. Beatríz Alberta (Bety) Cariño Trujillo, of the Centro de Apoyo Comunitario Trabajando Unidos CACTUS (Centre for Community Support Working Together), and Tyri Antero Jaakkola, international observer from Finland, were both killed in the attack.
Noe Bautista Jimenez, David Venegas Reyes and Daniel Arellano Chavez,all members of Voces Oaxaqueñas Construyendo Autonomía y Libertad VOCAL (Voices from Oaxaca for Autonomy and Liberty) remain missing. The three human rights defenders escaped when the attack broke out and it remains unknown whether they were captured by paramilitaries or whether they are in hiding.
One member of the group, Mónica Citlali Santiago Ortiz, was injured in the attack but was able to get to a hospital for medical attention. Those who did not escape and who remained in the vehicles were interrogated by the paramilitaries. Some have reported receiving death threats prior to being released.
UBISORT paramilitaries have reportedly sealed off the area and are refusing entry or exit to anyone, including medical teams and ambulances. There are further reports that the State Police of Oaxaca have refused to enter the area to assist locating those members of the peaceful movement who have not yet been accounted for.
The human rights organisations were attempting to enter San Juan Copala to provide support to the local community who have been without electricity, water, medical access and basic provisions as a result of the ongoing paramilitary blockade. Schools have also been shut down since January 2010.
The caravan of observers included individuals from Finland, Italy, Belgium and Germany, members of the CACTUS, VOCAL, Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca APPO (Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca, the Red de Radios y omunicadores Indígenas del Sureste Mexicano (Network of Indigenous Radio Stations and Broadcasters of the Southeast of Mexico), as well as a group of teachers from the municipality who have been unable to give classes.
I am gravely concerned by reports of this violent attack on peaceful human rights
defenders and the killing of Beatriz Alberta Cariño Trujillo and Tyri Antero Jaakkola.
I remain extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of all of the Mexican human rights defenders who make up the group, in particular those whose whereabouts remain unknown, as well as international observers accompanying the solidarity campaign.
The violent attack is directly linked to the peaceful activities of those national and international individuals as they attempted to defend the rights of the local communities affected in areas controlled by paramilitary groups.
Yours sincerely
Name ..............................................
address ...............................................
address ...............................................
address ...............................................
Thank you for taking action on behalf of Bety Cariño, Tyri Antero Jaakkola. and other human rights defenders in Oaxaca.
