Letter to Mexican President re: San Juan Copala Under Siege

President Felipe Calderon

United Mexican States

C/O Mr Luis Enrique Franco, Chargé d’Affaires

Embassy of Mexico

Level 2, AMP Chambers

185-187 Featherston Street

Wellington 6011

08 June 2010

Dear Sir,

The Wellington Zapatista Support group expresses it’s profound outrage at the ongoing paramilitary siege of the autonomous indigenous community of San Juan Copala, Oaxaca, Mexico, and the repression and murders of community members and of human rights workers trying to deliver humanitarian aid.

We demand the Mexican Federal and Oaxaca State Government ensure the safe passage of the humanitarian caravan today delivering aid to the besieged autonomous community of San Juan Copala;

We demand the Mexican Federal and Oaxaca State Government take immediate action to protect the residents of San Juan Copola, and ensure that they have access to adequate supplies of food and water; as well as all necessary health care;

We demand an end to the siege of the community by the UBISORT armed paramilitary group, so that residents can move freely, communicate with the outside world and receive visits from humanitarian missions without fear of attack or reprisal;

We demand an investigation into the deaths of José Celestino Hernández Cruz, Alberta Cariño, known as Beatriz or Bety, Jyri Antero Jaakkola, Alejandro Ramirez, and Cleriberta Castro, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice;

We demand the federal authorities prevent human rights abuses committed by members of UBISORT against local residents, and investigate the group’s links to members of the PRI, the governing party in Oaxaca, and bring all those implicated in human rights abuses to justice.

Signed:

Wellington Zapatista Support Group.

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