By Erica Laster
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
OAXACA, Mexico – In January 2007, Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s poorest states, declared itself a municipality despite the lack of support their declaration of independence received from Mexico. Since then, the state has been under constant pressure and for the last six months, has been under siege by various paramilitary groups, including ‘Union de benestar social de la Region Triqui’ (Ubisort).
In retaliation for Oaxaca’s declaration of autonomy, Ubisort has resorted to tactics which isolate Oaxaca, including kidnapping and murdering many of its residents. According to residents, the paramilitary group damaged a pipe delivering water into the community, turning away all vehicles and restricting medical professionals and teachers access to the community. This denial of economic and social services has forced the community into complete isolation, leaving the community without incoming food, medicine and electricity for months. Earlier this year, one humanitarian convoy’s attempt to bring aid to local residents ended in an ambush by Ubisort, resulting in the death of one woman and a Finnish man.
Oaxaca is set to hold elections on July 4 of this year. Jose Sierra, a military affairs expert indicated that “paramilitary groups in Mexico continue functioning as a permanent preventive counterinsurgency mechanism”, Global Geopolitics reports.
Despite Oxaca’s government’s support of the paramilitary group, reports show that they have continued to use violence amongst the people of Oaxaca. 35 members of the Oaxaca municipality were threatened with execution if they attempted to bring food, medicine or other aid into the isolated community. In an attempt to render aid, organizations, including the International Red Cross, are joining in a convoy to Oaxaca state. On June 7, Amnesty International asked government authorities in Mexico to ensure the second convoy headed towards the blockade received safe passage. The convoy is expected to deliver humanitarian supplies and staples denied them by paramilitary groups.
For More Information Please Visit:
Inter Press Service http://herewww.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51744 7 June 2010
Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR41/039/2010/en/e92d4927-d256-4b00-a7d5-dc51fcde5e7b/amr410392010en.html 7 June 2010
Global Geopolitics http://globalgeopolitics.net/wordpress/2010/06/08/mexico-humanitarian-convoy-braves-risk-of-attack/ 8 June 2010
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