Guadalajara, Jalisco, April 26th, 2018
In a press conference, Claudio Montellano de la Cruz, president of public goods of the Wixárika community of San Andrés Cohamiata, denounced that in Jalisco they could lose 25,000 hectares of their territory. This loss of territory is due to the Congress of Nayarit approving on April 18th the integration of 12 Wixárika localities into the municipality of Mezquitic Del Nayar Nayarit.
The president of public goods of San Andrés Cohamiata, who opposes this action, stated that if the authorities of Jalisco and Nayarit do not resolve the case, the community will not allow elections in their territory. Furthermore, they will block access of the political parties to carry out their campaigns.
The Wixárika authorities made clear that what the Congress of Nayarit intends to do is create a community that is willing to accept the orders of the government to allow mining interests in the area.
The Wixárika authorities of San Andrés Cohamiata explained that the government of Jalisco has forgotten the region in the North and only pays attention to the area when there is an election. “Of course, the interest of the governments is only in the electoral process, now everyone is wanting to look good. This is how it has happened in various elections years.”
According to the Congress of Nayarit, the decision was taken due to the petition of some leaders of the Wixárika communities of El Chalate, Palma Chica, El Rincón, El Espejo, Santa Gertrudis, Las Tapias, Tutuyecuamama, Los Nogales, Los Pinos, Rancho Nuevo, Tierras Blancas de los Lobos and Guamuchilillo.
In a community assembly, the Wixárika decided that their ancestral territory will not be divided and that if some leaders want to be part of Nayarit, then they can leave. The authorities already have met with the Congress of Jalisco to search for a solution to the problem.
Translated from the original here: http://www.somoselmedio.org/article/comunidad-wix%C3%A1rika-no-permitir%C3%A1-que-se-realicen-las-elecciones-en-su-territorio