Violent Attacks Carried out Against Indigenous Communal Authorities in San Lorenzo Azqueltán, Jalisco

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Communique from the autonomous Wixárika and Tepehuana community of San Lorenzo de Azqueltán, Jalisco, after violent attacks were carried out today against their Indigenous communal authorities. The attacks left one person missing, and various others in the hospital.

To the People of Mexico

To the National Indigenous Congress

To the Human Rights Organizations

To the Media

With pain and rage we denounce the events that took place today, November 3, 2019. At approximately 12:00 pm, the cacique (local political boss), Fabio Flores, together with armed men, kidnapped our compañero, Ricardo de la Cruz. Ricardo is the elected president of the council of security of the autonomous commission of communal lands, here in our community of San Lorenzo de Azqueltán, in the municipality of Villa Guerrero, Jaliso. He was beaten and left in serious condition. The compañero Ricardo was abandoned on the highway that goes from Villa Guerrero to Azqueltán, where he was rescued by members of the community and taken to the clinic. There, they refused to treat him. After several efforts, the compañero was taken to Zacatecas to receive medical attention.

Later on, three vehicles chased and caught up with the vehicle where Indigenous communal authorities from our community were traveling. There, our compañero, Rafael Reyes Márquez, was beaten and put in serious condition.`After being treated in the community, he was taken to the city of Zacatecas. The whereabouts of another compañero, Noé Aguilar Rojas, is unknown, after he was beaten unconscious and apparently kidnapped, and taken to an unknown destination.

At these moments, the harassment persists against the community members, many of them are in hiding.

We hold responsible Fabio Flores (alias La Polla) and the municipal government that allows complete impunity for Flores and those who accompany him, permitting them to sow violence against the community and to foment the dispossession of our ancestral lands. We hold them responsible for the life and well-being of our compañero, Noé Aguilar Rojas, and the compañeros that are hospitalized.

We demand the immediate return of the president of the autonomous commission of communal lands, Noé Aguilar Rojas. We furthermore demand the dismantlement and punishment of the criminal groups affiliated with the cacique, Fabio Flores.

Return of the Compañero Noé Aguilar Rojas!

Punishment for Fabio Flores and his accomplices in the government!

Sincerely,

November 3, 2019

Autonomous Wixárika and Tepehuana Community of San Lorenzo de Azqueltán

 

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