Support the Oaxaca communities in their struggle for autonomy!

dublin | rights and freedoms | event notice Wednesday May 19, 2010 12:36 by Latin American Solidarity Centre - LASC info at lasc dot ie 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 01-6760435

San Juan Copala is an autonomous indigenous Triqui community in the state of Oaxaca, in Mexico. They have been under siege by state sponsored paramilitaries since November 2009. Their water supply and electricity has been cut off and their schools have been closed and no medical aid or supplies have been permitted to enter the region.

On the 27th of April 2010 a humanitarian caravan bringing much needed food, water and medical supplies was ambushed by paramilitaries from a group called UBISORT. The ambush was made up of roughly 30 paramilitaries armed with high calibre assault rifles. The paramilitaries opened fire on the peaceful caravan, the firing lasted for almost 30 minutes. When the attack was over, a Mexican political activist and humanitarian worker called Bety Cariño and a Finnish international observer called Jyri Jaakkola lay dead, murdered by state sponsored paramilitaries.

Bety had been twice in Dublin: she was the main speaker for the Latin America Week Conference organised in April 2009 by the Latin American Solidarity Centre (LASC) and she ws again invited for a Front Line Defenders conference in Dublin Castle in February this year. Anyone who met her will remember her for her warmth, bright intelligence and most importantly, for her genuine and absolute commitment for the cause of justice and struggle against any form of oppression.

On Tuesday the 8th of June 2010 the “Bety Cariño and Jyri Jaakkola” caravan will be leaving the city of Oaxaca for the besieged autonomous community of San Juan Copala. This will be the second attempt for the humanitarian caravan to enter into the region. The organisers of the caravan once again carrying medical aid and supplies, food and water are calling for international local and international support. LASC is calling for a public meeting to see if any individuals or groups would be interested in making the journey to Mexico to support the caravan and the region of San Juan Copala.

We will meet next Tuesday, May 25th in LASC offices at 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, at 18:00, to discuss support for the caravan. If you are interested in taking part on it, don’t hesitate to come!