Permanent forum for the Questions
Natives of the UN
Juárez 87 14000 CP Mexico, D. F (0052) 55 73 90 66
Ext. 153
mmatias@fondoindigena.net, marcos104@hotmail.com
Mexico, Federal District
19 of November of the 2004
LIC. JOSE MURAT CASAB
GOVERNOR OF THE OAXACA STATE
Distinguished Mr. Gobernador:
In the month of June of the 2003, I had the honor of being invited by the Dr Rodolfo Stavenhagen, in its character of Special Relator on the situation of the human rights and the fundamental liberties of the indigenous towns, to visit some States of the country and to know in field, on the alarming situation in which the indigenous towns live on Mexico.
In the context of the official mission of the Special Relator, 9 and 10 of June, we maintained to diverse encounter and meetings of work with some representatives of the towns and organizations of the State of Oaxaca. In the official visit of the Special Relator, we stated the existence of multiple conflicts in the indigenous communities where acts of violence and interventions of the public authorities happen, that form violations to the human rights. According to multiple testimonies, many violent processes follow in impunity and cause the sprouting of political conflicts and the new outbreak of the violence. In Oaxaca, the agrarian Earth subject and subjects, continue being one of the main sources of the centennial conflicts that demand a fixed answer of the diverse instances of the federal and State government. In the field of the justice administration, the indigenous towns of Oaxaca continue being victims of discrimination, humiliations and abuses.
The Special Relator and the subscribed one, we received direct testimonies of the Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca (CIPO) and in voice of the affected ones “denuncian harassment and threats to its leaders by its defense of earth comunales”. To more than 15 months of the visit of the Special Relator with the leaders of the CIPO, far from improving the situation of his leaders, it made worse the harassment to the members of this organization. In special, I have knowledge of the sinking in which is the life of Raul Gatica Baptist, one of the main defenders of the human rights of the indigenous towns of the area of influence of work of the CIPO. The serious situation that the companion confronts Raul Gatica Baptist, to attracted the attention of the Inter-American Commission of the Human rights (CIDH), organism of the high prestige at continental level, who has emitted recommendations you will prevent to protect his physical integrity to safeguard his rights like native, oaxaqueño, Mexican and, mainly, like being human.
Distinguished Mr. Gobernador, at a distance I am found out the great advances obtained to the front of the state of Oaxaca. Its sensitivity to the indigenous subject has caused that you contribute in the solution of centennial agrarian and political problems that with certain frequency appear in Oaxaca.
Personally, I have been witness of its availability in guaranteeing the governability in situations of high political tension. Every day, the good government and the social stability become more complexes and difficult to maintain. Nevertheless, they are the only way to protect the harmony, the concord and social La Paz. It will never be late for retaking the way of the dialogue like a route to find the solution to the right demands of the indigenous brothers of the CIPO. You are a visionary man with capacity to distensar malaises and inconformidades. Its opportune intervention can transform the pain into hope the relatives who dream about finding the freedom of their imprisoned relatives. I know well that you are enemy of impunity; and the instances of justice of their government will know to punish the aggressors of the human rights of the indigenous companions of the CIPO. If in his hands it is interyielding in the corresponding agrarian agencies, my indigenous brothers will know to correspond to have the agrarian certainty in his ancestral communal earth.
Mr. Gobernador, I take leave with breath and hope that the organs of justice teaching and the political will of their Government, act fixedly.
Receive a warm greeting and you reiterate my disposition to help in the diverse subjects that worry to the indigenous towns about Oaxaca.
To t and n t a.m. and n t e
Marks Matías Alonso
Independent Expert