Statement by the Mexican Embassy in Helsinki concerning the death of Finnish human rights activist
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The following statement was received by the International Edition from the Embassy of Mexico in Finland on Friday morning. It is reproduced verbatim.
Press release/Oaxaca 1 (04/30/2010)
THE POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE AMBUSH IN SAN JUAN COPALA, OAXACA, APRIL 27th, 2010.
Background
On January 1st 2007, communities of Trique people of various Mixteco municipalities constituted a so-called "autonomous community" of San Juan Copala, on the border between Guerrero and Oaxaca.
Since the creation of this so-called "autonomous community", different social organizations fight for the political control of the area, including the Trique Fight Unification Movement (MULT), Trique Fight Unification Movement Independent (MULTI) and Welfare Unit Social Trique Region (UBISORT). This dispute has generated ongoing violent clashes between supporters of these movements.
To attend this situation, the Oaxaca State Government has been promoting a peace agreement through dialogue and negotiation, with the participation of MULT, UBISORT and MULTI.
In this context, it has been suggested the figure of a commissioner for peace and promotion of actions that seek the social, economic and cultural development in the area, and programs that ensure public services, as well as respect for human rights.
Facts
On April 27th, 2010, a so-called observation for peace Caravan that had left to San Juan Copala to verify the situation in that town, was ambushed by armed men. One person was wounded and two resulted dead.
The caravan was composed by 27 people, distributed in several vehicles, which belonged to the following social organizations: Center for Community Support Working Together (CACTUS), the Collective VOCAL, the Radio Network of Indigenous Communities of Southeast Mexico, Section XXII of the National Union Education Workers (SNTE), the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) and foreigners from several European countries.
In the ambush, the Mexican citizen Monica Citlalli Santiago Ortiz was wounded, and her compatriot Beatriz Alberta Cariño and the Finnish citizen Jyri Jaakkola died.
The rest of the foreign citizens involved in the caravan are safe and have already contacted their respective embassies.
It is important to emphasize that no participation of agents, neither federal nor state, have been identified in the events.
Actions taken by the Government of Mexico
As a result of the events, the Office of the State Attorney General of the State of Oaxaca (Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de Oaxaca) filed the Investigation Bundle 114/(SJ)/2010. Investigations are being carried out to clarify the events.
The police forces are still in the area coordinated with the Attorney General (Ministerio Público).
It is important to underline that every single person who initially went missing, has already been found. As to the assistance to foreign citizens involved in the events, a working group directed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was created. Several federal premises and representatives of European Embassies also participated in the group in order to clarify the whereabouts of their nationals.
The group immediately went to Oaxaca on Wednesday 28th of April, and met with the General Secretary of the Government, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Public Security of Oaxaca.
In the meeting, the situation of every single European citizen involved in the events was revised and it was also confirmed that, apart from the Finnish citizen, the rest of Europeans who participated in the Caravan are safe and in good condition.
In the meetings held so far, the Government of the State of Oaxaca reiterated its full cooperation to the representatives of the Embassies to carry out the investigations and to submit the authors of the attack before justice.
In a press release published on April 27th, the Government of Oaxaca regretted the events and denied any responsibility, since it had no formal knowledge of the caravan, its goals, participants, itinerary or organization.
Messages
The Government of Mexico deeply regrets the death of the Finnish citizen Jyri Jaakkola and the Mexican citizen Beatriz Alberta Cariño, as a result of the terrible events registered in San Juan Copola, Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca, last 27th of April.
The Government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expresses its compromise to follow up the case and to keep informed the public opinion on the matter.
More on this subject:
 Narrow escape for Finnish woman in attack in Mexico
Helsingin Sanomat
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