Mexican government commits to clarify the murders of Beatriz Alberta Cariño and Jyri Jaakkola

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release Tuesday November 09, 2010 17:35 by LASC - LASC info at lasc dot ie 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 01-6760435

The Mexican Government commits - before the European Parliament - to establish the truth in relation to the assassination of Beatriz Alberta Cariño and Jyri Jaakkola

According to Communiqué no. 357 of the Mexican Department Foreign Affairs, the Mexican government is committed to establish the truth in relation to the assassination of Beatriz Alberta Cariño (Mexican) and Jyri Jaakkola (Finnish). Both activists were murdered on April 27th 2010. They were part of a humanitarian caravan which aimed at bringing humanitarian aid and breaking the siege of indigenous community of San Juan Copala in Oaxaca. The crime was perpetrated by UBISORT, a paramilitary gang that has been terrorising the region for years . Various human rights organisations claim UBISORT is linked to the state authorities of Oaxaca.

Since then, UBISORT and MULT paramilitaries have occupied the village and displaced most of its inhabitants, looting and burning everything within their reach.

This commitment to establish the truth and not to allow this crime to remain unpunished was made on the 8th November at a workshop held by the Human Rights sub-commission of the European Parliament about the conflict in San Juan Copala, Oaxaca. Mr. Alejandro Negrín Muñoz - General Director of Human Rights and Democracy of the Department of Foreign Affairs - was the representative of the Mexican government at this session. He stated that important progress was being made in the investigation of case. He also declared that his government will pursue an agenda of dialogue in order to normalise the situation in San Juan Copala.