Oaxaca: Triquis return to sit-in

State police impeding movement @ El Universal

The displaced Triqui families who on 26 January sought to return to their communities of origin announced on 7 February that they will newly install themselves in a sit-in in front of the Palace of Governance in Oaxaca de Juárez, due to disagreement among them to return in small groups, in accordance with the communal assembly held in San Juan Copala on 4 February.

Reina Martínez Flores, spokesperson for the Movement for Triqui Unification and Struggle-Independent (MULTI), reported that the 135 persons who have been awarded precautionary measures by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) have installed a camp in the community of Yosoyuxi, seeking to return.

An assembly was held on 29 January and another on 4 February, but the only suggestion made was that they return in groups of five families each week, a proposal that was rejected, as the Triqui families would like all to return at the same time. “They asked us to sign a letter of commitment to return slowly every 15 days, and we cannot tolerate that,” said Martínez Flores. She stressed that the displaced Triquis cannot accept the conditions suggested by Antonio Cruz García, alias “Toño Pájaro,” who is accused of being one of the principal authors of the crimes in the region. The spokesperson added also that during the march from Yucudaa to the state capital Triquis would demand that the state government ensure them security guarantees for their return.

For more information (in Spanish):

Regresan triquis a la capital de Oaxaca (La Jornada, 7 February 2012)

Se complica el retorno de triquis desplazados (El Universal, 7 February 2012)

Triquis desplazados reinstalan plantón en Oaxaca (El Universal, 6 February 2012)

Se trunca regreso de 110 familias triquis desplazadas en Oaxaca(Milenio, 5 February 2012)

Retornan otra vez triquis desplazados de Copala… pero a la capital (Página 3, 7 February 2012)

Impiden el retorno de triquis desplazados (Informador, 7 February 2012)

Decide MULT no dejar entrar a 5 familias desplazadas a San Juan Copala (Chacatorex, 6 February 2012)

Nueva asamblea comunitaria de Copala termina sin acuerdos (Noticias net, 6 February 2012)

For more information from SIPAZ (in English):

Oaxaca: Triquis return to their communities after 16 months of sit-in (8 February 2012)

Oaxaca: justice demanded for San Juan Copala (14 December 2011)