On 9 September, the Network of Female Activists and Human-Rights Defenders of Oaxaca, which brings together 98 activists and defenders from the state, published an open letter expressing its concern for the risks faced by members of Radio Nahndiá.
In the letter, the Network recalls that “Radio Nahndiá is a Mazateca communal radio located in Mazatlán Villa de Flores which for 13 years has been doing crucial work in favor of information and education of the community, including the diffusion of information regarding the rights of women and indigenous peoples.” It noted that “since 2013, Radio Nahndiá has released information of special importance regarding the electoral process in the Mazatlán Villa de Flores municipality and its irregularities […]. Since this time, a wave of violence has plagued the community, as directed by former mayor Mario Carrera López.”
For this reason, the Network expressed its concern for the risk of revenge attacks and the security of the 6 female radio operators affiliated with Radio Nahndiá who have been threatened with death. Lastly, the Network called on the state government “to immediately implement the necessary actions to guarantee the exercise of the right to freedom of expresion in the state, and that it adopt urgent and adequate measures to prevent and punish the attacks against communal radios, including specific measures to protect female human-rights defenders.”
For more information (in Spanish):
Carta pública de la Red de Mujeres Activistas y Defensoras de Derechos Humanos de Oaxaca (Adnsureste, 9 de septiembre de 2014)
Radio Nahndiá
Definirán en consulta, elección en Mazatlán (Noticias.net.mx, 5 de septiembre de 2014)
Mazatlán Villa de Flores desea elecciones; trabajan conjuntamente(Boletín del gobierno del estado de Oaxaca, 4 de septiembre de 2014)
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