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Tell Mexican authorities and Fortuna Silver Mines to respect indigenous territories and human rights

On May 6th, approximately 1500 state and federal police officers raided a peaceful blockade at the “Trinidad” mining site of Cuzcatián Mining Company in Oaxaca, Mexico. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. of Vancouver, Canada.

The mine, which was independently confirmed to have depleted and contaminated regional water supplies, was being operated on indigenous territories without the prior informed consent of the affected communities and thus in violation of the Indigenous and Tribal People's Convention, ratified by Mexico in 1990.

The police aggressively removed Zapotec community members using tear gas, police dogs, firearms and beatings. Please join people worldwide in taking a stand against the blatant repression that Mexican authorities have perpetrated against the Zapotec people, who seek only to protect their natural resources, their cultures, and their livelihoods.

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February 09, 2010

Subject:

Nos hemos enterado, que los gobiernos de Felipe Calderón y Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, han desatado una violenta represión en contra de las comunidades indígenas de San José del Progreso y Magdalena Ocotlán, por el hecho de defender el medioambiente y sus recursos naturales, al oponerse al establecimiento de las empresas mineras  FORTUNA SILVER MINES  Y su subsidiaria CUZCATLÁN, quienes además de ser altamente contaminantes y depredadoras del medioambiente, se nos ha informado que han iniciado sus trabajos sin contar con los permisos y trámites establecidos en las leyes correspondientes.

Nos preocupa que el gobierno mexicano reprima a su pueblo y violen los derechos humanos en beneficio de empresas que ni siquiera acatan las leyes nacionales.  Nos preocupamos particularmente de el desaparecimiento de Agustín Ríos Cruz.

Por lo anterior, le demandamos:

•La suspensión inmediata de la represión y la violación de los derechos humanos de los indígenas de Los Valles de Ocotlán, por el “delito” de defender el medioambiente y sus recursos naturales, lo que debería ser
prioridad de todos los gobiernos del mundo.

• La libertad inmediata e incondicional de las personas detenidas injustamente, pues sabemos de la habilidad del gobierno mexicano para fabricar delitos en contra de los activistas sociales, incluido Ignacio Vásquez Gómez, Hilario Vásquez, Joaquín López, Víctor Sánchez Martínez, Juan García, Elías López, Bernardo Vásquez Gómez, Silvino Vásquez Mérida, Alfonso Ruiz, Alfonso Rodrigo López, Luis Ruiz Martínez, Víctor Ruiz Martínez, Juan Carlos López, Agripina Vásquez Sánchez, Bernardo Vásquez Sánchez, Víctor Ortiz Hernández, Apolinar García, Carmela González, Ubaldo González, todos ellos de San José del Progreso y Alejandro Aquino Cosme de Magdalena Ocotlán.

•La investigación inmediata sobre el desaparecimiento de Agustin Ríos Cruz.

• El cumplimiento de la petición de los pueblos de la salida de las mineras del Valle de Ocotlán, por contaminar el agua y el medio ambiente.

Esperando que se responda positivamente a esta petición, nos mantenemos atentos de los acontecimientos en San José del Progreso Ocotlán, Oaxaca.

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English translation of the letter:

We have learned that the governments of Felipe Calderón and Ulises Ruiz Ortiz have unleashed violent repression against the indigenous communities of San José del Progreso and Magdalena Ocotlán for defending the environment and their natural resources, for opposing the establishment of the mines by the companies Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. and their subsidiary, Cuzcatlán Mining Company, which, apart from being highly polluting and destructive to the environment, have informed us that they have started their work without the permits and paperwork required by the corresponding laws.

We worry that the Mexican government represses the people and violates human rights in benefit of companies that do not abide by national laws. We worry in particular about the disappearance of Agustín Ríos Cruz.

Therefore, we demand:

•The immediate suspension of the repression and violation of the human rights of the indigenous people of the Ocotlán Valley, for the “crime” of defending the environment and their natural resources, which should be the priority of the governments of the world.

• The immediate and unconditional freedom of the unjustly detained persons, acknowledging the ability of the Mexican government to fabricate crimes against social activists, including: Ignacio Vásquez Gómez, Hilario Vásquez, Joaquín López, Víctor Sánchez Martínez, Juan García, Elías López, Bernardo Vásquez Gómez, Silvino Vásquez Mérida, Alfonso Ruiz, Alfonso Rodrigo López, Luis Ruiz Martínez, Víctor Ruiz Martínez, Juan Carlos López, Agripina Vásquez Sánchez, Bernardo Vásquez Sánchez, Víctor Ortiz Hernández, Apolinar García, Carmela González, Ubaldo González, all from San José del Progreso, and Alejandro Aquino Cosme from Magdalena Ocotlán.

•The immediate investigation of the disappearance of Augstin Ríos Cruz.

• The fulfillment of the people’s request for the departure of the mines from the Ocotlán Valley , for contaminating the water and the environment.

We remain attentive to the events of San José del Progreso Ocotlán, Oaxaca and hope for a positive response to this request.