- 23 national and international civil society organizations document various human rights violations related to the megaproject.
- Most of the aggressions occur against members of indigenous peoples and communities; the violent interventions come largely from the Navy and the National Guard.
On July 27, the Civil Observation Mission that began on July 25 in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, with the objective of documenting human rights violations and aggressions against human rights defenders and communities in the context of the mega-project known as the Inter-Oceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), concluded.
Twenty-three national and international civil society organizations and eight press representatives from national and international media participated in the Observation Mission. During the three-day tour, they visited affected people and communities in the northern region in the “Tierra y Libertad” camp in Mogoñé Viejo, Oaxaca, the Polo de Desarrollo in Santa María Mixtequilla, and the community members attacked in Santa Cruz Tagolaba and Puente Madera.
The individuals and organizations participating in the Mission concluded that in the execution of the CIIT there are violations of the human rights of the inhabitants of these areas and of those who defend the collective rights of the indigenous communities; specifically their rights: i) to information, since the communities claim that they have not had access to all relevant information regarding the construction of the megaproject and its effects on their territories; ii) to participation, self-determination, territory, a healthy environment and cultural identity. This is due to the failure to carry out a prior, free and informed consultation in accordance with national and international standards; and iii) to life, integrity, personal freedom and freedom of expression, among others, due to the physical aggressions, harassment and criminalization they are experiencing, especially those who are leading the struggle for nature, land and territory.
At the press conference held this Thursday, July 27, in Juchitán, Oaxaca, national and international organizations expressed their concern regarding the acts of aggression registered in the context of the construction of the Interoceanic Corridor megaproject. They indicated that there has been an increase in aggressions this year and that the integrity of the defenders who are resisting this megaproject is at risk. During the Mission, the participants witnessed security incidents such as the constant and vigilant presence of the armed forces.
The members of the Mission insisted that the consultation aimed at obtaining the consent of the Ayuuk communities affected by the CIIT has not been carried out. On the other hand, there have been violent interventions by the Navy and the National Guard, such as violent evictions, arbitrary detention and criminalization against defenders in Mogoñe Viejo, Estación Sarabia and Palomares, as well as threats and attempted dispossession of the houses of residents in Boca del Monte, San Juan Guichicovi.
In Santa Maria Mixtequilla, the intimidation by the National Guard of the Community Assembly was also documented, as well as several cases of repression against people who have shown resistance to the “Development Pole” that is to be built. Attacks were also documented in the area of Santa Cruz Tagolaba, Tehuantepec, where there have been events of physical aggression, dispossession, illegal occupation of lands and forced displacement against community members due to speculation caused by the Interoceanic Corridor, as it is located in a strategic point. The Binniza community of Puente Madera has suffered a campaign of criminalization and defamation, as well as a series of aggressions such as arbitrary detention and fabrication of crimes against 17 defenders for their struggle against the imposition of the “Development Pole” of San Blas Atempa, Oaxaca.
Members of the mission also warned of the existence of attacks and differentiated impacts on indigenous women defenders who face aggressions, slander and defamation based on gender stereotypes and sexuality. This also impacts their leadership, community and family roles.
Among the authorities responsible for the human rights violations reported during the mission were the National Guard, the Navy, the Sedena, the State Police, the Ministry of Communications and Transportation, municipal authorities and the Agrarian Prosecutor’s Office. Various companies, armed groups and local caciques were also identified.
According to the Report on the situation of persons and communities defending environmental human rights in Mexico, presented by the Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental, A. C. (CEMDA), between October 2021 and July 2023, 31 events of collective and individual aggressions have been registered against communities and persons defending territory and human rights in the framework of the construction of the Interoceanic Corridor, mainly in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz. Most of the aggressions were committed against people belonging to indigenous peoples or communities.
Beyond the CIIT megaproject, in general, Oaxaca ranked first in number of aggression events between 2019 and 2022, according to said publication. From a count from 2012 to 2018, Oaxaca ranks as the entity with the highest number of documented attacks or aggression events.
Records linked to CIIT indicate at least: 21 cases of intimidation, harassment, and threats against defenders, their families or collectives; 11 cases of physical and psychological violence, as well as forced evictions; 3 homicides of defenders between October 2022 to July 2023; 2 cases of defamation through wide-ranging public media; and 43 cases of criminal complaints against local authorities and community defenders in the communities of San Juan Guichicovi, Mogoñe Viejo, Mogoñé Estación, Paso Real, Estación Sarabia, Tagolaba, and Puente Madera.
After concluding its tour and investigation of the Inter-Oceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec project, the Observation Mission expressed its deep concern for the context of risk for those who exercise their legitimate right to defend their territory and reaffirmed that it will follow up on the documented violations; finally, it called on the competent federal, state, and municipal authorities to:
- Recognize and respect the human and collective rights to self-determination, autonomy, territory, participation, free, prior and informed consent, and life of indigenous peoples, under the highest standard of protection.
- Guarantee the right of access to justice and stop all forms of threats and aggression against indigenous peoples and defenders of human rights and nature.
- Take the necessary actions to guarantee a safe environment within the framework of Article 9 of the Escazú Agreement so that they can carry out their work.
- Provide indigenous peoples with the necessary, sufficient, complete and culturally appropriate information about the megaproject and all its components such as the gas pipeline and the development poles, so that they can exercise their right to self-determination.
Juchitan de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, July 27, 2023
The Observation Mission is integrated by:
Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental, A.C.
Union of Indigenous Communities of the Northern Zone of the Isthmus (UCIZONI)
Front Line Defenders
Peace Brigades International (PBI)
Services for Alternative Education A.C.
Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz A.C. (SERAPAZ)
Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center (Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, A.C.)
Assembly of Indigenous Peoples of the Isthmus in Defense of Land and Territory (APIIDTT)
Mixtequillense Civil Resistance
International Tribunal of Conscience of the Peoples in Movement (TICPM)
Prevention, Training and Defense of Migrants, A.C. (PRECADEM)
Marabunta Humanitarian Peace Brigade (Brigada Humanitaria de Paz Marabunta)
Brigada Humanitaria de Paz Marabunta Oaxaca (Marabunta Humanitarian Peace Brigade Oaxaca)
Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca, A.C. (Consortium for Parliamentary Dialogue and Equity Oaxaca, A.C.)
Red Sun People’s Current
Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles de Derechos Humanos Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos (National Network of Civil Human Rights Organizations All Rights for All)
(Red TDT)
Commission for Coordination and Follow-up of the National Indigenous Congress/Indigenous Council of
Government
Information Center on Business and Human Rights
Articulation Process of Sierra Santa Marta
Article 19 Mexico
CSO Space
Working Group “Borders, Regionalization and Globalization” of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO)
Social Sciences (CLACSO)
Indigenous Peoples Rights International IPRI-Mexico
.