Faced with the emergency experienced by the Chontal communities, due to the spread of fire in their territories, the Assembly of the Chontal People for the Defense of Our Territory and Tequio Jurídico A. C. report:
First: The emergency by the presence of fire continues. Inhabitants of the communities of San Pedro Sosoltepec, Santa Lucia Mecaltepec, Santa Maria Candelaria, San Matías Petacaltepec, San Miguel Suchiltepec, San José Chiltepec, Guadalupe Victoria and San Miguel Chongos have organized to fight the fire for the past six days. Citizenship manifests fatigue and exhaustion. An average of 320 people work intensively to fight the fire at several points.
Second: The support brigades sent by the state and federal governments are not enough. Fifteen brigades from Conafor support in San Pedro Sosoltepec, four were present in San Miguel Chongos. To this day, there is no help from the National Guard in the field; yesterday, April 16, 2024, after noon, a helicopter flew over the fire zone. The fire continues to devastate the forest at the points called Cerro de Laime between San José Chiltepec, Guadalupe Victoria, San Miguel Chongos and San Pedro Sosoltepec:
https://www. facebook. com/100063573034312/videos/pcb. 979549620840797/410367978447680. Another emergency point is located very close to the community of San Pedro Sosoltepec, on Mount Gobernador.
Third: With the solidarity work of the neighboring communities, the fire has been controlled at some points,
however, the emergency continues in the community of San Pedro Sosoltepec, who have been affected in most of their territory. The municipal agent and the commissariat of communal property are asking the government to strengthen the support of the brigades and guarantee air assistance, since if the fire is not controlled, the lives of the population would be at risk, so they do not rule out evacuating the population.
https://www. facebook. com/tequiojuridicoac/videos/1146684226370398.
Fourth: Citizens and community members who are directly involved in the fight against the fire, manifest fatigue and affectations in the throat and respiratory system, due to exposure to smoke and heat, for several days. They do not have the appropriate fire protection equipment, in the midst of these circumstances, they do not stop working on firefighting. In view of what has been stated here, we insist:
To the federal and state governments: Through their respective agencies, strengthen the fire support brigades and send the appropriate air support to fight the fires at Cerro de Laime, Ojo de agua and Cerro Governador. In addition, provide facilities for a medical brigade to use the area to provide assistance in the health care of citizens. On the other hand, we request that the entire area affected by the fire be included in the ecological restoration programme from now on and that actions be taken to repair the damage be implemented.
To the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Oaxaca: We request your intervention in order to monitor the actions and omissions of the authorities responsible for responding to the emergency and to document possible violations of human rights.
To the general public: We ask for your solidarity to support us with food, food, water, first aid materials, economic support. For this purpose, we have installed the collection center at Casa Tequiana, located on Calle Pinos Número 200-1. Corner Calle Progreso, Col. The pillar San Jacinto Amilpas. Tel: 9515147506. For financial aid we ask to send it to Abel Sanchez Martínez. Banco Azteca, Clabe Interbancaria:1276 1001 3027 7005 17, Card number: 4027 6658 3691 8970.